DULUTH, Ga. - One moment the basketball belonged to Tennessee's Shekinna Stricklen and the next instant it didn't.
And then suddenly, the ball was hers again.
"It was nuts,'' said Tennessee teammate Taber Spani, describing the chaotic second-half sequence Saturday against Vanderbilt. "It was like a ping pong ball for a second."
Stricklen answered a steal with one of her own before driving through heavy Commodores traffic and dishing to Spani for an easy layup.
"I would describe it as hustle and not giving up,'' Stricklen said.
The Lady Vols had a firm grip on those qualities, as demonstrated by 68-49 victory over their in-state rival in the SEC women's basketball tournament semifinals at Gwinnett Arena. The hard-earned result advanced the tournament's top seed to the championship game against No. 2 seed Kentucky at 6:30 tonight (TV: ESPN2).
The Wildcats (25-6) rallied in the other semifinal for a 76-65 victory over Mississippi State.
The hustle for No. 4 Tennessee (29-2) was reflected by its 42-27 rebounding advantage and by holding Vanderbilt (22-10) to 31.7 percent field-goal shooting. The Commodores, who were playing their third game in three days, shot 17.6 percent (3-for-17) on 3-pointers.
The not-giving-up part of the Lady Vols' effort involved cracking open Vanderbilt's zone defense. Instead of four double-figure scorers, as they had on Friday against Ole Miss, the Lady Vols had to make do with two. Alyssia Brewer scored a game-high 15 points and Angie Bjorklund added 12.
Instead of opening with 70 percent shooting, a springboard to Friday's 50-point first half, the Lady Vols missed 12 of their first 16 shots.
"It was kind of hard to get the ball inside at first,'' forward Glory Johnson said. "We were just throwing up some shots and our percentage wasn't good at the beginning."
UT adjusted by increasing the pace and precision of their ball movement. In the process, Brewer worked free for eight of her points by halftime.
"If the ball gets stuck in people's hands, it's easy for the zone to guard,'' Spani said. "We just tried to swing it quickly and that helped a lot. It opened stuff up."
Actually, Bjorklund was open from the outset as the smaller Commodores concentrated on UT's post players. Yet the junior guard misfired to a 1-for-6 shooting start.
"I have to step up, especially postseason, and hit those shots,'' Bjorklund said.
While a shooter's touch was temporarily failing her, a shooter's mentality carried the day. She kept shooting.
"If Coach (Pat Summitt) thinks I'm shooting too much, she'll tell me,'' Bjorklund said. "But she doesn't tell me that too often."
Bjorklund warmed up enough to finish with four 3-pointers. Combined with Stricklen's two treys, the Lady Vols achieved enough scoring balance to shake free from the stubborn Commodores.
The Lady Vols' 21 turnovers turned out to be their biggest problem. Three in a row late in the first half sabotaged their momentum and contributed to a scoreless stretch of 4 minutes, l0 seconds.
They also factored into the game's conclusion. Stricklen had to be hustled back into the game briefly with 1:24 left to clean up a mess created by the reserves, who wasted nearly half of UT's 20-point lead.
In the end, Bjorklund and Stricklen played 37 and 36 minutes, respectively. They will be drawing upon their willpower tonight along with what's left of their stamina.
"You're a little sore,'' Stricklen said, "but you have time to get everything better and get some rest."
Now is not the time to be thinking about fatigue.
"It's all mental,'' Brewer said. "You have to push your mind to a different place."
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Comments » 42
qspr91iz writes:
In football, you control the line of scrimmage and you win. In basketball, you control the boards and you win the game. The lady vols are becoming a well balanced team and I think they will make it to the Final Four!!!!
Go Lady Vols!
Mule_Days_King writes:
Way to go Lady Vols!!!
SummittsCourt writes:
Defense! Defense! Defense!
The Lady Vols have allowed two teams that average 70+ a game to a total of 100 points!
And this with 3 post players redshirting this year. Imagine what is going to happen next year.
Also, Up 58-38 Pat put in the subs, but when they didn't play well she put Johnson & Strickland back in. Winning is not enough for Pat at tourney time. She sent a message to the whole team with that. Can't settle for winning, they must play 40 minutes of Bball!
Way to go Lady Vols!
camvols writes:
I like your analogy. You must have been paying attention to the annoucers in the Ole Miss game.
ps11824 writes:
The commentary kept harping that Pat needs another guard. Don't they know we lost Cait? It just burns my buscuits when folks think Pat doesn't know WHAT she needs. Unfortunately, Williams is not playing up to snuff. Maybe she will catch on before the season ends, if not, she might go to summer camp.
I'm just gonna go ahead and say this before anyone else does. I know you saw it too. The officials allow those little Vandy mites to hang all over LVs until they turn the ball over, but LVs got away with NOTHING!!!!!!!
OldVols68 writes:
Yes -- with caution I think this team is starting to peak at the right time. please continue to play like you have these last two games, and continue to start Manning and Brewer. Go Lady Vols!!!!!!!!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
They need to stop the sloppy turnovers and this team can go far in the Big One.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Lady vols played pretty good tonight! Brewer is still impressing me. Manning continues to be a factor. I like the team effort. Keep playing as a team and keep up the good effort. Critiques: Kelly Cain please follow through on your shots and make those layups. Kelly is rushing her shots and it is tournament time. We need those layups! Glory please stop the extra activity that gets you silly fouls. Lets make more free throws. Second string came in and was horrible! Second string needs a serious talking to! Get it togehter lady vols, go fight and bring home the championship.
orangecountyvols writes:
One thing is for sure, noone is going to push the Vols around. They are tall, Stricklen and Angie in particular when hitting the outside shots, and the trees under the basket........plus an improving every game Johnson, well.....
they are just going to be tough to handle.
As was previously mentioned, losing NOONE off this team this year, along with Baugh, Dupree, maybe Gray, point guards coming in.......team depth will be just plain scary.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Ok lady vols, you face Kenucky again! Handle the defensive pressure like you did in Knoxville! Make good passes and run your offense. You have the advantage on the inside, lets pound the ball in the paint and let Kelly, Brewer, and Glory go to work. I am confident they will be ready tomorrow. Angie and Stricklen and Manning lets light it up from the outside. Go lady vols, it is yours if you want it!
ladyvolsfan789 writes:
That's good to hear! Kentucky just could not handle our posts in the first game we played against them. Hopefully, this game will be the same. Defense and rebounding has been outstanding these past couple of games. There have been a few sloppy turnovers but fortunately so far they've come at times when we can give up a few points. Stricklen had a bunch in this game and made a few passes that left me wondering what she was thinking, but she also had 7 assists.
Keep destributing the ball well, rebounding, and playing great defense and no one can stop you!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Great win Lady Vols! I said it before the tourney started...I'm not worried, the Lady Vols WILL win the tourney! Pat has almost got them where she wants them and they will play even better in the NCAA's! Lets go dancing!!!!!!!!
LV.......TCB......KOKO.....GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
johnlg00 writes:
The Lvs have parlayed the advantage of the #1 seed into two impressive victories. They won't have that advantage over UK, since they also had the bye. If the LVs can duplicate the total 40 minutes of great ball they have played the last two games in just one game, they should win easily. No question they are peaking at the right time, even with the stretches of sloppy play. They should make the Final Four this year; at this point, anything less would be a disappointment. If Kamiko would just start to play up to her potential, this team could be really dangerous to anyone, including the Yankee canines.
RLL59 writes:
Let's enjoy the win, and another good performance , especially by the starters.
Face it, fans see what they want to see regarding the refs. The stats are that the Lady Vols were 16 for 28 from the foul line; Vanderbilt was 6 for 8.
If the referees let them play a little rough, it's to the Lady Vols advantage, given their size. Hope for the same type of game tomorrow.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounds win championships!! Lookin' good ladies, sure wish I was there!!
johnlg00 writes:
Good point about the officiating; no question Vandy was scratching and clawing since that was about the only chance they had, and I'm just as glad they didn't call ALL of it. The announcers said it looked like the refs were letting them play today. Now just watch the championship game turn into a whistle-fest, since the refs might feel they weren't getting enough air time today(;-P)!
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
I think Kamiko is struggling with being unsure. She seems to be unsure of when to shoot and when to pass at times. I know she has skills so it should not be that she is not confident. I have seen what she is capable of and I just wonder where the girl from the South Carolina game has gone to. I really hope she can find it in herself to fix the problem herself or seek the help of the coaching staff or the other players. Stricklen will need a rest and there really isn't another to keep it going while Stricklen takes a break. Stricklen toughed it out tonight, but at times she looked a little tired. Bass is just too undersized, depending on the opponent. I agree with Carolyn Peck on the notion that Kamiko needs to develop and she will be needed in the post season, but Stricklen is the best choice for point at the moment. But night after night of tough physical games will take its toll on anyone's body, so Stricklen needs for Kamiko to be able to maintain the team while she gets a breath.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
I sure hope you are wrong about the whistle fest!
johnlg00 writes:
Me too(;-D)!
johnlg00 writes:
It seemed that Alicia Manning was playing point at times today. At least she was the primary ball handler at the top of the circle against Vandy's zone. I am as puzzled by Kamiko as anyone on the board. Maybe she just doesn't need the pressure of trying to play point right now, since she clearly doesn't have the instincts to play the position the way Pat wants. Shekinna may just have to suck it up and log the lion's share of minutes at the position the rest of the way. The best thing about that is that at least there is a day off between games in the NCAAs. It is difficult to compare players and games this way, but Duke's PG, Jon Scheyer, plays about 38 minutes per game, leads the team in scoring and assists, and is a Naismith Award finalist on a likely #1 seed in the NCAAs.
johnlg00 writes:
For anyone who is interested, Kellie Jolly Harper's NC State team made the finals of the ACC tourney against Duke. They came back from a double-digit deficit to Boston College in the second half to win going away.
RLL59 writes:
John, it seems that Manning isn't the one Coach Summitt wants to bring the ball down the court. But once in the forecourt, she is very capable of making crisp passes from the top of the key to Bjorklund or Strickland, both of whom are better at the three. She is also willing to take the ball into the paint from there. She is much more comfortable now with her shots than she was just 3 or 4 games ago. That line up is working very well right now.
richvol writes:
Manning may not be the one that Pat wants bring the ball up the court but she is one of the best passers,if not the best,on the floor. Cain is missing so many point blank layups that I would not let her do anything in practice except shoot contested layups. It's ridiculous to miss these as no one can block them. Glory does have attitude that is getting her foul calls...the officials see it as well. Brewer should have been the first team post on the all-SEC team.
Great,scrappy win.
chaos001 writes:
I've said it for years and I'll say it again...I hate playing Vandy. It's always been a cat fight and always will be. There's no way that Vandy can compete as extremely undersized as they are. They play so bloody dirty every time I watch them. It's almost comical with what they get away with...
speaking of funny...i absolutely lost it when Glory slammed Tuomi to the floor. i haven't laughed so hard in forever. Lord knows she deserved it.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Great post RLL! Spot on!
xvolx writes:
I would agree with you about Williams being unsure. She's unsure if she wants to put in the hard work and hustle effort the playing six put in. I watched her close today. She doesn't play with intensity. She gives up and loafs on possessions. Brewer did the same thing last year. Maybe Williams just needs a year of maturing. Bass, Williams and Smallbone aren't contributing anything to this team. Spani gives good effort, but needs another year to get physically in shape. Manning is a hoss. Johnson could get charged with mugging with the kind of things she pulls, but in her defense; I'm sure some of it is payback.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
You and Pink are both right! Thats exactly why Pat has not played her much....the girl is just not ready yet....but in time...............
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
LOL at Glory getting charged with mugging! Don't get me wrong, I love Glory's take no junk attitude, but at least do it when the refs are not looking, because I gather some of it is payback. And Manning has turned into a necessary hoss!
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
I forgot about the day off in the NCAA's! Manning has done a wonderful job! I would not replace her in the starting lineup! What I was wondering is this! Say for instance Shekinna comes out, and you bring in Spani. Then who would be the point? Would you say it should be Manning! I am pleased with Manning but that's not her position. Manning along with Stricklen is less pressure, but if Stricklen gets in foul trouble or needs a break,who do we have, only Bass and Kamiko to run the offense and be the primary ball handler. I hope we never have this scenario and if we do, I hope Kamiko or either Bass can rise to the occasion. Just a thought!
flatrock writes:
Give the ball to Kamiko! She is playing with zero confidence and clearly has not responded to Pat's tough-love antics of pulling her after any and every mistake.
It reminds me of the Jonathon Crompton saga that
finally cleared up only after the head coach
got firmly in Crompton's corner and allowed him
to play thru his mistakes. Jonathon's performance was amazing down the stretch. If
Pat would give Kamiko the same shot of confidence, I believe we would see the same
turnaround. She has outstanding vision
and feel and passing skills that are light years
ahead of anyone else on the squad. Kamiko's
casual body language eats Pat up and it is painful to watch this drama unfold. Henry Aaron
ought to be thankful Pat never coached the Braves. He would have spent his entire career in
Richmond!
boogimn3 writes:
Nappy? (OOPS! sorry!) Naffy?
I didn't know you were a women's basketball affectionado...
bobbizee#247300 writes:
I was watching in particular Kamiko's body language coming in the game and out of the game she gave me the distinct "I couldn't care less" there was no enthusiasm, I was really upset. Everyone says we need another point guard she has the capabilities, but not the mental attitude maybe it's because she's a freshman, to me she has a real attitude problem when your coach critizes you it should make you realize she cares about you not to mope around. other then that a good game LadyVols!
fpcoach writes:
It takes some kids longer to adjust to the college game. Komiko plays for the best coach in the game. I think the light will eventually come on if she has the mental toughness to hang in there with Pat.
orangecountyvols writes:
That comment about Glory Johnson introducing Tuomi to the floor was great. Nice slam dunk to the hardwood ! Tuomi is pretty physical herself, and was on loan as a linebacker from the football team ( it seemed ).
The Lady Vols need to keep pounding it inside against the U K Kats, ( as was previously mentioned, Cain you need to hit the point blank layups ) Angie and Stricklen hitting the big outside shots, and a suffocating, ball hawking defense.................and we'll be okay.
BeRealistic writes:
I think Williams's father is still trying to coach her. If he has any intel he will quit & let Pat handle the kid. The kid has great potential. C'mon Cain we need you today.
tedb#664810 writes:
Every team blames the refs-BUT, the Lady Vols do have a target on their back with the SEC refs. Even with the blow out of Ole Miss, the calls were just unbelievable. Here's hoping we can beat the Cats and the refs this evening. Kentucky will get away with hand checks and shoves the entire night. Hang in there Lady Vols.
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
Don't you know those commentators think they know more than anyone!! And yes I saw it too the officials let those little mites hang all over the LV till they turned it over and it will be the same way against KY! I think Stricklen should have been on the first team SEC, also Manning should have been on something too; she is just like a little nat, just sticking around!!! The LV's never get away with anything they can just run by them and get called for something.
johnlg00 writes:
As RLL59 pointed out above, Pat may not trust Alicia to bring the ball up the court, but she does a great job getting everybody into the right positions and plays, and keeping the ball moving in a positive manner. The worst-case scenario for the LVs going forward is Shekinna getting hurt, tired, or in foul trouble against a team with a really good full-court press. In that case, the best we can hope for is that one of the players you mentioned steps up to do what is necessary. Fortunately, Shekinna seems to have the strength and stamina to do what needs to be done most of the time. If she isn't, for a particular game, the LVs might be in trouble.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Go Lady Vols! Their in my neck of the woods today and hope to get to the game!! Brewer and Kinna are the keys. Brewer has to come in when Cain gets in foul trouble and Kinna just has to be the leader!!
VolunteerLifer writes:
Williams is a freshman, and you just can't let yourself get in a position where you are depending on freshmen. They generally just don't know enough, don't think enough, won't understand, etc. After an attitude adjustment in the off-season, she'll start to come around next year. In the meantime, having Stricklen bring the ball up and then letting Manning do the distribution duties sounds like a good way to go. That way, Stricklen doesn't get too worn out. I think Pat should still throw Williams in there if for no other reason than to bring the ball up and give Stricklen a breather.
SoddyVol writes:
Owing to how far we go in the Tournament, I'm afraid Kamiko will be desperately needed at times. Wish she could understand how much she will help the team given she develops a Manning type attitude.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Just our luck...Dee officiating! Come on Pat, get a T !!!!! Whether we win or lose, refs blow!!
LV......TCB.....Keep on keeping on...GBO!!!!!!!
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