Pat Summitt/Lady Vols News

Daedra Charles-Furlow Has Medical Problems

2009-12-02T23:49:00.002-05:00

Tennessee assistant coach Daedra Charles-Furlow announced in a release after Tuesday night's 93-53 women's basketball victory over George Washington that she's dealing with medical issues that will impact her duties as the Lady Vols recruiting coordinator.

"It is possible that there may be times when I am unable to travel,'' Charles-Furlow said.

UT coach Pat Summitt said that Charles-Furlow will continue her coaching duties on the bench. Summitt also said in the release that she is designating her special assistant, Stephanie Glance, to help out on a temporary basis.

"Daedra is so passionate about recruiting our student-athletes," Summitt said.

"During the next several months she needs to be focusing on her health."

A former All-American for the Lady Vols, Charles-Furlow joined the Tennessee coaching staff in May of 2008. She replaced Nikki Caldwell, who left to become the head coach at UCLA.

No. 6 Tennessee beats George Washington 93-53

2009-12-01T23:46:00.000-05:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — This time, Alyssia Brewer delivered with Kelley Cain sidelined by another injury.

Brewer scored a career-high 23 points, Glory Johnson had 16 points and 12 rebounds and No. 6 Tennessee beat George Washington 93-53 on Tuesday night.

Cain missed much of the Lady Volunteers’ loss to Ball State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament last season after she hurt her knee. Brewer struggled in that one as Tennessee slipped to its worst postseason finish in history.

Cain suffered a concussion Saturday against UCLA, leaving the Lady Vols’ without their starting center against the Colonials. But Brewer finished with a strong effort, helping Tennessee (6-0) dominate inside.

“Last year it was the same scenario against Ball State, and I didn’t step up like I needed to,” Brewer said. “It’s all in my hands if I carry it over or not. I plan on doing that, but I need to stay consistent.”

Brewer got an earful from coach Pat Summitt regularly during practice last season as Tennessee struggled and was pushed hard during the team’s physical offseason conditioning program.

“I think she needed this game,” Johnson said. “Just watching her struggle in practice—sometimes she’ll do good things in practice, but she’ll dwell on the negatives.”

Johnson had a double-double by halftime and rested for much of the second half when Brewer took over. Shekinna Stricklen had 17 points.

“If we can rely on that, along with Kelley and Glory and Taber (Spani) doing some good things in the mix, I feel better about our post game,” Summitt said.

Tennessee led 54-24 at the break and finished with 54 points in the paint.

Kay-Kay Allums led George Washington (2-4) with 16 points. Tiana Myers and Megan Nipe both had 11.

The Colonials dropped to 0-10 against Tennessee, but Allums thought it was a good experience for her team.

“I love playing against the best. To be the best, you’ve got to beat them,” she said.

Like Tennessee, George Washington has been forced to deal with injuries early in the season. The Colonials lost starting point guard Danni Jackson on Friday when she broke her left leg in a 78-47 loss to Michigan State.

“They lose a player, they replace her with another high school All-American,” coach Mike Bozeman said. “I’m proud of the class that my young group came in here and played with.”

No. 6 Tennessee holds off UCLA 61-47

2009-11-28T23:49:00.003-05:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Five former Tennessee players in the coaching ranks have tried to beat coach Pat Summitt. UCLA coach Nikki Caldwell came close to being the first to succeed.

After a slow start by the Lady Volunteers, Taber Spani scored 16 and helped sixth-ranked Tennessee (5-0) hang on to beat the Bruins 61-47 on Saturday.

“It certainly wasn’t pretty. I’m not happy. I’m glad we won,” said Summitt, who wore her trademark stare for much of the game and told her players they’d be practicing Sunday instead of taking the day off as planned.

Caldwell, a native of nearby Oak Ridge, Tenn., played for Summitt from 1990-94 and worked as her assistant coach from 2002-08 before taking over the Bruins.

“At shootaround I just went and sat at the visitors’ bench, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is a little different,”’ Caldwell said. “I never feel like a visitor coming back home though.”

Her team’s style of physical defensive play bore a close resemblance to Tennessee, and UCLA (4-2) smothered the Lady Vols in the first half, forcing 12 turnovers.

The Lady Vols shot only 29 percent from the field in the first half, and the Bruins grabbed a 25-14 lead off a jumper by Rebekah Gardner with 4:56 left in the first half.

UCLA cooled off as Spani began finding some rhythm. The freshman hit two 3-point baskets and a pair of free throws before halftime, and the Bruins’ lead was cut to 27-25 by the break.

“The first half we didn’t bring it consistently energy-wise. That cannot happen against any team, especially a team like UCLA,” Spani said.

The Bruins trailed 43-40 with 9:10 left when the Lady Vols launched a 10-2 run. A 3-pointer by Angie Bjorklund gave Tennessee a 53-42 lead with 5:12 left, and the Lady Vols kept a double-digit lead for the rest of the game.

Bjorklund hit three 3s and finished with 12 points, tying Shannon Bobbitt for fourth in the Tennessee record books with 147 career 3-pointers. Glory Johnson added 11 points, and Kelley Cain grabbed 11 rebounds.

Markel Walker, who is almost averaging a double-double this season, led UCLA with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Tennessee grabbed 49 rebounds, compared to UCLA’s 35, and scored 30 second-chance points.

Most of the attempts by Summitt’s former players turned opponents have ended up as Tennessee blowouts. North Carolina State coach Kelly Harper was the last to try as coach of Western Carolina last season, but the Catamounts lost 83-56. Tanya Haave’s San Francisco team lost 68-39 earlier in the 2008-09 season.

Maine coach Patricia Roberts came the closest to beating her mentor with a 77-64 loss on Dec. 13, 1990.

“I never doubted that (Caldwell) would be successful,” Summitt said. “They’ll win some games in the Pac-10.”

Still accustomed to tutoring the players in orange, Caldwell told Spani, Bjorklund and Johnson as they listened to her post game press conference that she was in agreement with Summitt’s decision to make the Lady Vols practice on Sunday.

Caldwell also said she brought a bag of UCLA clothing for her family members to wear to the game.

“They are loyal (Tennessee) fans,” she said. “I threatened my mom today. I told her, ‘Three hundred and sixty-four days out of the year you can be all about Tennessee, but this one day that we play you have to wear the blue and gold.”’

No. 6 Tennessee beats Middle Tennessee 69-52

2009-11-25T22:26:00.002-05:00

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Glory Johnson scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and sixth-ranked Tennessee beat Middle Tennessee 69-52 on Wednesday night before the first sellout crowd in Blue Raiders’ history.

Pat Summitt hadn’t brought her Lady Vols to Middle Tennessee since Nov. 26, 1979, when assistant Holly Warlick was a senior. Only 1,500 showed up that night for a Tennessee win. This time, Summitt came to play old friend Rick Insell’s program, and 11,802 turned out to easily top the 10,010 when top-ranked Maryland visited Nov. 10, 2006.

Angie Bjorklund had 16 points and Shekinna Stricklen 12 and 11 rebounds for Tennessee (4-0).

Alysha Clark, the nation’s leading scorer last season, finished with 23 for Middle Tennessee (2-2). Jackie Pickel added 16.

Insell has taken the Blue Raiders to the NCAA tournament in three of his first four seasons, and they were ranked No. 24 before a road loss to then-No. 7 LSU last week.

But Tennessee improved to 18-0 against Middle Tennessee, a program that just played its 1,000th game last weekend. Compare that to Summitt, whose career record now is 1,009-193.

Clark averaged 27.5 points per game last season and was coming off a 38-point performance in a win last weekend. Tennessee had the size advantage on the 5-foot-10 forward who found herself mostly guarded by 6-6 Kelley Cain. Clark didn’t hit her first bucket from the floor until 2:54 left in the first half, and she had only three points before the break.

The Blue Raiders led only once, at 3-2 on Chelsia Lymon’s 3-pointer. Taber Spani scored on a layup to put Tennessee back ahead, and the Lady Vols never trailed again. The Lady Vols seemingly couldn’t miss, hitting 16-of-26 (61.5 percent) in the first half.

Middle Tennessee too often settled for outside shots over the taller Lady Vols and couldn’t hit enough.

Brandi Brown’s 3 with 7:18 left pulled Middle Tennessee within 22-20. Tennessee responded with eight straight points as Stricklen and Johnson each scored twice. Alyssia Brewer’s layup with a minute left gave the Lady Vols their biggest lead at 35-22, and Tennessee took a 35-24 lead into halftime.

Clark finally got going in the second half, scoring 11 straight points for Middle. Her bucket at 8:31 pulled Middle within 54-42. Bjorklund scored, then Stricklen hit a pair of free throws to pad the lead.

The Lady Vols eventually led by as much as 20.

Lady Vols Crunch Virginia, 77-63

2009-11-22T16:21:00.000-05:00

Photo by UT
Angie Bjorklund and Shekinna Stricklen

Tennessee Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt gave her team an early holiday gift after her fifth-ranked team crunched no. 12 Virginia 77-63 before the largest crowd ever to attend a women‘s basketball game (11,895) in Charlottesville Sunday afternoon.

The Lady Vols (3-0) gained readmittance to their locker room at Thompson-Boling Arena for the first time since last February when Summitt barred access to motivate her then struggling team.

Angie Bjorklund, the junior who has developed into the team leader on a senior less squad, scored 24 points while Shekinna Stricklen added 20 followed by Glory Johnson with 14.

Sophomore center Kelley Cain had a six-plicate in points, rebounds and blocks.

The Cavaliers (3-1), who stunned UT 83-82 in Knoxville last season, had trimmed the Lady Vol lead to 42-39 with 18:14 remaining until Bjorklund responded with a momentum killing three point play aided by an assist by Stricklen. UVA All-American Monica Wright, who scored 35 points in the Cavaliers’ upset, fouled Bjorklund who converted her free throw to give UT a 46-39 lead.

UT freshman Taber Spani responded to Bjorklund’s shot with a trey of her own, extended the Lady Vol lead to 10 and the Cavaliers never recovered.

Next up for the Lady Vols is a Thanksgiving Eve meeting with 24th ranked Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro. Game time is scheduled for 8 ET as the Blue Raiders (2-1) and their senior All-American Alysha Clark attempt to defeat UT for the first time in school history. Clark, who was the nation’s leading scorer averaging 27.5 points per game last season, scored 38 in MTSU’s 84-73 victory over Austin Peay Saturday evening.

Tennessee (2-0) tops another Big 12 foe

2009-11-18T01:16:00.001-05:00

Lady Vols quicker, stronger and more athletic than Tech at every position

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=4665739

No. 6 Tennessee blows out Texas Tech 91-53

2009-11-17T23:09:00.000-05:00

SAN ANTONIO — Returning to San Antonio likely won’t be this easy for No. 6 Tennessee.

Taber Spani scored 18 points and Glory Johnson added 17 as the Lady Vols crushed Texas Tech 91-53 on Tuesday night in what Tennessee hopes will be the first of two trips to the Final Four city this season.

The road back is bound to be tougher: Tennessee opened the second half on a 32-4 run, held Texas Tech to 30 percent shooting and handed the game over to Spani and the rest of the Lady Vols bench early.

About the only thing giving the game a Final Four feel was defending national champion Connecticut watching nearby, waiting to play No. 10 Texas in the second game of a doubleheader.

“It gives (the players) a taste of what it’s all about,” Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said about playing in the San Antonio showcase. “Clearly, we all want to be back. It kind of whets your whistle a little bit.”

Shekinna Stricklen scored 16 points for the Tennessee and Angie Bjorklund sank four 3-pointers to finish with 14. The mostly burnt-orange crowd here for the Longhorns took in a dominating preview of Tennessee, which will face Texas at home Dec. 6.

Kierra Mallard scored 15 points and was the only player in double figures for Texas Tech. The Lady Raiders have never beaten the Lady Vols in six tries.

Tennessee flirted with holding Texas Tech to a single-game school record for poor field percentage before the Lady Raiders scored 21 of their points in the final 10 minutes. Before then, Texas Tech was shooting just under 24 percent from the floor.

Like the three other teams in the AT&T Center for the doubleheader, Texas Tech was once a Final Four contender before longtime coach Marsha Sharp retired after the 2005-06 season. Coach Kristy Curry has been trying to get Texas Tech back on track since.

“This does not define our season,” Curry said. “When you’re called for this opportunity, do you turn it down? No. You know this is the right step to take to get Tech back to where we want to be.”

The Lady Vols have now opened the year with two wins over Big 12 teams after beating No. 8 Baylor on Sunday. They’ll play another pair of rank teams starting Sunday at No. 12 Virginia, then Nov. 25 at No. 24 Middle Tennessee.

Stricklen just wants to be back in Texas come April.

“As a team that’s our main goal—to come back here,” Stricklen said. “Being here for the first time we really enjoyed it and we want to be back. We know what it takes to come back.”

Together again: Auriemma shrugs off Summitt spat

2009-11-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

SAN ANTONIO — It's safe to say that Geno Auriemma and Pat Summitt didn't spend much time catching up in Texas.

Auriemma and Summitt were at the AT&T Center on Tuesday night for a doubleheader in San Antonio, where the Final Four will be held in the spring. Summitt's sixth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols beat Texas Tech in the first game before Auriemma's top-ranked Huskies demolished No. 10 Texas.

The two Hall of Fame coaches had a falling out two years ago when their powerhouse programs canceled their regular-season series. Auriemma said in April 2008 that it was because Summitt accused UConn of cheating in recruiting.

Auriemma said he'll say hello to Summitt like anyone else, but doesn't see why anyone expects them to, say, go to dinner.

"Why? I don't go out to dinner with these guys," Auriemma said, sitting between two of his UConn players. "And I like them."

All four teams in the San Antonio doubleheader actually did have a dinner together Monday night. Auriemma said that what people need to understand is that within Division I women's basketball, people wanted to see games other than Connecticut playing Tennessee.

Between 1995 and 2007, the Huskies and Lady Vols played at least once a year.

"Everybody in the country has to understand that the only people who really wanted the whole Connecticut-Tennessee thing were people outside women's basketball," Auriemma said. "That was just for the outside fans."

Auriemma made his comments after being asked about Summitt following the game. Summitt was not asked about Auriemma following Tennessee's victory and made no comment on her own.

Lady Vols leave pair in Knoxville

2009-11-16T22:36:00.000-05:00

Summitt: 'I want them to get it right and we'll move on'

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/16/lady-vols-leave-pair-in-knoxville/

No. 8 Tennessee beats No. 7 Baylor 74-65

2009-11-15T19:34:00.001-05:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Shekinna Stricklen had 25 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 8 Tennessee beat No. 7 Baylor 74-65 on Sunday in the State Farm Tip-Off Classic.

All the buzz entering the game was about Brittney Griner, the Lady Bears’ celebrated recruit who dunked in an exhibition game. The 6-foot-8 Griner dunked a few times in warmups and scored 15 points, but never got close enough to the rim for a chance to dunk during the game.

The Lady Volunteers (1-0) used a combination of post players—who spent much of the game in foul trouble—to shut down Griner.

Stricklen hit a fast-break layup on a steal and assist from Kamiko Williams to cap a 14-2 run that gave the Lady Vols a 52-38 lead with 9:49 left. Baylor (0-1) got within nine points several times.

Melissa Jones led Lady Bears with 21 points.

Lady Vols hope new season sets different tone

2009-11-14T21:29:00.001-05:00

Clearing the air

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/14/clearing-the-air/

Johnson to shoulder load against Baylor after injury

2009-11-14T12:12:00.000-05:00

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/14/johnson-to-shoulder-load-against-baylor-after/

It's 'hands down' to block dunk

2009-11-14T12:10:00.000-05:00

At 6-foot-8, Baylor freshman could take feat to greater heights

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/14/its-hands-down-to-block-dunk/

Lady Vol is injured at practice

2009-11-12T11:17:00.001-05:00

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee sophomore forward Glory Johnson suffered a left shoulder injury during Wednesday's practice and is being listed as day to day.

There was no immediate word on the nature of the injury. The official report was that Johnson was being evaluated.

UT Coach Pat Summitt expressed optimism that Johnson would be available for Sunday's season opener against Baylor in the State Farm Tipoff Classic at Thompson-Boling Arena. Her first thought was that the injury wouldn't present long-term problems.

The injury occurred during a shooting drill. Johnson was attended to by UT medical staffers for at least 15 minutes. The other players were concerned enough to convene a prayer circle.

Summitt encouraged by Lady Vols' offseason effort

2009-11-11T11:50:00.001-05:00

KNOXVILLE — Pat Summitt thinks her six sophomore Tennessee Lady Volunteers learned an important lesson last season after being a part of the program's worst finish last season.

"I would say all of our sophomores understand that they can't just step out there, put on the big orange uniform and win. That's a good thing," the coach said.

Now the team must prove that the lesson learned is enough to put No. 8 Tennessee back on an NCAA championship path after making its first-ever first-round exit from the tournament in March.

After coaching the youngest team she'd ever fielded last year, Summitt added three new faces to her lineup for 2009-10. Only one of them — 6-foot-1 guard Taber Spani — ranked among the top 20 recruits in the nation.

The Lady Vols claim that even without a game-changer like Candace Parker in the lineup, they'll be better. They say they're working harder this year and better understand what it takes to win.

After the 71-55 loss to Ball State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Summitt held a sort of spring training for the Lady Vols. She told them they could either commit to working hard in the offseason or don't come back.

"I think this team just thought they could all come together," she said. "They had a lot of high school All-Americans, and it was just going to happen. It doesn't happen. You make things happen."

The message got through.

Strength and conditioning coach Heather Mason, who's already known for her demanding training style, said the team worked harder than any in her seven years with Tennessee had ever worked in the offseason.

Junior guard Angie Bjorklund, who with the most playing experience is the team's elder, said all the players worked out as a team every single day, despite the workouts being optional.

"Coach always says championships are won in the offseason. If that's the case, we have a good shot because we worked hard this summer," the Spokane Valley, Wash., native said.

Bjorklund says the sophomores will be improved just by being a year older. She had her own struggles as a freshman, going through a slump after New Year's, but became one of the team leaders and top scorers as a sophomore.

Sophomore point guard Briana Bass agrees. She's got a better sense of how to manage her time as a student-athlete and what to expect on the team.

"It's all about getting that year under your belt. You understand the system and how things work around here," the 5-foot-2 Indianapolis, Ind., native said.

Spani and her fellow freshmen, Faith Dupree and Kamiko Williams, have been working hard too. Spani said the three of them understand the commitment they have to make to avoid the kind of experience last year's freshman class went through.

"I'm a blue-collar worker. I come from that kind of family," Spani said. "Hard work is natural for me, and I love it. I was drawn to Heather Mason and the offseason stuff and the conditioning. I think that's what help makes championship teams."

Summitt knows that hard work, a few new players and a new attitude won't automatically translate into more success. The Southeastern Conference is better this season, and there's more parity in women's basketball across the nation.

The Lady Vols will be tested early and often. They open at home against No. 7 Baylor, which features top recruit Brittney Griner. They'll also face six other teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 — all before Christmas.

Still, the Hall of Fame coach knows she and her players have done the best they could do in the offseason. That gives her a little hope, for now.

"I just will tell you I have a different comfort level now than a year ago," she said.

Avant is better off for having a hoops break

2009-11-10T23:09:00.001-05:00

Point guard ready to sign with Lady Vols

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/10/avant-is-better-off-for-having-a-hoops-break/

Pat Summitt's UT Contract

2009-11-10T19:22:00.002-05:00

In February Pat Summitt signed a contract extension that will keep her at Tennessee through 2014, which would be her 40th season as Lady Vols coach.

See the contract Summitt signed with the University of Tennessee.

Lady Vols 79, Delta State 46

2009-11-09T23:12:00.001-05:00

Kelley Cain breezed to a double-double Monday night in a 79-46 exhibition victory over Delta State in Thompson-Boling Arena.

Cain, who finished with a game-high 20 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocked shots in just 19 minutes of play, loomed large over the Lady Statesmen, whose tallest player still gave up six inches to Tennessee's 6-foot-8 center.

All that changes this weekend, though.

The Lady Vols begin the regular season against No. 7 Baylor -- and the Lady Bears' 6-foot-8 freshman Brittney Griner.

The true freshman boasts a 7-foot-4 wingspan and dunked 52 times in 32 games as a senior at Nimitz High School in Houston. Griner, a consensus national player of the year coming out of high school, dunked in the Lady Bears' exhibition win over Incarnate Word on Saturday.

Cain wasn't the only Lady Vol to post a double-double on Monday, either.

Freshman Taber Spani, despite coming off the bench in favor of sophomore Glory Johnson, scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

Angie Bjorklund scored 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting, while Shekinna Stricklen added 10 points and nine boards.

Johnson finished with seven points on 2-of-6 shooting with two blocks and five rebounds.

Delta State, ranked No. 4 in Division II, was paced by point guard Bug Cooper's 15 points. The Lady Statesmen shot just 26 percent from the field and turned the ball over 19 times.

The Lady Vols opened the game on an 11-0 run and used another 11-0 run to take a 22-5 lead early in the game.

Tennessee and Delta State last played in 1979 before Monday's exhibition, but the two programs met in the 1977 AIAW Final Four where the Lady Statesmen defeated Tennessee to claim their third consecutive AIWA national title.

Counting Monday's exhibition, the Lady Vols are 5-2 all-time against Delta State.

The Lady Vols return to the court Sunday for a 5 p.m. tipoff (TV: ESPN2) against the Lady Bears in Thompson-Boling Arena. The Lady Vols defeated Baylor 71-69 in the 2004 NCAA tournament, their only previous meeting.

Cain climbs boards: Lady Vols win, 79-46

2009-11-09T23:11:00.001-05:00

Center grabs 20 rebounds in 19 minutes

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/09/cain-climbs-boards/

Cierra Burdick Committs to UT

2009-11-08T23:22:00.003-05:00

Cierra Burdick, one of the nation's top ranked girls basketball players, committed to Tennessee Sunday morning.

Burdick, ranked among the nation's top 5 in the junior class, visited the school Saturday and attended Tenneesee's football game where the Vols beat Memphis 56-28. Burdick said she spent time with some of the school's players and felt really at home.

But when she walked into coach Pat Summitt's office for a post-visit meeting Sunday morning, she didn't plan to commit.

"I planned to go on and check out my other choice, South Carolina, and compare after that," Burdick said, "but they got me. They said all the right stuff -- and the numbers there don't lie."

In 35 years, Summitt is 1,005-193. Her teams have won 14 of 29 SEC championships and eight national titles.

Burdick, a 6-3 junior guard, thinks Summitt -- and her staff -- will fully develop her game. Burdick averaged 12.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, four blocks and 2.1 steals last year for Butler, which reached the N.C. 4A Western Regional championship, before losing to eventual state champ West Charlotte.

In the summer, she played for a 16-and-under USA Basketball national team that won a FIBA Americans U16 championship in Mexico City. In the Gold Medal game, when the U.S. beat Canada 103-52, Burdick had six points, a team-high seven rebounds, five assists and a team-high five steals.

As the 2009-10 season begins next week, she is North Carolina's top player, regardless of class. And she's excited to get her college decision out of the way.

"I just think coach Summitt can bring the best out of me," Burdick said. "I want to continue to get better and be the best on the next level and the level after that. I think they can bring out my full potential."

Lady Vols crush Carson-Newman 124-34 in exhibition opener

2009-11-05T23:59:00.000-05:00

Six players reached double figures and No. 8 Tennessee defeated Carson-Newman 124-34 in an exhibition game Thursday night in Thompson-Boling Arena.

Sophomore Glory Johnson led the way with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, and junior Angie Bjorklund scored 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting before making her exit midway through the second half.

At one point after halftime, Bjorklund had scored more points than Carson-Newman.

“We wanted to focus on what the team brought at both ends,” UT coach Pat Summitt said. “Last year, we would sometimes play down to the level of our competition. Tonight, we maintained our intensity. Last year, we’d get a lead and think the game was over. Tonight, we were thinking execution.”

Freshman guard Taber Spani started and scored 17 points in her first game as a Lady Vol. Alicia Manning added 18 points, and Kelley Cain had 16 points. Shekinna Stricklen chipped in 12 points, 10 of which came in the first half.

No other freshmen played until forward Kamiko Williams, who scored two points on 1-of-2 shooting, entered with about 6:21 remaining in the game. Faith Dupree did not play.

For the game, Tennessee hit 62 percent of its shots from the field, including a 45-percent clip from beyond the 3-point line. Bjorklund and Spani both hit a team-high three 3-pointers.

The Lady Vols opened the game on a 16-3 run and cruised to a 64-18 lead at halftime, thanks in large part to 18 first-half turnovers by Carson-Newman.

Tennessee scored 22 points off turnovers in the opening half and used their considerable size advantage inside to outscore the Lady Eagles 34-8 inside over the same span.

The Lady Vols defeated Carson-Newman 135-55 in an exhibition game last year and have now scored more than 100 points in five of their last six exhibition games against the Division II school.

“Overall, I was pleased,” Summitt said. “We played well together. Sometimes our defense was too tight. We weren’t perfect, but we’ve got some good film to look at.”

Tennessee returns to the court Monday for its final exhibition game against Delta State at 7 p.m. in Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Lady Vols open the regular season at home against No. 7 Baylor on Nov. 15 as part of the State Farm Classic.

Visit UTTix.com to purchase tickets.

Late show by Johnson, Lady Vols

2009-11-05T23:56:00.002-05:00

Summitt likes way 'we kept our intensity and maintained it'

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/05/late-show-by-johnson-lady-vols/

Lady Vols prepare for exhibition game tomorrow

2009-11-04T23:58:00.003-05:00

Forty-five minutes before practice began, Vicki Baugh was draining 15-foot jumpers from the baseline. A renewed hope for her return is growing, but she still hasn't been cleared to play.

Tennessee's post players will be the key to a successful season because they all are the only real question marks from last season's disappointing end. Counting Baugh, the Lady Vols have just five true post players on their roster.

Taber Spani could be used as a four, but counting on a freshman, even a McDonald's High School All-American, for anything is naive.
Baugh's status for this season is still completely up to Jenny Moshak, long-time Lady Vol head trainer whom Pat Summitt trusts deeply.
Alyssia Brewer's consistency, or lack thereof, has been noted by other reporters and Summitt.
Kelley Cain has been recovering from major knee surgery for about a year now and is the center, literally, of Tennessee's game plan.
Glory Johnson, who has made great strides in the offseason, still has to prove it on the court.
Faith Dupree, who practiced today after being held out yesterday for back spasms, looks promising but is still a freshman.

On a brighter note, Tennessee has more quality guard depth this year than any recent year that comes to memory. Angie Bjorklund, Shekinna Stricklen, Sydney Smallbone, Alicia Manning and Spani have deadly accurate jump shots and could all easily average 15 points-per-game.

Briana Bass and Kamiko Williams, who will likely see the majority of their minutes at point guard and shooting guard respectively, have great scoring abilities as well. Ultimately, it will be up to the post players to keep opponents from keying on Tennessee's guards on the perimeter.

Heather Mason, legendary strength and conditioning coach, talked everyone through the pregame warm-ups at first, and the upperclassmen had to move the newcomers into line, literally. One drill which features lots of "foot fire" requires the players to line up behind each other in a grid on the court.

Shooting drills featured an impressive display of shooting accuracy from the guards on one end of the court and left something to be desired from the posts' offensive moves and consistency.

Scrimmages against practice players showed that this Lady Vol team has good early chemistry that could become something special. Offensive shells, while not executed to perfection, were effective against the stiff competition.

Brewer showed her potential by scoring two consecutive times, once in the paint and the other draining a short jumper with a hand in her face.

I left practice feeling like this team has the potential to be special, but we'll soon see just how special. No. 7/4 (AP/Coaches) Baylor, which has freshman YouTube-dunking sensation Brittney Griner, comes to Knoxville on November 15th to start the season.

This new Tennessee Lady Volunteer team, No. 8/9 (AP/Coaches) in the preseason polls, looks to improve upon last year's sub-par season; 2009 was the first year since 1997 that Tennessee failed to claim either the regular season SEC crown or the SEC tournament title, and it was the first year in Lady Vol history that Tennessee did not win a first-round NCAA Tournament game. The chance to start anew comes tomorrow in Knoxville against Carson-Newman (exhibition match) at 7:30 PM ET.

Offense requested by Summitt

2009-11-04T23:55:00.001-05:00

Lady Vols told to 'play' in exhibition

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/04/offense-requested-by-summitt/

Happy Homecoming

2009-11-03T16:28:00.000-05:00

Saturday, Homecoming festivities continue with Party in the Park. Circle Park will be enlivened with the pep band, cheerleaders, music, door prizes and face painting. A barbeque is also available for $12, but requires a reservation to claim a plate. Coach Pat Summitt and Jay Bush and Duke (of Bush's Baked Beans fame) will be there from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The party begins 3 hours before kickoff. Free, except barbeque - contact Susie Orr to make reservations for food.