OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss couldn't stop Tennessee Thursday night.
Mother Nature was a different story.
Inclement weather helped to create an unusual ending to the Lady Vols' 66-39 SEC women's basketball victory over the Rebels.
The game was stopped with 5 minutes, 24 seconds remaining when heavy rains began seeping through the Tad Smith Coliseum roof. Ole Miss coach Renee Ladner said that wind was the problem. A new roof was put on the coliseum last year.
"(The rain) was blowing up under the ventilation system,'' she said.
A large wastebasket was placed on the floor just over center court in front of Tennessee's bench. It was flanked by multiple towels.
There was a 20-minute delay and game officials checked with the conference office before the decision to end the game prematurely.
"When we have a wet floor we're not going to play on it,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "We have to protect our student-athletes. Renee and I both agreed on that."
The Lady Vols are getting used to unusual circumstances. A 66-42 victory over Georgia Tech at the Paradise Jam on Nov. 26 was interrupted several times by power outages.
"Something about this year,'' UT forward Vicki Baugh said. "We have fun dancing while we're waiting. We're used to it."
Glory Johnson led No. 4 Tennessee (27-2, 15-0 SEC) with 18 points and nine rebounds. Baugh matched her SEC high with 12 points. Alicia Manning scored 11 and Shekinna Stricklen had 10.
Despite playing without center Kelley Cain, who didn't make the trip because of a sore right hip, UT outrebounded the Rebels 43-15.
Valencia McFarland scored 14 for Ole Miss (10-17, 3-12).
Johnson tried to dunk on a second-half breakaway but lost control of the basketball going up and ended up grabbing the rim instead.
"I still thought I was going to have it,'' Johnson said. "My teammates had my back with the rebound. So I will pretend we just wanted to get a few more offensive rebounds."
Manning salvaged the play with a rebound basket.
Baugh said that Johnson was doomed by her takeoff.
"She jumped from the free-throw line,'' Baugh said. "Just a little soon."
One game after clinching the SEC regular-season championship, Tennessee didn't seem to be lacking for motivation at the outset.
A businesslike approach was evident during an early timeout when Baugh spoke to the team in its huddle before the coaches.
It was apparent on the court as well as the starters set the tone and the Lady Vols quickly bolted to a double-figure lead. The reserves then had their say. Baugh showed off her jumper, hitting a 16-footer and a pull-up shot off the dribble.
Kamiko Williams and Johnson played a hoops version of volleyball with Johnson rebounding Williams miss off the glass and scoring for a 31-7 lead.
Ole Miss looked especially overmatched without leading scorer Kayla Melson, who missed her sixth consecutive game with a concussion. The Rebels also were missing forward Pa'Sonna Hope, the team's leading rebounder.
Despite falling behind twice by 24 points before halftime, Ole Miss kept Tennessee in sight thanks to an aggressive zone defense and 15 Lady Vols turnovers.
A flurry of 3-pointers pulled the Rebels within 49-35 early in the second half but they couldn't sustain the scoring.
Tennessee returns home to plays LSU Sunday with a chance to complete its first undefeated conference regular season since 2007.
"Let's just hope we get home tonight,'' Summitt said.
Bjorklund Honored: UT's Angie Bjorklund has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America second team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Bjorklund is a repeat honoree. She made the first team last season.
Dan Fleser covers Lady Vols basketball. He may be reached at 865-342-6288. Follow him at http://twitter.com/fleserKNS and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/fleser.
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Comments » 47
mdvol writes:
It was really the mercy rule disguised as a roof leak! Lets go Pat and the Lady Vols! Definitely a Final Four team right now. Lets get there and work a little Lady Vol magic!
dvols writes:
kns..please put all lady vols info on gvx247 so i dont have to see it or if i do pay for it .....blah blah blah......
NoSirRee writes:
Only in women's basketball...
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
The Lady Vols are getting more and more used to playing together and especially the post people.
Vicki is getting better each game.......and I like the fact she can shoot free throws. This team has so much depth.........13 players.
Only negative tonight were the unforced turnovers and several missed free throws. Taber still struggles with her outside shot, at least the parts of the game ESPN3 let me see.
Remember, one of the NC teams had 15 ( including several walkons who didn't play much ) and the last NC team only had 9 in uniform. so, this depth hopefully will pay off for us.
If they pull through against LSU that's 2 years running the table....providing we do that and take care of business in the tournament.
tmartin writes:
Geno and UConn says it really dont matter.
volhome#407234 writes:
I'm confused. Didn't Katrina move games all over the Southeast? And wasn't that men's football? And don't the Ole Miss men play in the same auditorium? And wasn't it blind luck that it was a women's game as opposed to a men's game that was affected?
Being the crack jounalist that you seem to be, I'm sure that these, and a thousand other similar questions, will be like shooting fish in a barrel for you. But Mythbusters showed that shooting fish in a barrel isn't that easy, so don't strain yourself gathering the answers.
volhome#407234 writes:
So let me see, you only want the news reported to you that you want to hear. How's that working out for you on ESPN, in SI, in USA Today, the major networks, and a in thousand and one other outlets? I know, I'm responding to a troll, but for your sake, get some counseling before posting with a screen name like dvols. You embarass yourself and all other trolls in the world with such a weak statement.
SummittsCourt writes:
Baugh and Brewer are getting better each game. Final four here come the Lady Vols!
BigOSammO writes:
"Lady Vols win game shortened by power company who called to see how Ole Miss planned to keep the lights on with ZERO butts in seats." Go lady ball.
huntined#565710 writes:
Vandy -FLA game canceled also. Some bad weather hit thru some states real bad. Oh I know they had a space shot today and my papaw always said that caused the bad weather.
murrayvol writes:
I guess Mother Nature had seen enough.
flatrock writes:
Plus/Minus (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks MINUS turnovers) in a total beatdown:
-G. Johnson: plus 35 in 28 mins...too fast for the
bigs, two strong for the others;
-V. Baugh: plus 15 in 14 minutes...the healthier she gets, the more dangerous the
LVs are;
-A. Manning: plus 18 in 22 minutes...
she is to the LVs what Dane Bradshaw was
to Bruce's fun teams;
-S. Stricklen: plus 18 in 29 minutes...
MVP in SEC!;
-M. Simmons: plus 6 in 23 minutes...she is
so-o-o much better at wing:
-K. Williams: plus 6 in 15 minutes...she
seems to like defense now...who would have
ever thunk it?;
-T. Spani: plus 6 in 15 minutes...outstanding
athlete with bright future;
-A. Brewer: plus 5 in 12 minutes...please
let the warm weather stay;
-A. Bjorklund: 0 in 7 minutes...she will get her
legs by tourney time;
-L. Avant: plus 3 in 10 minutes...a PGs worst
nightmare- she can turn a dribbler every time!
LVs 2nd team might finish 2nd in this year's SEC. Pat's practices must keep team moving
forward.
Note: LVs out-scored Rebs by 17 with K. Williams
at PG; by 12 when M. Simmons was directing traffic; and by 3 when L. Avant was the QB.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Really good game! I am proud of the ladies for their effort lately. Vicki continues to impress me. Things finally seem to be going her way. The old Vicki is creeping back! I like the lineup with Vicki and Glory running the post. Two quick post players will be a nightmare for opponents. Glory had a fantastic game. Got to appreciate the dunk attempt. Cant wait until she makes one. Manning still looks good! Go lady vols!
adimatteo#261830 writes:
youre right, they may not make the FF...
But my question is, if you dislike the team/sport (which I would assume as no reason to dislike the players) why are you on this site reading/writing??
Do you have nothing else to do??
SummittsCourt writes:
Glory can dunk you knuckle head - stop being so jealous, it makes you look silly.
These "dancing" girls may very well win the title this year and since you know nothing I will just assume you are just a bitter old man with nothing good to say.
adimatteo#261830 writes:
I know it's been said before, but hats off to the Lady Vols...
They are playing some great ball at this time.
They may not win it all, there are/have been upsets over the years, (UT is not exactly the only school in the country with a team and coaches and faciities, etc...)
But sometimes we fail to thank this group and program for all they have given us, in more than just trophies.
Im sure someone will correct me, but I dont ever recall over the years any Lady Vols player doing anyhting to bring negative press or putting the school or themselves in bad light.
Given all these girls work and the pressure on them, the workload, etc. ,that is amazing.
And while sounding like a broken record it is just a tribute to the coaches and especially these young ladies.
Thnak you, and good luck the rest of the way, you allc ertainly deserve it...
OldVols68 writes:
Hey -- I am a "bitter old man with nothing good to say" normally, but now I think the ladies finally (just maybe) might be on the same page as Pat. Besides, getting one of the four #1 seeds should be enough motivation to keep winning and go unbeaten the rest of the way....
CrankE writes:
Let's review:
The title of the article itself indicates that it's Lady Vol Basketball news.
You clicked it. You may have read it.
You even spent time leaving a comment-thus wasting valuable seconds of your life.
When you could have simply ignored it.
Here's your sign.
ps11824 writes:
dvols writes:
kns..please put all lady vols info
on gvx247 so i dont have to see
it or if i do pay for it .....blah blah blah......]]]
Let me see, so someone FORCED you to read this tiny article on the ladies. You poor little feller. The Lady Vols basketball team has perhaps one article per 10 for the men's team, and you were FORCED to read this one AND comment on it. Did the perpetrator also force your buddy-boy vlvol12 to chime in with such brilliance?
tmartin, what's your beef? You're friends with Geno?
Why do I respond to hateful trols? I feel it an injustice that free speech allows it here...
johnlg00 writes:
A generally dominating LV performance against a severely out-manned Ole Miss team. Glory Johnson continues to amaze. She and Vicki and Lyssie totally controlled the inside. However, I continue to be amazed at the freedom Pat gives Meighan Simmons these days. She took one bad, off-balance shot after another, and was responsible for I-don't-know-how-many turnovers, many of them completely inexplicable. I seriously can't think of any other LV player, let alone a FRESHMAN, who has had such a long leash. I KNOW she is potentially a GREAT talent, but, again, I have never seen Pat let ANY player make so many of the same kinds of mistakes without a good deal more talking-to than is evident in the games. It is hard to criticize, considering the success the team seems to be having just now, but that doesn't reduce my amazement at how this process is unfolding.
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
This year a final four+ ,next year with everyone back except Angie and Smallbone NC baby!!
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
Well since mother nature was able to stop the game in that raggety Tad auditorium I think the final score would have been .
Vols- 78
Ole missed-47
BBhoops writes:
Well, I can say the lady vols have shown some improvement at this point. I still don't see them going to the FF. They are not on the same level with UCONN, BAYLOR, XAVIER, AND TEXAS A/M. Hope everybody will ready to relax in their recliners and watch UCONN OR BAYLOR take home the big trophy in April.
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
What can you say about Vicki Baugh. Wow she is a warrior . This young lady has been through so much adversity with her knees being so far away from home . Sitting out 22months of her career but yet keep a positive attitude , being a team leader, team mom im sure to the younger players and ultimately a leader on the court again for this team. Im so happy for this girl and hope she continues to be a leader on and off the court. This lady Vol is playing like.....im going to say it.. Candace Parker. She has moves inside a nice soft touch and can hit free throw with ease just like CP. If she continues to elevate her game she is WNBA bound. I know retired jerseys are for the most elite lady vols but Vicki would be my pick to have a jersey hanging from the rafters just because of her will to keep fighting. And remember shes not done yet . Only a junior . Woohooo!
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
And another thing KNS . That is clearly Glory Johnson in that picture. Not Vicki.
ps11824 writes:
Don't forget Vicki is a scholar who has graduated now. She has a National Championship ring to go with that diploma. Vicki Baugh gets my 'orange heart" award for courage and leadership.
BBhoops writes:
Well, I can say the lady vols have shown some improvement at this point. I still don't see
them going to the FF. They are not on the
same level with UCONN, BAYLOR, XAVIER,
AND TEXAS A/M. Hope everybody will ready
to relax in their recliners and watch
UCONN OR BAYLOR take home the big
trophy in April. ]]]
You go ahead with your arrogance and enjoy any of their wins. We, Lady Vols fans, will certainly enjoy any such thing any more than we enjoy your sarcasm.
Some folks do not know the meaning of the word, etiquette. bbhoops, your remarks are not appreciated by me. Perhaps others will be amused by them. You seem to be.
SoddyVol writes:
This is the second time KNS has labeled a picture of Glory as being someone else. This time Glory's #25 is clearly visible--No reason to get it wrong even if the reporter doesn't know what she looks like.
ps11824 writes:
When it rains it pours trolls and sarcastic remarks. Storms seem to bring out the dark side.
I enjoyed the game. I'm glad they called the game however, because t was so dangerous to have that moisture in the middle of the court. Neither team needs more injuries.
I would like to have seen more playing time for Baugh. She looked good, confident and strong. Glory could have made her own history there, right? Good job, A-town, putting back the miss.
Regarding the revolving door subs. It is Pat's prerogative to use real game time to her team's advantage. Yes, I would like to see less subs in longer segments, but I feel confident that Pat has a purpose for the way she calls it.
She is "pleased with what she is seeing" as far as cohesiveness in their sets, but she adds, there's much to improve. She states the individual players are agreeable to the trial rotation, because they believe it is essential to what they want to accomplish in post season.
We all recognized the need for our long-ball shooters to be available when Ole Miss came out with their zone D. We did not produce as well offensively out of it. I think we adjusted eventially. If not, that will be something for them to be working on before Sunday's matchup with Van's Tigers.
johnlg, if the other 4 on the floor with Simmons were as fast getting back as she, there would be no defense to stop them. And to her credit, some of her passes should have been caught. She did sling one into the storm cloud. Perhaps that's the one that brought the rains inside arena. : )
johnlg00 writes:
I see your point about the other four catching up with Simmons, but my point is that Pat has never hesitated in the past at INSISTING that the team play together, INCLUDING having the ball-handlers pay attention to where their teammates ARE instead of where the ball-handlers WANT them to be. Either throw the pass where the receiver IS and WANTS it or don't throw it. Some of her passes could have been caught if the passer and the catcher were on the same page, but it is no advantage to the offense as a whole even if the passer could claim that it wasn't her fault, and on some of those the receiver would have had to read Simmons' mind to go where she intended to throw it.
johnlg00 writes:
Yeah, I saw that, too. I saw it as soon as I started reading the article, but I was sure someone would mention it before I finished reading the posts. Maybe the caption writers should have a team lineup page at hand before they start writing. Not good.
johnlg00 writes:
We all love Vicki's talent and fighting heart, but let's just wait until she, you know, scores in double figures ONCE before we canonize her. I was a bit surprised to learn that the nine points she scored last night is her CAREER HIGH so far. Nothing would please me more than to see her have a Candace-like year next year, but even that would hardly be enough, IMHO, to justify hanging her jersey, considering how many LVs have had stellar careers.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
You may be right for all I know, but you may be worng.
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
Simmons is a fast lil rabbit is she? There is no one quicker . And there will be plenty of opportunites for easy buckets when Brewer and Baugh get quicker to run that post highway. There should be at least one of them taking off down the middle ready to call for the ball. Speed is a good ingredient to add for the post season for teams with big slow Bigs or teams with not much depth. I think we can become a team that will wear u down and beat you with defense.
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
She had 12 pts. Yeah she will be honored in a different way somewhere in Thompson Boling im sure.To see all of the past greats on the wall is really awesome and for a recuit to imagine "I can be a Vol legend" is why this school and Womens program is so great.
ps11824 writes:
I dare say few of us, even when we were 20, could survive Pat's drills unscathed, especially on one of her "not gonna let it be fun" days. Pat sees some potential unique to the individual players, perhaps, that we do not see. She coaches that player to their potential, not someone else's. How can we criticize?
When Semeka Randall came to Tennessee, she was catastrophe unleashed. Pat would rein her in from time to time when she believed her to be out of control, and I would think, "what is she doing benching this kid?" Clutch time came, Boo Randal was saving our bacon with her speed.
Same with Kyra Elzy. She was lightening fast, and her arms reached across the court like rubberband man. She looked like chaos in a slinky. The girl could guard and aggravate the best opponent into frustration. Pat would pull her over and get in her face and set her down for long spells. When the time came to win a championship, Kyra Elzy was key.
I think Pat sees something in Simmons that she believes to be a redeeming quality for us in the here and now. She's trying to give her every opportunity to develop that because she sees the heart of a champion growing in her now. The fact that she is so coachable is in Meigan's favor. Could be that Simmons is that unique individual begging to be coached by the coach.
martinvol34 writes:
Idiots will be idiots is all I can say. wlvol12 is not a fan but a troll. Thanks for responding so kindly to that idiot.
martinvol34 writes:
Please read before you write; she had 12 last night. Just FYI.
nadio1987 writes:
I'm starting to wonder, some of you all wouldn't be pleased with a Lady Vol win if it was handed to them.. When we are finally playing at the heart of a championship team (even though we have been playing many games this season like we did last night), some of you are still NOT satisfied.. I'm not worried one bit, because these ladies will prevail, besides, there's nothing more exciting than being an UNDERDOG team !!!! Go Lady Vols !!!!
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
Wheres dwa with sunday's prediction? Is this one gonna be another nailbiter like Ol Missed? Lol
volboy81 writes:
I noticed that too! Amazing how many errors occur in the media, isnt it!...and its not like this page is permanent...they can fix it, and don't! I'm still waiting for Channel 8 to get a score right on their ticker!!
Great game for the Lady Vols. We'll have Stanford, UConn, Baylor, Duke and a few others scared to play us by March!
ps11824 writes:
I don't think the sportswriters care enough about the Lady Vols to notice they've misrepresented a photo. They have their heads so far up the NCAA violations story they can't breath a word of anything else. It's dog eat dog out there trying to break a story line that has yet to be sniffed out of this whole "Kiffen/Bruce Cheats" saga. I for one am sick of hearing it.
Will the day ever come when there's a writer assigned to the Lady Vols who will give them serious coverage? Just for kicks sometime call in to the Lady Vols portion of Vol Calls and ask a legitimate question regarding one of the athletes. I promise you they won't answer it because they don't know or care... That's harsh, isn't it? If you are even slightly acquainted with the team, you will know that player in that photo is Glory Johnson.
I bet if they ran a photo of Steven Pearl they would not call him Tobias Harris. Or would they mistake Janzen Jackson for Matt Simms? How about Bruce P for Tiny Tim Kiffen?
charlyand#601962 writes:
I was saying exactly the same thing last night. Stricklin was also more comfortable on the wing, but Pat made her be PG and stayed in her face when she made mistakes. I have felt so sorry for Williams as she tried to learn the point and now is much, much better than Simmons. If we can't play Avant more when we're ahead by 30, when can we. I know her shoulder has messed up her shot, but she sure knows how to scan the floor and deliver the ball. When Angie is out there, Simmons never even sees her and if she is so much faster than everyone else, maybe she needs to SLOW DOWN and play like a team player. She is a great shooter but no point guard.
richvol writes:
Agreed...I have wondered the same thing several times. I wish she would show as much nurturing towards Kamiko but I don't know the personal dynamics between the two.
This team has the potential to get to the final four but i think next year is the year they win. It sure would be sweet to see us knock off Maya and UConn though in Maya's senior year.
johnlg00 writes:
Sorry about missing Vicki's point total in the last game; I thought I heard on the telecast that nine was her career high. She may have scored some more after that, though. In any case, as I said, I simply love the way she has persevered through her injuries and seems to be rounding into shape at just the right time to save the Lvs' rather "iffy" post game. With her great heart and love of the program, I am sure she will feel amply rewarded with a national championship before she is finished, even if her injuries prevented her from having a truly stellar individual career.
johnlg00 writes:
Fair enough, since I have chided other posters for similar oversights. Still, though I love Vicki to death, one double-figure game does not YET constitute the kind of resume required for the level of recognition the other poster suggested.
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
I hope we didnt beat u up too bad in here john. Oh another NC would give Vicki 2 possibly 3 if we take this year and next . How sweet would that be?
johnlg00 writes:
I try not to be one of those idiots who insist on their version of the truth in the face of stats to the contrary. I don't mind being corrected if I am factually wrong. I can live with other posters who have different opinions. As for your last statement, such an outcome would be REALLY sweet indeed! No one would deserve that as much as Vicki, and few would have as much to do with it as Vicki if she stays healthy and plays the way we all know she can.
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