University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE VS. BYU - GAME NOTES
March 20, 2002 | Women's Basketball
March 20, 2002
| TENNESSEE LADY VOLS  27-4 Overall, 13-1 SEC #2 Seed | vs. | BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS  24-8 Overall, 10-4 MWC #11 Seed |
Saturday, March 23, 2002, 6:06 p.m. CT Hilton Coliseum Ames, Iowa | ||
| Tennessee's Game Notes in PDF Format   Download Free Acrobat Reader | ||
NCAA TOURNAMENT - MIDWEST REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
THE RANKINGS:
UT is 6th in AP & USA TODAY/ESPN
BYU is not ranked AP & USA TODAY/ESPN
RECENT RESULTS:
3-17-02 #6 UT def. Notre Dame, 89-50
3-18-02 BYU def. #10 Iowa State, 75-69
UPCOMING GAMES:
3-25 NCAA Midwest Regional Finals, 8:00 pm CT
Winner of UT/BYU vs. winner of Vandy/UNC
COACHES RECORDS:
UT's Pat Summitt is 786-157 (28 yrs)
BYU's Jeff Judkins is 24-8 (1 yr)
UT IN NCAA SWEET 16
In Knoxville: UT is 5-0
Away: UT is 0-0
Neutral: UT is 11-4
Overtime: UT is 1-0
Postseason: UT is 16-4 in Sweet 16
SWEET 16/NCAA 2001: 3-24-01
#12/11 Xavier def. #3 Tennessee, 80-65
MEDIA COVERAGE
RADIO-WNOX-AM/FM (990/99.1) with Mickey Dearstone and the Lady Vol Radio Network, utladyvols.com
TELEVISION- ESPN
LADY VOL HOTLINE: (865) 974-8700
WEBSITE: utladyvols.com
PROBABLE UT STARTERS
13- GWEN JACKSON, F, 6-2, Jr., 10.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg
25- BRITTANY JACKSON, F, 6-0, Fr., 6.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg
43- SHYRA ELY, F, 6-2, Fr., 9.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg
20- KARA LAWSON, G, 5-9, Jr., 15.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg
10- APRIL McDIVITT, G, 5-8, Jr., 5.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg
OFF THE BENCH
00- MICHELLE SNOW, C, 6-5, Sr., 13.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg
3- TASHA BUTTS, F, 5-11, So., 4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg
4- LATOYA DAVIS, F, 6-0, So., 4.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg
11- AMANDA CANON, F, 5-11, Sr., 0.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg
14- MICHELLE MU?OZ, F, 6-1, Fr., 3.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg
21- LOREE MOORE, G, 5-9, Fr., 5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.0 apg
33- ASHLEY ROBINSON, F-C, 6-5, So., 5.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg
42- COURTNEY McDANIEL, F, 6-1, So., 3.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg
50- SHALON PILLOW, C, 6-3, Sr., 2.2 ppg, 0.9 rpg
TONIGHT'S GAME
The #6-ranked and #2 seeded Tennessee Lady Vols will face unranked and 11th seeded Brigham Young in the 2002 NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals in Ames, Iowa, on March 23. BYU upset #10 Iowa State on their home court earlier this week.
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IN OUR LAST GAME
The #6-ranked Tennessee Lady Volunteers enjoyed the "luck of the orange" on St. Patrick's Day, defeating the Irish of Notre Dame, 89-50, on Mar. 17 in Knoxville, Tenn., in NCAA Second Round action. The win was the Lady Vols 30th consecutive in NCAA play on their home floor all-time. The Irish, resplendent in their special green uniforms for St. Patty's Day, took two quick two point leads and then saw Lady Vol tail lights the rest of the way. A fastbreak Kara Lawson lay-up saw UT open an 11-point lead (19-8) with 13:20 to play in the first half. A five-point burst from UT guard April McDivitt with six minutes before the half saw UT's lead grow to 18 points, 39-21. Tasha Butts capped UT's first half scoring spree with a bucket at the halftime buzzer to give the Lady Vols a massive 26-point, 53-27 halftime advantage. What was amazing was that Notre Dame had been holding its opponents to just 56.7 points for the game! Nine of UT's 11 players scored in the first half led by 10 points from Brittany Jackson. UT continued their romp in the second half as the Lady Vols jumped on Notre Dame both offensively and defensively and never looked back. UT's fans were almost treated to a Michelle Snow dunk at home with 1:59 to go but the senior was fouled on the play and the dunk didn't go down. On the evening, UT was led in balanced scoring by Lawson's 16-point performance. Also in extra digits was Snow with 11 points and Brittany Jackson with 10 points. Sophomore Courtney McDaniel led the Lady Vols in rebounding with nine boards in 11 minutes of action. UT connected on 45% of its field goals, 30% three-pointers and 77% from the charity stripe. UT outrebounded Notre Dame, 51-37. The Lady Vols committed 17 turnovers on eight Notre Dame steals and forced 25 miscues off of 16 steals. UT handed out 18 assists led by a career high from B. Jackson. UT held the Irish to just 28% from the field, 24% from three-point land and only 54% from the free throw line.
OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Survive and Advance. The Tennessee Lady Vols advance to the semifinal round of the 2002 NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament taking on Brigham Young.
ALL-CONFERENCE
This season, Tennessee faced teams from 13 different conferences.
LADY VOLS ON TELEVISION
Twenty-three Lady Vol games have been televised this year. UT is 19-4 on TV. Upcoming TV games: NCAA Tournament
ON THIS DAY
On Mar. 23, the Lady Vols have produced a 7-2 record all-time. The Lady Vols are 3-0 at home, 0-0 away and have a 4-2 slate at neutral sites. UT's most recent game on this day was in 1998 when Tennessee defeated North Carolina, 76-70, in Nashville to advance to the Final Four.
LOOKING BACK
Last year at this time, the Lady Vols were 31-2 overall, 14-0 in the SEC and had just defeated St. Mary's (Calif.), 92-75 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament in Knoxville.
LADY VOL WEEKLY GAMES, RECORD,POLLS
| WEEK OF/GAMES PLAYED | RECORD | AP/USA TODAY |
| OCT. 29/REMUS AUSTRIA POWERBASKET | 0-0 | --- |
| NOV. 5/NO GAMES | 0-0 | 3RD/2ND |
| NOV. 12/UT-CHATTANOOGA, SOUTHERN CAL | 2-0 | 2ND/2ND |
| NOV. 19/#5 LOUISIANA TECH | 3-0 | 2ND/2ND |
| NOV. 26/#21/22 GWU, #8/9 N.C. STATE | 5-0 | 2ND/2ND |
| DEC. 3/BOSTON COLLEGE | 6-0 | 2ND/2ND |
| DEC. 10/#6/5 STANFORD | 7-0 | 2ND/2ND |
| DEC. 17/DEPAUL | 8-0 | 2ND/2ND |
| DEC. 24/#8 DUKE, MEMPHIS | 10-0 | 2ND/2ND |
| DEC. 31/#15/16 FLORIDA, #1 CONNECTICUT | 11-1 | 2ND/2ND |
| JAN. 7/#25 ODU, #19/22 AUBURN, LSU | 14-1 | 2ND/3RD |
| JAN. 14/#8 SOUTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA | 16-1 | 2ND/3RD |
| JAN. 21/#22 AUBURN | 17-1 | 2ND/2ND |
| JAN. 28/#12/15 FLORIDA, #8/6 VANDERBILT | 18-2 | 2ND/2ND |
| FEB. 4/ARKANSAS, #22/21 GEORGIA | 20-2 | 3RD/4TH |
| FEB. 11/#18/17 TEXAS, MISS. STATE, #6 VANDY | 22-3 | 3RD/4TH |
| FEB. 18/MISSISSIPPI, KENTUCKY | 24-3 | 4TH/4TH |
| FEB. 25/#24 GEORGIA, LSU | 25-4 | 3RD/3RD |
| MAR. 4/NO GAMES | 5-4 | 6TH /6TH |
| MAR. 11/GEORGIA STATE, NOTRE DAME | 27-4 | 6TH /6TH |
| MAR. 18/BRIGHAM YOUNG | 6TH /6TH |
2001-02 TENNESSEE LADY VOL LINE-UP COMBINATIONS
During the 2001-02 season, Tennessee has used 15 starting lineups --
| Game | Record | Line-up (F-F-C-G-G) |
| 1-3, 9 | 4-0 | Ely, Butts, Snow, Lawson, McDivitt |
| 4-5, 14-15 | 4-0 | Ely, G. Jackson, Snow, Lawson, Butts |
| 6 | 1-0 | Ely, G. Jackson, Snow, Lawson, Moore |
| 7-8 | 2-0 | G. Jackson, Butts, Snow, Lawson, McDivitt |
| 10-12 | 2-1 | Ely, G. Jackson, Snow, Lawson, McDivitt |
| 13,16 | 2-0 | Ely, G. Jackson, Snow, Lawson, Davis |
| 17 | 1-0 | Robinson, G. Jackson, Snow, Lawson, Moore |
| 18 | 1-0 | Ely, G. Jackson, Robinson, Lawson, McDivitt |
| 19-20 | 1-1 | Davis, Robinson, Snow, Lawson, Moore |
| 21 | 1-0 | Davis, G. Jackson, Robinson, Lawson, Moore |
| 22, 28-29 | 2-1 | Butts, G. Jackson, Snow, Lawson, Moore |
| 23 | 0-1 | Butts, Ely, Robinson, Lawson, Moore |
| 24-26 | 3-0 | Butts, Ely, Snow, Lawson, Moore |
| 27 | 1-0 | Pillow, Canon, Snow, Lawson, Moore |
| 30-31 | 2-0 | B. Jackson, G. Jackson, Ely, Lawson, McDivitt |
MUSICAL STARTERS
Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has started 15 different line-ups in 31 games. In the last 16 games she has started 10 different line-ups. The only common denominator in all 31 games has been junior guard Kara Lawson who has started every contest. There have been two long-tenured starting five combos - four games. In games 1-3 and 9, Shyra Ely, Tasha Butts, Michelle Snow, Kara Lawson and April McDivitt. In games 4-5 and 14-15, Ely, Gwen Jackson, Snow, Lawson and Butts.
THE TOP 25 POLLS
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AP POLL NOTES
The Associated Press women's Top 25 basketball poll released on Jan. 1, 2001, marked the 400th appearance by the Tennessee Lady Vols. Since the poll was started in 1976, UT has failed to appear in just 14 polls through the years. Currently, UT has been ranked in 301 consecutive polls and since the 1986-87 season, the Lady Vols have been in the top 10 for all but one poll. UT is the only team to have been ranked every year for the last 26 years in the AP poll. UT has appeared at least once per season over the poll's history.
2001-02 WON-LOSS DIFFERENTIAL
Wins: +40 (2), +39 (1), +37 (1), +31 (1), +30 (1), +26 (1), +25 (2), +24 (1), +21 (2), +20 (1), +19 (1), + 18 (1), +17 (1), +15 (1), +14 (2), +13 (1), +12 (2), +9 (1), +7 (1), +6 (1), +2 (2)
Losses: -1 (1), -3 (1), -14 (1), -17 (1)
2002 NCAA TOURNAMENT ? MIDWEST REGIONAL SEMIS
GAME REPORT 32 & POSSIBLE GAME 33
(For extensive UT game notes on each of the NCAA Midwest Regional teams - Brigham Young, Vanderbilt or North Carolina, please refer to the additional notes section).
IF YOU SURVIVE AND ADVANCE, - YOU MAKE A STAND AT THE ALAMO(DOME)
The six-time NCAA Champion Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 21st consecutive time. On Sat., Mar. 23 at 6:07 p.m. CT (ESPN) Tennessee faces Brigham Young in a Sweet 16 match-up hoping to advance to the Midwest Regional Championship game on Mar. 25 in Ames, Iowa., versus Vanderbilt or North Carolina.
NO PRESSURE BUT. . . EVERY LADY VOL HAS PLAYED IN ONE
Every Lady Vol hoopster (since 1976) has played in at least one Final Four during her career at Tennessee. Lady Vol seniors Michelle Snow, Shalon Pillow and Amanda Canon went to the 2000 Final Four in Philadelphia, Pa., and lost to UConn in the Championship game.
GETTING TO THE ROUND OF 16 SURE IS SWEET
The Lady Vols have been fortunate to advance to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament for 21 consecutive years. Additionally, Tennessee has made it to the regional finals in 16 of the last 20 trips to the Sweet Sixteen. The Lady Vols did not advance to the regional finals in 1985 (losing to Ole Miss, 63-60), in 1992 (losing to Western Kentucky, 75-70), in 1994 (losing to Louisiana Tech, 71-68) and last season after a devastating loss to Xavier, 80-65.
SOME FAMILIAR FACES
The Tennessee Lady Vols see some familiar faces among the 15 other teams remaining in the 2002 NCAA Tournament as UT took on seven of the these teams in eight games this season. UT posted a 5-3 overall record taking wins from then-#6 Vanderbilt (75-68) H, #6/5 Stanford (68-62) A, #9 Duke (89-68) N, #8 South Carolina (80-61) A, and #25 Old Dominion (74-62) H. Tennessee's three losses were to #1 Connecticut (86-72) H, #8/6 Vanderbilt (76-59) A, and #18/17 Texas (69-66) H.
FACING BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
When the Lady Vols take on Brigham Young University in the semifinals of the 2002 NCAA Midwest Regionals in Ames, Iowa, the Cougars will become Tennessee's 61st all-time opponent and the second first-time opponent this season. UT's 2002 NCAA First Round meeting with Georgia State marked the Lady Vols 60th opponent all-time. Ironically, UT's first exposure to the Mountain West Conference was during the 1979-80 season when the Lady Vols faced UNLV in a holiday tournament in Las Vegas. The starting point guard for the Lady Vols was current assistant coach Holly Warlick, who was a senior All-American at the time. Last weekend, the New Mexico Lobos of the Mountain West Conference visited Knoxville for the NCAA First and Second Round contests. UNM lost a tough 58-44 decision to Notre Dame in opening round action. BYU defeated UNM in the MWC tournament semifinals, 71-58.
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SWEET 16 RANDOM NOTES
- Until UT's loss to Xavier in the 2001 NCAA Mideast Regional semis, Tennessee had won six consecutive Sweet 16 meetings dating back to 1995.
- Prior to the loss to Xavier, the Lady Vols' last hiccup in the NCAA Regional semifinals came in 1994 versus Louisiana Tech at the Mideast Regionals held at the University of Arkansas. UT lost to the Lady Techsters, 71-68.
- The lowest seeded team to beat Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 was fourth-seeded Louisiana Tech in 1994 and fourth seeded Western Kentucky in 1992.
- UT has faced seven different conferences in Sweet 16 games: ACC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big 12, Colonial, Conference USA , Mountain West , SEC and Sunbelt. Of the 19 all-time games, UT is most likely to see a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference -- five contests have come against ACC opponents. Four games in Sweet 16 play have featured opposition from the SEC and Sunbelt Conferences, each.
- The Lady Vols played its longest game in school history in the NCAA Sweet 16. Tennessee needed three overtimes to defeat Mississippi, 90-83, in the 1983 NCAA Mideast Regional semifinals held at Notre Dame.
- The Lady Vols have averaged 74.1 ppg in 20 Sweet 16 games. The opposition averages 64.1 ppg.
- In the four all-time losses in the Sweet 16, Tennessee lost by three points twice, five points, and by 15 points to Xavier.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIDWEST BRACKET
We know you guys. Should Tennessee advance to the finals of the 2002 NCAA Midwest Regional, the Lady Vols would face either cross-state rival and SEC foe Vanderbilt or the University of North Carolina. If UT faces Vanderbilt, it would mark the seventh time UT had to get by a fellow SEC school to earn a spot in the Final Four. If the Lady Vols would face North Carolina, it would mark sixth time UT had to defeat an ACC school to advance to the Final Four.
GET OUTTA HERE
Tennessee has won 40 consecutive NCAA play-off games at home since 1982 (30-0 in NCAA First/Second Rounds and 10-0 in five NCAA Mideast Regionals hosted in Knoxville. When you add in the AIAW years, Tennessee has won 46 consecutive (since Mar. 15, 1980) post-season AIAW/NCAA games at home. Overall, UT has won 48 out of 49 games in Knoxville since Mar. 10, 1979. UT's only loss in post-season play at home was a 74-72 AIAW Region II defeat to Old Dominion on Mar. 10, 1979. That year, the winner of the Region II Tournament was given the higher seed in the AIAW Regional Championship Tournament (Sweet 16) while the loser was sent to a tougher regional bracket. As the Region II winner, Old Dominion traveled to Tennessee Tech for the AIAW South Regional while Tennessee earned a trip to the Bronx, N.Y. for the East Regional. Both ODU and Tennessee advanced to the AIAW "Final Four" in Greensboro, N.C. that year.
2002 NCAA TOURNEY TIME IN TENNESSEE
The Lady Vols are in postseason play for the 26th time in coach Pat Summitt's 28-year career at Tennessee. UT is hosted an NCAA Midwest Sub Regional at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 15 & 17. On March 15, in the first game, seventh seeded Notre Dame defeated 10th seeded New Mexico, 58-44. In the nightcap, second-seeded Tennessee knocked off 15th seed Georgia State, 98-68. In second round action, UT defeated UND on St. Patrick's Day, 89-50, to advance to the Midwest Regional Championships at Ames, Iowa, on Mar. 23 & 25. UT will face Brigham Young for the first time in school history.
GOING TO THE MIDWEST
The Lady Vols have been placed in the Midwest bracket of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in 21 trips to the Big Dance. Tennessee advanced to the Final Four from the Midwest in 1997 and claimed the NCAA title in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fourteen times, the Lady Vols have been in the Mideast Regional and advanced to the Final Four in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2000. Tennessee has been placed in the East Regional bracket five times (1988, 1989, 1990, 1996 and 1999) and advanced to the Final Four on three occasions 1988, 1989 and 1996.
HOW WE'VE FARED VS. THE 2002 MIDWEST BRACKET
Tennessee has faced four teams in five games in the 2002 NCAA Midwest bracket this season and posted a 5-1 record. The Lady Vols defeated #15/16 Florida (88-64), #12/15 Florida (86-66), #6 Vanderbilt (75-68), Georgia State (98-68) and Notre Dame (89-50). UT lost at #8/6 Vanderbilt, 76-59.
PAGING RODNEY DANGERFIELD -- UT GETS #2 SEEDING
Despite playing the most difficult schedule and the most ranked teams this past season, Tennessee was awarded a #2 seeding for the 2002 NCAA Tournament. UT has been a #2 seed just two other times (1982 and 1987 in the Mideast) in the 21-year history of the tournament. The Tennessee Lady Vols have been seeded number one in the NCAA Tournament 14 times. The Lady Vols were top seeds in 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
BUT THE IRONY IS. . .
The last time Tennessee did not receive a #1 seeding was in 1997 when the 23-10 regular season Lady Vols were seeded as the #3 team in its first trip to the NCAA Midwest Regional in Iowa City, Iowa. That Lady Vol team ran the table in the NCAA Tournament and brought home the 1997 NCAA Championship.
AND GET THIS
The Lady Vols have both advanced twice and been denied once of going to the Final Four when playing in a regional final in the state of Iowa. Previously, all three visits were to Iowa City where in 1986 at the NCAA Mideast Regional at Iowa, UT upset LSU, 67-65, to earn a trip to the Final Four in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1993, an extremely emotional Iowa team coached by C. Vivian Stringer and a home floor Hawkeye crowd, sent Tennessee home, 72-56, in the finals of the Mideast Regionals. Finally, in 1997 UT upset undefeated and top-ranked Connecticut, 91-81 in the Midwest Regional Championship game in Iowa City. The Lady Vols advanced to the 1997 Final Four in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Tennessee knocked off Notre Dame, 80-66, in the semis and Old Dominion, 68-59 in the title game to claim the 1997 NCAA title.
THESE SEEDS GREW
Tennessee has played in an incredible 87 games in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. Six times the Lady Vols have brought home NCAA titles to Knoxville. On the 14 occasions when UT lost in the tournament, the following seeds bounced the Lady Vols out.
#1 seed-1982, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2000
#2 seed-1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993
#3 seed-1999
#4 seed-1992, 1994, 2001
RANKED TEAMS -- MIDWEST
In the AP and USA TODAY/ESPN polls, six teams from the 2002 NCAA Midwest Regionals are ranked led by fourth-ranked Vanderbilt. The next highest ranked team is Tennessee (#6), and is followed by Iowa State (#10), North Carolina (#16), Minnesota (#18/22) and Florida (#24/21). Only three ranked teams advanced in the Midwest, UT, UNC and Vandy. Brigham Young has not been ranked this season but has received votes in both polls at one time or another.
AGAINST THE 2002 NCAA TOURNAMENT FIELD
Tennessee has faced in 17 teams in 21 games from the original 63-team (plus UT) NCAA bracket. Overall, the Lady Vols have turned in a 17-4 record. UT has beaten: Boston College (75-66), Chattanooga (97-57), Duke (89-68), LSU (79-67), Arkansas (93-65), Georgia (52-50, 81-67), Mississippi State (80-78), Old Dominion (74-62), Florida (88-64, 86-66), South Carolina (80-61), Stanford (68-62), Vanderbilt (75-68), Louisiana Tech (90-75), Georgia State (98-68) and Notre Dame (89-50). The Lady Vols' four losses have come against Connecticut (72-86), Vanderbilt (59-76), Texas (66-69) and LSU (80-81).
BREAKING DOWN THE MIDWEST BRACKET-HOW WE'VE FARED ALL-TIME
Of the other 15 teams in the Midwest bracket, Tennessee has faced 10 schools all-time. Against all teams in the Midwest bracket, UT has a 102-8 record all-time. In the most recent games against these teams, the Lady Vols posted wins over every team. Interestingly enough, four of the most recent meetings with these teams came in the NCAA Tournament.
| Team | UT Record | UT Last Game/Result |
| Vanderbilt | 37-6 | 2-16-02, W, H, 75-68 |
| Oakland | never played | |
| Georgia State | 1-0 | 3-15-02, W, H, 98-68 |
| Iowa State | never played | |
| Temple | never played | |
| North Carolina | 12-1 | 3-23-98, N, W, 76-70 |
| Harvard | never played | |
| Minnesota | 1-0 | 12-4-83, H, W, 54-50 |
| UNLV | 1-0 | 12-19-79, A, W, 84-64 |
| Florida | 30-1 | 1-31-02, H, W, 86-66 |
| Brigham Young | never played | |
| New Mexico | never played | |
| Notre Dame | 14-0 | 3-17-02, H, W, 89-50 |
| Wisconsin | 5-0 | 12-3-00, H, W, 90-66 |
| Arizona State | 1-0 | 12-27-00, N, W, 67-63 |
(Bold indicates NCAA Tournament game)
KNOXVILLE'S NOT FRIENDLY TO THE OPPOSITION
The average score of an NCAA first/second round game against the Lady Vols in Knoxville does not bode well for the opposition. The Lady Vols defeat its NCAA Tournament opponents in Knoxville by an average score of 89.4.1-56.8 - or an average victory margin over 30 points. In the 2002 NCAA First and Second Rounds in Knoxville, UT defeated Georgia State by 30 points and Notre Dame by 39 points.
OUR FIRST TWO ROUNDS IN KNOXVILLE?
The University of Tennessee played host to Georgia State, New Mexico, and Notre Dame in the first two rounds of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. While Georgia State and New Mexico have no playing history with Tennessee, the Lady Vols are very familiar to GSU head coach Lea Henry. Henry, a former Lady Vol (1979-83), was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. As a rookie, she was understudy to then-senior point guard and Lady Vol assistant coach Holly Warlick. Henry's final game as a Lady Vol was played out in the 1983 NCAA Mideast Regional Championship game on the campus of Notre Dame where UT lost to Georgia, 67-63. Tennessee is most familiar with Notre Dame. The Lady Vols and the Irish have a long-standing rivalry dating back to the 1983-84 season. The Lady Vols lead the series, 14-0.
UT GETS THE POINT
The Lady Vols turned in their highest point total ever in the NCAA Tournament scoring 113 versus Appalachian State in First Round action on Mar. 13, 1999. Previously, Tennessee had scored 111 points against North Carolina A&T on Mar.16, 1994 in NCAA opening round play. UT's 113 points against ASU is the fifth most ever scored in NCAA First/Second Round action.
WE'VE DONE OT IN POSTSEASON
The Lady Vols have played in five overtime games in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee has a 4-1 record including two overtime wins in the Final Four. UT defeated Southern Cal, 91-90, in the first overtime game in NCAA tourney history. UT advanced to the NCAAs first Final Four in 1982 from that overtime affair. The Lady Vols played in the first triple OT in NCAA history when UT defeated Ole Miss, 90-83, in 1983. In the Lady Vols most heartbreaking loss in the program's history, Virginia defeated UT, 79-75 in overtime, in the 1990 NCAA East Regional Championships. That loss kept the Lady Vols from playing in the 1990 Final Four on its home court - Thompson-Boling Arena -- in Knoxville. In 1991, the Lady Vols returned the overtime favor to Virginia and defeated the Cavaliers in the first overtime NCAA title game, 70-67. Tennessee's last extra stanza game in the NCAA Tournament came at the 1996 Final Four with a dramatic, 88-83, victory over Connecticut in the Final Four semifinal game.
EIGHT SEC TEAMS STARTED TO DANCE
The Southeastern Conference had eight teams dancing in March. In the Midwest Regional was Tennessee, Vandy and Florida, the West Regional featured Miss. State and LSU, South Carolina traveled to the East Regional, while Arkansas and Georgia were sent to the Mideast Regional. It was an early exit for Georgia who lost to Old Dominion, 68-54 and Florida who was upset by BYU, 90-52. Still alive in the Sweet 16 are Tennessee, Vanderbilt and South Carolina.
25 VICTORIES AGAIN
The mark of a top-notch program is in its consistency. In that case, UT's yearly victory totals paint Pat Summitt's team as a very predictable entity. For the past 16 seasons, despite facing a rigorous slate of top-ranked non-conference teams and the usual murderer's row of SEC opponents, Tennessee has recorded 25 wins or more. The 2001-02 Lady Vols continue tourney play with a 27-4 mark, also striving to reach the 30-victory milestone for the fifth consecutive campaign and the 13th-time in school history.
2001-02 TENNESSEE LADY VOL OPPONENTS
The 2001-02 Tennessee Lady Vols have played 18 games versus ranked teams out of a total of 31 opponents. Three teams earned a ranking after UT's game. Five other UT opponents received votes in either the AP or USA TODAY/ESPN top 25 polls and only four opponents have not been ranked or received votes at all.
| OPPONENT (Rank) | SCORE | BEST 2001-02 AP/ESPN-USA TODAY RANK | RPI/SS |
| at UT-Chattanooga | 97-57 | RECEIVED VOTES | 67/234 |
| SOUTHERN CAL | 106-66 | RECEIVED VOTES | 105/108 |
| #5 LOUISIANA TECH | 90-75 | 5/5 | 19/131 |
| at #22/21 GWU | 88-57 | 18/20 | 72/195 |
| vs. #8/9 N.C. State | 93-56 | 8/9 | 58/7 |
| at Boston College | 75-66 | 18/16 | 21/75 |
| at #6/5 Stanford | 68-62 | 2/2 | 7/88 |
| at DePaul | 80-66 | RECEIVED VOTES | 77/46 |
| vs. #9 Duk | 92-66 | NOT RANKED | 171/86 |
| at #15/16 Florida | 88-64 | 12/12 | 23/15 |
| #1 CONNECTICUT | 72-86 | 1/1 | 2/27 |
| #25 OLD DOMINION | 74-62 | 15/15 | 20/104 |
| #19/22 AUBURN | 71-50 | 17/20 | 47/18 |
| LOUISIANA ST | 79-67 | 18/15 | 24/11 |
| at #8 South Carolina | 80-61 | 7/7 | 10/29 |
| ALABAMA | 82-57 | RECEIVED VOTES | 53/60 |
| at #22 Auburn | 66-53 | 17/20 | 47/18 |
| #12/15 FLORIDA | 86-66 | 12/12 | 23/15 |
| at #8/6 Vanderbilt | 59-76 | 3/3 | 5/6 |
| ARKANSAS | 93-65 | RECEIVED VOTES | 27/21 |
| at #21/22 Georgia | 52-50 | 8/7 | 22/19 |
| #18/17 TEXAS | 66-69 | 12/12 | 13/9 |
| at Mississippi State | 80-78 | 25/NR | 59/83 |
| #6 VANDERBILT | 75-68 | 3/3 | 5/6 |
| at Ole Miss | 86-69 | NOT RANKED | 91/5 |
| KENTUCKY | 89-64 | NOT RANKED | 129/12 |
| vs. #24 Georgia | 81-67 | 8/7 | 22/19 |
| vs. Louisiana State | 80-81 | 18/15 | 24/11 |
| GEORGIA STATE | 98-68 | NOT RANKED | 119/268 |
| NOTRE DAME | 89-50 | 15/14 | 29/41 |
LADY VOLS HAVE THE NATION'S BEST SCHEDULE/RPI
The final WBCA/Summerville Strength of Schedule rating has the Lady Vols on top with an SS score of .671. The top five: 2. Texas Tech .644, 3. Rutgers .633, 4. Kansas .618 and 5 Mississippi .616. The latest RPI has the Lady Vols on top with an index of .693. Following UT is: 2. UConn (.677), 3. Oklahoma (.671), 4. Duke (.655) and 5. Vanderbilt (.651). The number one ranked Connecticut Huskies are 27th in schedule strength with a .578 score.
SUMMITT GOES FOR WIN #787 TONIGHT
The victory over Notre Dame was UT coach Pat Summitt's 786th of her 28-year career. She currently ranks seventh among all coaches (men's or women's) in all-time victories.
| 1. | Dean Smith | North Carolina | 879-254 |
| 2. | Adolph Rupp | Kentucky | 876-190 |
| 3. | Clarence Gaines | Winston-Salem* | 828-447 *Division II |
| 4. | Jim Phelan | Mount. St. Mary's | 819-487 (3-24 this season) |
| 5. | Jerry Johnson | LeMoyne-Owen* | 798-386 *Division II (13-14 this season) |
| 6. | Jody Conradt | Texas | 788-254 (22-9 this season) |
| 7. | Pat Summitt | Tennessee | 786-157 (27-4 this season) |
| 8. | Bob Knight | Texas Tech | 786-299 (23-9 this season) |
| 9. | Lefty Driesell | Georgia State | 782-387 (20-10 this season) |
| 10. | Jerry Tarkanian | Fresno State | 778-202 (19-15 this season) |
SEC STANDINGS (as of 3/19/02)
| SEC | Overall | |
| Tennessee | 13-1 | 27-4 |
| South Carolina | 10-4 | 24-6 |
| Vanderbilt | 10-4 | 29-6 |
| LSU | 8-6 | 18-12 |
| Miss. State | 8-6 | 19-12 |
| Florida | 8-6 | 18-11 |
| Arkansas | 7-7 | 20-12 |
| Alabama | 7-7 | 19-11 |
| Georgia | 6-8 | 19-11 |
| Ole Miss | 3-11 | 11-17 |
| Auburn | 3-11 | 16-13 |
| Kentucky | 1-13 | 9-20 |
LADY VOL SEC INDIVIDUAL
| Scoring | ||
| 8. | Kara Lawson | 16.0 ppg |
| 18. | Michelle Snow | 13.1 ppg |
| Rebounding | ||
| 11. | Snow | 6.8 rpg |
| 15. | G. Jackson | 6.3 rpg |
| Three point Field Goal Percentage | ||
| 7. | Brittany Jackson | .405 |
| Free Throw Percentage | ||
| 1. | Lawson | .863 |
| 8. | G. Jackson | .769 |
| Assists/Turnover Ratio | ||
| 7. | Moore | 1.41 |
| Steals | ||
| 5. | Moore | 2.38 |
| Assists | ||
| 10. | Moore | 4.0 |
| Blocked Shots | ||
| 5. | Snow | 1.69 |
TENNESSEE LADY VOL SEC TEAM STATS
| Scoring | 1st |
| Scoring Margin | 2nd |
| Scoring Defense | 7th |
| Rebound Avg. | 2nd |
| Opp. Rebounds | 4th |
| Rebound Margin | 1st |
| FG % | 5th |
| Opp. FG% | 4th |
| 3FG% | 4th |
| Opp. 3FG | 3rd |
| FT % | 4th |
| Assists | 7th |
| Blocks | 5th |
| Steals | 3rd |
| Turnover Margin | 4th |
| Asst/Turnover Ratio | 8th |
TENNESSEE'S SEC FINISHES THROUGH THE YEARS
| Year | Regular Season | Finish | Tournament |
| 2002- | 13-1 | First | Lost in semis |
| 2001- | 14-0 | First | Lost in semis |
| 2000- | 13-1 | First (tie) | SEC Champs |
| 1999- | 13-1 | First | SEC Champs |
| 1998- | 14-0 | First | SEC Champs |
| 1997- | 8-4 | Fifth | Lost in semis |
| 1996- | 9-2 | First | SEC Champs |
| 1995- | 11-0 | First | Lost in finals |
| 1994- | 11-0 | First | SEC Champs |
| 1993- | 11-0 | First | Lost in quarters |
| 1992- | 10-1 | Second | SEC Champs |
| 1991- | 6-3 | Third | Lost in final |
| 1990- | 8-1 | First | Lost in final |
| 1989- | 8-1 | Second | SEC Champs |
| 1988- | 8-1 | Second | SEC Champs |
| 1987- | 6-3 | Fourth | Lost in semis |
| 1986- | 5-4 | Fifth | Lost in quarters |
| 1985- | 4-4 | Third (E) | SEC Champs |
| 1984- | 7-1 | Second (E) | Lost in quarters |
| 1983- | 7-1 | First (E) | Lost in semis |
| 1982- | no standings | Lost in final | |
| 1981- | no standings | Lost in quarters | |
| 1980- | no standings | SEC Champs |
SEC HOMECOURT WINNING STREAK IS ALIVE
The Lady Vols have won 40 consecutive SEC home games dating back to Jan. 12, 1997. UT's streak started after an OT loss to Georgia, 94-93,on Dec. 8, 1996.
SEC LEAGUE PLAY
The Lady Vols own a league best record of 186-29 against all SEC teams in league play dating back to the 1983 season.
AGAINST THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Tennessee owns a 302-51 record all-time record vs. 12 teams from the Southeastern Conference. The Lady Vols maintain a winning record against every team in the SEC.
THE SEC REGULAR SEASON STORY
UT's last SEC win at home: Kentucky, 89-64, 2-24-02
UT's last SEC win away: Ole Miss, 86-69, 2-21-02
UT's last SEC loss at home: Georgia, 94-93 OT, 12-8-96
UT's last SEC loss away: Vanderbilt, 76-59, 2-2-02
UT's 2001-02 SEC home record: 7-0
UT's 2001-02 SEC away record: 6-1
UT's current SEC home streak: won 40
UT's current SEC away streak: won 3
UT IS AMAZING AT HOME VERSUS THE SEC
Since Tennessee began contesting games with Southeastern Conference opponents, the Lady Vols have produced a 126-9 record in all games played at home. Only four SEC teams have ever managed a victory over the Lady Vols in Knoxville - Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky and Ole Miss. Georgia has won three games on UT's turf while Auburn, Kentucky and Ole Miss have registered two wins each. Georgia is the only team to defeat UT at home in the 1990s - the Lady Bulldogs turned the trick in 1991 and 1996.
CLINCHED THE 2002 TITLE
The Tennessee Lady Vols (13-1 SEC) are the SEC Champions by virtue of their win at Ole Miss coupled with a loss by South Carolina. It marks the 11th time that the Lady Vols have won a regular season SEC crown and is the fifth consecutive since 1998. No other SEC school has ever captured five consecutive SEC titles - the Lady Vols grabbed three in a row (1993-95) and Auburn captured three consecutive (1987-89).
LOTS OF NOTES FROM THE 2001-02 SEASON
SHE LOVES MARCH
Tennessee Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt loves to kick things up a notch in the month of March. Summitt, who has now coached in 943 collegiate contests and sports a 786-157 overall record in 28 seasons, has gone into battle 175 times in the month of March. She has come out a winner in 142 games losing just 33 basketball games (.810). Her teams are 54-2 at home, 8-1 away and 80-30 at neutral sites in the third month of the year.
"LUCK OF THE ORANGE"
When Tennessee met Notre Dame on St. Patrick's Day to advance to the 2002 NCAA Midwest Regionals, the Irish pulled out all the stops and sported their special green jersies. Typically, the Irish wear their navy and gold on the road but they do wear the green on special occasions. Lady Vol rookie Michelle Munoz was warned of the green jersey Irish tactic by her father, Hall of Famer and former NFL Pro-Bowler, Anthony. When daddy Munoz was a sophomore at Southern Cal in 1977, the Trojans traveled to South Bend to face Notre Dame in a game of football. Seems that the Irish warmed up in their regular home jersies but switched to the green ones for the game. Mr. Munoz recounted that in his four seasons at USC, that was the only time Notre Dame defeated Southern Cal. For good luck, Michelle wore a green sports bra against Notre Dame.
PLAYED OUR 10TH DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMP
Since the 1976 season, the Lady Vols have contested 32 games against current defending AIAW or NCAA Champions and produced a 20-12 record all-time. The latest team Tennessee has taken on was the 2001 NCAA Women's Basketball Champion - Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Tennessee is 9-3 in games played at home, 4-3 away and 7-6 at neutral sites. In all, UT has played 10 defending champions in 32 games in various title defense seasons. UT's record versus defending champs: Connecticut (2-2), Delta State (1-0), Louisiana Tech (2-3), Notre Dame (1-0), Old Dominion (4-3), Purdue (1-0), Southern Cal (1-3), Stanford (5-0), Texas (1-1) and UCLA (2-0). UT has defended six NCAA titles and produced an overall record of 186-25 in the six seasons following a championship. This number reflects the 29-10 campaign of the 1996-97 season which skews the numbers due to the high number of losses. However, following the 1997 championship season, UT went 39-0 in winning the 1998 title.
JUST ONE TO TIE
UT rookie guard Loree Moore has produced some incredible numbers this season. She is just one scoring pass away from the UT rookie record of 127 set by Dawn Marsh in 1984-85 (32 games). Moore already has the best rookie assist average at 4.1 apg.
31-SOMETHING
Only three Lady Vols have appeared in all 31 games this season - junior Kara Lawson, sophomore Tasha Butts and rookie Loree Moore. Last season, six players appeared in all 34 games.
SNOW DID NOT FALL
Lady Vol fans almost got to see senior center Michelle Snow dunk in a home game. With less than two minutes to go, Snow took a feed and went up for the dunk but was fouled by a Notre Dame player. All three of her dunks have all been away from home. Snow was back in action against Notre Dame after sitting out the 2002 NCAA First Round game with Georgia State on Mar. 15 after missing a class last week. UT Coach Pat Summitt has a mandatory class attendance policy and if you miss, you don't play.
THREE ROOKIES GET THE NOD
Lady Vol Coach Pat Summitt has liked what she has seen out of the 2001-02 rookie class. To date, three players have earned starting nods: Loree Moore has played in all 31 games with 12 starting assignments, Shyra Ely has played in 30 games with 21 starts and Brittany Jackson has played in 29 contests with her first starting assignments coming in the NCAA First and Second Rounds in Knoxville. This trio became the 45th, 46th and 47th rookies all-time to earn starting assignments at UT. The last class to have three rookies start was in 1997-98 as Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall and Teresa Geter all earned starting nods in the perfect 39-0 season - the last time the Lady Vols brought home an NCAA title.
LAWSON AND SNOW UP FOR KODAK ALL-AMERICA
Senior Michelle Snow and junior Kara Lawson have been named as Kodak /WBCA District All-Americans and will now move on for consideration to the 10-woman Kodak/WBCA All-America team. The team will be announced in San Antonio at the 2002 Final Four.
LADY VOL STREAKS
The last time the Lady Vols lost at home was against Texas, 69-66, on Feb. 12, 2002 -- since then, UT has won four games played at home. The last time UT lost on the road was on Feb. 2, 2002, at Vanderbilt, 59-76, since then the team has won three road games. The last time the Lady Vols lost on a neutral court was against LSU, 81-80, in the SEC semifinals on Mar. 2, 2002. Since then, UT has not played on a neutral court.
167 WINS IN OUR LAST 160 GAMES
The Lady Vols have won an amazing 167 games in their last 180 basketball contests (.924) spanning five seasons (starting with NCAA Tournament play in 1997). UT was 6-0 in the 1997 NCAA Tourney, ran the table with a 39-0 record in 1997-98, turned in a 31-3 worksheet in 1998-99, a 33-4 mark during the 1999-2000, a 31-3 mark last season and an 27-4 mark in 2001-02.
UT'S OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
In all games, this is how Tennessee has shot from the field: 50%FG: So. Cal (.557), Ark. (.547), Miss. State (.534), UT-Chatt. (.528), Vandy2 (.519), So.Carolina (.519), Memphis (.516), Ga.State (.507), Kentucky (.500), 40%FG: N.C. State (.493), DePaul (.475), Fla.2 (.471), Fla. (.471), Duke (.465), Miss. (.459), GWU (.458), Auburn2 (.455), Notre Dame (.453), Ala. (.444), Boston College (.444), LSU (.423), LSU2 (.417), Stanford (.415), ODU (.412), LaTech (.409) Auburn (.404), 30%FG: Vandy (.391), Georgia2 (.380), UConn (.375), Texas (.370), Georgia (.347).
DEEE ----- FENSE
In all games, this is how the opposition has shot from the field: 50%FG: UConn (.571), Vandy (.553), Vandy2 (.531), Miss. State (.518), 40%FG: LSU2 (.481), LSU (.455), Memphis (.431), Ga.State (.426), Texas (.407), Kentucky (.406), Fla.2 (.406), Boston College (.406), Ala. (.400), 30%FG: ODU (.397), La Tech (.391), So. Carolina (.390), GWU (.388), Georgia2 (.387), Stanford (.383), Miss. (.370), Fla. (.368), UT-Chatt. (.359), DePaul (.353), Duke (.338), Ark. (.333), So. Cal (.333), N.C. State (.320), Georgia (.314), Auburn (.306), 20%FG: Auburn2 (.297), Notre Dame (.288).
GOT OUR 300TH VICTORY AGAINST A RANKED TEAM
The Tennessee Lady Vols recorded their 300th all-time win versus a ranked team with the victory over fifth-ranked Louisiana Tech, 90-75, on Nov. 23, 2001. With the win over #24 Georgia on March 1, the Lady Vols now stand 313-127 (.710) overall against ranked foes since the polls began in 1976.
LAWSON EARNS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA HONORS FROM U.S. BASKETBALL WRITERS
The 2002 United States Basketball Writers Association All-American team was announced on Mar. 13 and Lady Vol junior Kara Lawson was among the top 10 players in the nation. The 2002 team is as follows, in alphabetical order: Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt, Alana Beard, Duke, Sue Bird, Connecticut, Swin Cash, Connecticut, Stacey Dales, Oklahoma, Kara Lawson, Tennessee, Nicole Powell, Stanford, Kelly Mazzante, Penn State, LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State, and Lindsey Whalen, Minnesota.
The St. Louis-based USBWA is the largest sportswriters organization in the country and is comprised of nearly 1,000 sports journalists. Founded in 1956, the USBWA began honoring the accomplishments of women's coaches and players in 1988.
LAWSON EARNS AP ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Tennessee's Kara Lawson and Michelle Snow were recognized by The Associated Press on Mar. 12 when the 2002 AP All-America team was announced. Lawson, a junior guard and the Lady Vols leading scorer was tabbed for the third team, while Snow, a 6-5 senior post was picked as an honorable mention selection. Connecticut's Sue Bird was recognized as the nation's top player. Bird was joined on the first team by Stacey Dales of Oklahoma, Alana Beard of Duke, Chantelle Anderson of Vanderbilt and LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State. Joining UConn's Swin Cash and Diana Taurasi on the second team were Angie Welle of Iowa State, Nicole Powell of Stanford and Kelly Mazzante of Penn State. Asjha Jones of Connecticut tied Purdue's Shereka Wright for the final spot on the third team, which also had Lawson, Sheila Lambert of Baylor, Lindsay Whalen of Minnesota and Linda Frohlich of UNLV. Honorable mention: Snow, Tennessee, LaNeishea Caufield, Oklahoma, Danielle Crockrom, Baylor, Shaun Gortman, South Carolina, Vanessa Hayden, Florida, Temeka Johnson, LSU, Chandi Jones, Houston, Zuzi Klimesova, Vanderbilt, Amanda Levens, Arizona State, Susan Moran, Saint Joseph's, Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State, Felicia Ragland, Oregon State, Alicia Ratay, Notre Dame, Jessie Stomski, Wisconsin, Nikki Teasley, North Carolina, Iciss Tillis, Duke, Ayana Walker, Louisiana Tech, Lenae Williams, DePaul, Shaquala Williams, Oregon, Tamika Williams, Connecticut and Lindsey Yamasaki, Stanford.
LAWSON MAKES THE LIST
Junior guard Kara Lawson has been named as a member of the Verizon Academic All-District Team. Lawson earned a spot on the second team with a 3.89 in Business Administration.
UT'S LAST LOSS TO AN UNRANKED TEAM...?
When is the last time Tennessee lost to an unranked team? That would have been to LSU on Mar. 2, 2002 at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. LSU had been in and out of the Top 25 polls in late January and February. Prior to that, UT's last loss to an unranked team was five years ago to the day losing to Auburn on Mar. 2, 1997 at the SEC Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.
THE ANNUAL ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE
The Lady Vols have picked right up where they left off the last couple of seasons leading the nation in women's basketball attendance. As of Mar. 11, UT is in first place averaging 14,295 while Texas Tech is in second place with 13,222. Rounding out the top five are: 3. Connecticut 12,116, 4. Iowa State 10,572 and 5. New Mexico 9,229. The crowd of 24,611 at the Tennessee-Connecticut game on Jan. 5, 2002, broke the women's basketball collegiate record for largest attendance. The previous record was 24,597 set on Jan. 3, 1998, when UT defeated UConn, 84-69, in Knoxville.
OVER 300.000
The Tennessee Lady Vols have gone over the magical 300,000 mark in total attendance this season. To date, 324,486 have clicked through the turnstiles to see the Lady Vols play at all venues in 31 games. It marks the sixth time the team had over 300,000 spectators in a single season. With 14,168 fans in attendance against Vandy in Nashville, the Lady Vols went over the 200,000 mark in total attendance for the eighth consecutive season.
SEC TOURNEY POSTGAME NOTES
Shyra Ely's 31 points against Georgia in the SEC Tournament second round was the second-most ever by a Lady Vol rookie...Tamika Catchings scored 35 points at DePaul on Jan. 20, 1998...Ely and Catchings are the only Lady Vol rookies in history to eclipse 30 points...Naismith Player of the Century Chamique Holdsclaw, managed a rookie high of just 27 points versus Purdue in 1995...Ely's 11-12 free throws against the Lady Bulldogs ties Catchings for second-most free throws by a freshman...Ely's 31 points and 11 rebounds were both career highs...Rookie Loree Moore is just 10 assists away from tying Dawn Marsh for most freshman assists...In 1984-85, Marsh dished out 127 assists in 32 games for a 3.9 apg average...Moore has handed out 117 assists in just 29 games for a 4.0 apg average...Junior Gwen Jackson was back in the Lady Vol starting line-up in the SEC Tournament contests versus Georgia and LSU... Jackson's SEC career tournament high is just eight points - she tied it in the first half against LSU...UT reserves tallied 47 points versus Georgia whose second-teamers added 17 points... LSU had one sub who chipped in eight big points while UT's reserves (six players) added 24 points including a dozen from rookie Shyra Ely...After scoring just two points in the first half versus Georgia, Kara Lawson ripped off 16 second half points for an SEC Tournament career high. The next night, against LSU, Lawson tallied just six first half points and exploded for 21 points in the second stanza to establish a new SEC Tournament career high of 27 points.
WOW! 300 SEC WINS
Tennessee's win over Ole Miss marked the Lady Vols' 300th win over a Southeastern Conference opponent all-time against just 51 losses. That is an amazing winning percentage of .857. Mississippi State is the only SEC school which has not recorded a win over the Lady Vols. Florida and Arkansas have the next fewest victories at 1 each. UT is now 302-51 all-time versus SEC opposition.
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NINE SEASONS OF 10 SEC VICTORIES
In the win over Kentucky in the regular season, Tennessee claimed its 13th SEC victory of the season. The Lady Vols have now registered double-digit victories in conference play an incredible nine times. Since the 1991-92 season when SEC play expanded, the Lady Vols have won at least 10 games in the following years: 1992-10 games, 1993-11 games, 1994-11 games, 1995-11 games, 1998-14 games, 1999-13 games, 2000-13 games, 2001- 14 games and 2002- 13 games.
STATE IS THE ONLY ONE
Entering the 1996-97 season, three Southeastern Conference schools had never posted a win over the Lady Vols -- Arkansas, Florida and Mississippi State. In that 10-loss national championship season, two of the three picked off the Lady Vols -- Arkansas grabbed a 77-75 win in Fayetteville on Dec. 29, 1996 and Florida turned the trick, 71-62, on Jan. 21,1997 in Gainesville for the first times ever. Mississippi State is still the only SEC school that has never recorded a win over the Lady Vols.
40 CONSECUTIVE SEC HOME WINS
With the victory over Kentucky on Feb. 24, Tennessee currently has won 40 consecutive SEC games at home. The last SEC loss at home was to Georgia on Dec. 8, 1996, 94-93 (OT).
FIRST TO DO IT
The Tennessee Lady Vols are the first SEC team to win five consecutive SEC regular season titles.
23 APPEARANCES
The Lady Vols' 2002 appearance in the SEC Tournament was the school's 23rd time to the mini-Final Four. This season marked the 22nd time with a first round bye. The only year that Tennessee had to play on opening day was in 1997 when the Lady Vols were suffering through a rare 10-loss season. UT suffered its final defeat of the year at the Round House in Chattanooga (a 61-59 loss to Auburn) and then ran the table in the NCAA's to finish the year 29-10 and NCAA Champs.
2002 ALL-SEC TEAM
The 10 player 2002 All-SEC Coaches First Team selected Lady Vol Kara Lawson to its ranks and placed Michelle Snow on the second team. Lawson was a unanimous selection. Forty-three of the all-time spots on the First Team All-SEC have been held by a Lady Vol player. All-time, 16 Lady Vols have been named to the All-SEC Second Team.
2002 SEC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
The five player All-SEC Coaches Rookie Team selected Lady Vols Loree Moore and Shyra Ely to its ranks. Also picked to the 2002 All-SEC rookie squad were Natasha Brackett (Auburn), Kara Braxton (Georgia), Ebony Felder (Georgia) and Tan White (Mississippi State).
2002 ACADEMIC ALL-SEC TEAM
Two Tennessee players were named to the 2002 SEC Academic Honor Roll as juniors Kara Lawson (Business) and April McDivitt (Arts & Sciences) were given the nod.
SEC GOOD WORKS TEAM
Lady Vol junior point guard April McDivitt was named to the Southeastern Conference "2002 Good Works Team" which is comprised of athletes from across the SEC who are leaders in the classroom and great role models to youth in their community.
2002 ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-SEC TEAM
Lady Vols Kara Lawson and Michelle Snow were recognized by the Associated Press as members of the AP 2002 All-SEC Team.
First Team All-SEC: LaToya Thomas, Miss. State, F, Jr., Shaun Gortman, S. Carolina, G, Sr., Kara Lawson, Tennessee, G, Jr., Chantelle Anderson, Vandy, C, Jr., Zuzi Klimesova, Vandy, F, Sr., Second Team All-SEC: Tan White, Miss. State, G, Fr., Brandi McCain, Florida, G, Sr., Vanessa Hayden, Florida, C, So., Kara Braxton, Georgia, Fr., Michelle Snow, Tennessee, C, Sr., Jocelyn Penn, S. Carolina, C, Fr., Ashley McElhiney, Vandy, PG, Jr.
HOTTEST PLAYER IN THE SEC
For the month of February, Lady Vol junior guard Kara Lawson had to be the hottest player in the SEC. In eight games (half against ranked opponents), Lawson produced some amazing numbers as the Lady Vols searched for a "go to" player. She connected on 20.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.3 topg, 1.4 spg and played 35.1 minutes per outing. In back-to-back games, she played all 40 minutes versus Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.
LAWSON WAS THE SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The 2001-02 Tennessee Lady Vols finally had a player named "SEC Player of the Week" as junior guard Kara Lawson earned the honor for her play, Feb. 3-10. Lawson posted a career high 30-points against Arkansas on Feb. 7 and followed that performance by hitting what proved to be UT's winning bucket against #22/21 Georgia on Feb. 10.
LEFTOVERS FROM GEORGIA REGULAR SEASON
On Feb. 10, 2002, Tennessee squeaked by Georgia in Athens, 52-50. The Lady Vols' 52 points was the fourth fewest scored in school history (six times the Lady Vols only scored 52 points - last time versus UConn, 2000 NCAA title game). Seventeen second half points tied the school record for the fewest points scored in the second half (tied back-to-back games where 17 points were scored by UT in the second half versus South Carolina, 1-23-80, and Old Dominion, 1-26-80). There were no specific second half field goal records kept but UT managed just five buckets in the second half versus Georgia (5-27 for 18%).
THE 20 WIN THING
With a victory in the books against Georgia on Feb. 10, the Tennessee Lady Vols completed yet another 20-win season. The 52-50 victory over the Lady Bulldogs marked the 26th consecutive time a Lady Vol team reached at least 20 wins in a season under Coach Pat Summitt.
SHE'S BAAAACK
Junior forward Gwen Jackson who subluxated her left shoulder late in the game at Georgia on Feb. 10 returned to the line-up against Kentucky (Feb. 24) after missing the Texas, Mississippi St., Vanderbilt and Ole Miss games.
DIGGING THRU THE RECORDS
When all five UT starters in the Jan. 20th game versus Alabama failed to score in double-figures, it raised the question - "When was the last time the Lady Vols starters failed to produce at least one player in double-figures?" Lady Vol Media Relations graduate assistant Brian Davis found the answer 510 games and 15 years ago. On Mar. 19, 1987, no Lady Vol starter scored in double-figures in a 66-58 victory over Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. The only UT player in double-digits was Bridgette Gordon with 21 points off the bench.
AWESOME LAWSON, BABY
Junior guard Kara Lawson has a thing for winning at Mississippi State's Humphrey Coliseum. As a rookie, Lawson hit a trey with 1.6 seconds left to beat State, 79-75 (she also hit two additional free throws) on Feb. 17, 2000. It marked UT's 10th SEC win of the season. Two years later, a Lawson 14-footer at the buzzer gave the Lady Vols an 80-78 come-from-behind victory over MSU. The Valentine's Day win (also Lawson 21st birthday) marked UT's 10th SEC win on the season once again.
DON'T FORGET BRITTANY
Rookie Brittany Jackson turned in her best performance as a Lady Vol against Mississippi State on Feb. 14, 2002. Jackson was all over the court against MSU. She connected on a career high 24-points and grabbed five rebounds while connecting on 8-12 field goals, 4-8 treys and 4-4 free throws. Basically, Brittany was everywhere in the final four minutes of the game. At 4:09 she hit a three-pointer to give the Lady Vols their first lead of the second half, 73-72. With 3:49 left, she boxed out and grabbed a defensive rebound. On State's next possession with 3:10 left, she grabbed a steal from MSU rookie sensation Tan White. She went to the boards hard again with 2:10 left after a Michelle Snow miss and recorded a put-back lay-up to give UT a 75-74 lead. She drew defenders with 35 seconds to go as teammate Kara Lawson drained a three to tie the score.
SNOW ADDS ONE TO HER NCAA RECORD DUNK TOTAL
When 6'5" Lady Vol senior center Michelle Snow threw down a one-handed dunk with 1:51 left in the game at #8 South Carolina on Jan. 17, it was the third dunk of her career and the first of the season. As a junior, Snow recorded dunks against Illinois (in Maui) and Vanderbilt (in Nashville) of the two-handed slamming variety. Her latest dunk was her first one-handed jam. Lady Vol fans are still waiting to see Snow dunk in Thompson-Boling Arena.
BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE SAW A 30-POINT GAME
When junior guard Kara Lawson burned Arkansas for 30 points on Feb. 7, 2002, it was the first time a Lady Vol had tallied at least 30 points in a game since Nov. 16, 1998. Sophomore Tamika Catchings scored an even 30 against St. Joseph's.
LONGEST STREAK
The win over South Carolina extended Tennessee's streak over the Lady Gamecocks to 26 games. It's the longest winning streak UT has over an opponent. Lady Vol senior Amanda Canon was the only Lady Vol born (12-8-79) the last time South Carolina defeated the Lady Vols (1-23-80).
ROAD STREAK SNAPPED
The loss at #8/6 Vanderbilt on Feb. 2 snapped the Lady Vols consecutive regular season wins on the road at 26 games. Prior to the Vandy loss, the last time UT lost a regular season game on the road was on Jan. 17, 2000, at Georgia, 78-51.
STOP THIEF
Kara Lawson eclipsed 100 career thefts against Florida on Jan. 3, 2002.
LAWSON HAD MY VOTE
Starting with the Georgia game on Feb. 10, junior guard Kara Lawson was a workhorse for the Lady Vols in the four games played in six days. Against #22/21 Georgia, she hit UT's key free throws down the stretch and what was the winning basket for the Lady Vols with 1:06 left in the game when she sliced through two defenders for a twisting lay-up in the nail-biting 52-50 win. She followed that performance two days later with a gutsy 11-point, four rebound, three assist outing in the upset loss to #18/17 Texas, 69-66. Two days after the loss to Texas, Lawson led her team into a key match-up at Mississippi State on Valentine's Day. She rallied the Lady Vols from a 14-point deficit and hit the winning shot as time expired (14-foot jumper) to ice the 80-78 win. In the final time-out, she asked UT coach Pat Summitt to let her take the winning shot citing the fact that it was her birthday. She scored 29 points (one off her career high), grabbed seven boards and claimed three steals. Against State, she played all 40 minutes and re-wrote her personal records for the second time in a week breaking her career best in makes (13), tying attempts (17) and breaking minutes played (40). In her fourth game in six days, she played all 40 minutes in a key victory over #6 Vanderbilt. Lawson scored 26 points, grabbed five rebounds, handed out four assists and committed NO turnovers (despite being face-guarded the entire time by VU's Ashley McElhiney). Lawson scored nine points in the final four minutes of play including the go-ahead trey at 1:19 and iced it with two free throws with 18.9 left for the 75-68 win. Lawson had an absolutely incredible week with game winners in three of four games. In the three games played since she won the SEC Player of the Week (Feb. 3-10), she averaged 22.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.0 spg and 36.5 mpg against Texas, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. She had our votes for the SEC Player of the Week again after back-to-back amazing play.
TRIPLE TOE LOOP EN ROUTE TO THE HOOP
The Tennessee Lady Vols have compiled an 18-8 all-time record when they play over ice. This season, UT is 3-1 over ice having collected wins at the Gaylord Arena in Nashville, Tenn., home to the NHL's Predators, the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga., home to the NHL's Thrashers, and the Conte Forum at Boston College, home of the reigning NCAA hockey champs - the BC Eagles.
GIVE THE ROOKIE AN ASSIST
Lady Vol freshman Loree Moore has been handing out big helpfuls of assists this season. Moore has tallied 125 assists in 31 games for a 4.0 apg average. She becomes just the seventh Lady Vol rookie to record at least 100 assists in her first season. Her numbers currently rank her first in average (4.0 apg) on the all-time Lady Vol rookie list ahead of UT all-time assist leader Dawn Marsh. Marsh averaged 3.9 apg (127 assists in 32 games) during her freshman year (1984-85).
SUMMITT'S UP FOR NAISMITH AWARD
Lady Vol Coach Pat Summitt was a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award. Other SEC coaches listed as finalists included: Jim Foster (Vandy), Carol Ross (Florida) and Susan Walvius (South Carolina). The Atlanta Tipoff Club will present the award on April 5, 2002 in Atlanta, Ga.
NAISMITH FINALISTS--- THREE LADY VOLS
Twenty finalists have been named for the Naismith Women's Collegiate Player of the Year and the Lady Vols placed three players - senior Michelle Snow and juniors Kara Lawson and Gwen Jackson - on the ballot. Other finalists included: Chantelle Anderson,Vandy, Alana Beard, Duke, Sue Bird, UConn, Swin Cash, UConn, LaNeishea Caufield and Stacey Dales, Oklahoma, Deanna Jackson, UAB, Sheila Lambert, Baylor, Kelly Mazzante, Penn State, Brandi McCain, Florida, Nicole Powell, Stanford, Diana Taurasi, UConn, LaToya Thomas, Mississippi St., Ayana Walker, LA Tech, Angie Welle, Iowa St. Tamika Williams, UConn and Shereka Wright, Purdue.
The Naismith Collegiate Player of the Year Trophy is presented annually to the top national collegiate male and female basketball players. The banquet will be held on, April 5, 2002,in Atlanta, Georgia.
SENIOR CLASS FINALIST
Senior center Michelle Snow has been named as one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award that is hosted by the Kansas City Club. The Senior CLASS Award - an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School -- is a new award for 2001-02. There are 10 finalists on both the men's and women's sides of the hard court. Along with Snow, the other women's finalists are: Sue Bird and Swin Cash of UConn, Stacey Dales of Oklahoma, Deanna Jackson of UAB, Sheila Lambert of Baylor, Tamara Moore of Wisconsin, Susan Moran of St. Joseph's, Angie Welle of Iowa State and Lindsey Yamasaki of Stanford. The winner will be announced during the Final Four and will be honored at a black tie dinner on April 20, 2002, in Kansas City.
HORNS HOOKED US, AGAIN
A fired up #18/17-ranked Texas Longhorn team tagged a 69-66 defeat on the Lady Vols in Knoxville on Feb. 12, 2002, to notch just the 11th win by an opponent in Thompson-Boling Arena. In the inaugural 1987-88 season, Texas dealt the Lady Vols their first loss ever in Thompson-Boling Arena with a 97-78 thrashing on Dec. 9, 1987, in front of a then-record crowd of 24,563.
SIX SELL-OUTS -- IT MUST BE THE ORANGE
Another school joined the ranks of producing a sold-out arena when the Lady Vols came to call during the 2001-02 season as Vanderbilt announced an advance sell-out (14,168) on Jan. 30 for their Feb. 2 game with the Lady Vols. Previously, South Carolina announced an advance sell-out on Jan. 15 for its Jan. 17 game with the Lady Vols. A total of 12,168 clicked through the turnstiles at Carolina Coliseum for the game. Earlier this season, the game with DePaul attracted an over-capacity crowd of 3,025. Prior to that, Stanford made the announcement on Monday, Dec. 10 (six days before tip-off) that the game with Tennessee was an advance sell-out (7,391). UT's game with George Washington (Nov. 27) was also an advance sell-out (5,252) while the Lady Vols and UT-Chattanooga attracted the largest crowd ever to watch the Mocs play, 9,113. And of course, the Tennessee vs. Connecticut game in Knoxville attracted the largest crowd in collegiate women's basketball history with 24,611 in attendance. The game was also an advance sell-out.
OFFENSIVE LAPSE
Clara, of Wendy's hamburger commercial fame, barked out "Where's the Beef?" Earlier this season, UT coach Pat Summitt was barking, "where's the offense?" In the four games prior to the win at South Carolina (beginning with the loss to Connecticut), the Lady Vols scored in the 70's - averaging 74.0 ppg -- about 16 points below their average before the skid. Entering the game with top-ranked Connecticut on Jan. 5, the Lady Vols had been averaging 90.7 ppg while giving up 63.9 ppg. The team was shooting .478 from the field, .687 from the free throw line and .385 from the three-point arc. In the four anemic games after the loss to UConn, the Lady Vols were shooting .458 FG, .372 3FG but raised their free throw percentage to .711.
NON-CONFERENCE RECORD
The Lady Vols compiled a 13-2 record this season over non-conference foes. UT's losses were to UConn and Texas.
JACKSON'S JERSEY RETIRED
On Tues., Jan. 22, Lady Vol rookie Brittany Jackson's number 25 jersey was retired at Bradley Central H.S. Jackson was a high school All-America and recipient of the prestigious Class 3-AAA Miss Tennessee basketball award as a senior last year. The Bearettes' number 25 jersey has a long history in Brittany's family. Jackson's aunt, Rita Hannah, first wore the #25 jersey at BCHS and it was retired following her playing days. The jersey came out of retirement so that Brittany's mom, Liz Hannah (Jackson) could wear it. It was retired once again after Liz's outstanding high school career. Years later, #25 became Brittany's number at BCHS. It was retired and now hangs alongside the #25 jersies of her mom, Liz and her aunt Rita in the rafters of the Bradley Central gym. Oh, number 25 has been unretired once again. Brittany's, younger sister Lindsay, a BCHS freshman now sports #25.
ACADEMIC HONOREES
Four Lady Vols earned Dean's List honors in the 2001 Fall semester: Amanda Canon - 3.19 - Nursing, Kara Lawson - 3.54 - Finance, Courtney McDaniel - 3.38 - Psychology and April McDivitt - 3.13 - Education.
IT'S VUJA DE
Last year, the Lady Vols were rolling along with an 11-0 overall record before the #1 Connecticut Huskies dropped the Lady Vols, 81-76, on Dec. 30, 2000 in Hartford, Conn. This year, Tennessee was also 11-0 before facing the Huskies on Jan. 5, 2002 and suffering an 86-72 setback. Better check the schedule next year before penciling in the Huskies in the 12th game of the season.
UCONN GOT 86
When Connecticut lit-up the scoreboard for 86 points against Tennessee on Jan. 5. 2002, it didn't make the Lady Vol top 10 list for most points scored by an opponent. However, it stacks right up there with the most points scored on a Lady Vol team in recent years. Last season, Connecticut tallied 88 points versus Tennessee in Knoxville on Feb. 1, 2001. However, the Lady Vols scored 92 points to win that contest. On Mar. 1, 1997, LSU rang-up 99 points on the Lady Vols in the SEC Tournament. Alas, Tennessee scored 100 points to claim an overtime victory. The last time a team scored at least 86 points and defeated UT was on Feb. 24, 1997 when Louisiana Tech burned UT for 98 points in a 98-80 romp in Ruston.
BEST SHOOTERS VS. UT
Connecticut holds the distinction of having the best field goal percentage against the Lady Vols this season connecting on 57% of their shots.
LADY VOLS AT 100%
The contest versus Duke in the ACC/SEC Shootout marked the first time in the 2001-02 season that the Tennessee Lady Vol basketball team was at full-strength. The game against #15/16 Florida was the first time that the entire 14-woman roster was employed in a game. Thirteen players scored in the win.
"THE BIG CITIES TOUR"
The Tennessee Lady Vols were on the road for eight consecutive games and 43 days traveling to Washington, D.C., Orlando, Chestnut Hill, Mass., Palo Alto, Calif., Chicago, Atlanta, Memphis and Gainesville, Fla., before finally returning home on Jan. 5, 2002, to face top-ranked Connecticut in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee began its month of traveling on the "Big Cities Tour" at the end of November. UT first visited Washington, D.C., where the Lady Vols defeated #21/20 George Washington Univ., 88-57, in a sold-out Charles E. Smith Center on Nov. 27. Tennessee returned home briefly before traveling to Orlando, Fla., for the Honda Elite Four on Dec. 2 at Disney World and hung a 93-56 loss on the #8/9 N.C. State Wolfpack on ESPN. UT then traveled "back east" for a hard-fought 75-66 victory over BIG EAST foe Boston College. After an 11-day break for final exams, the Lady Vols pulled out a big win at #6/5 Stanford, 68-62, in front of a sold-out Maples Pavilion crowd. A sold-out house in Chicago saw the Lady Vols defeat DePaul, 80-66 on stop number five on Dec. 19. On Dec. 27, the Lady Vols faced rival #9 Duke in the ACC/SEC Shootout in the Philips Arena in Atlanta and came away with an impressive 89-68 victory despite 26 miscues. Stop number seven found UT in Memphis where the Lady Vols dropped the University of Memphis, 92-66. The final game of the road trip was the SEC opener in Gainesville that resulted in an 88-64 win over the #15/16 Florida Lady Gators. Tennessee finished with a 8-0 record on the "Big Cities Tour."
JUST THE FIFTH TIME
The Lady Vols entered the January portion of their schedule undefeated for only the fifth time in Coach Pat Summitt's 28-years at the helm. With the victory over Memphis on Dec. 29, UT had a 10-0 record. The last time a Lady Vol team began January undefeated was the perfect 1997-98 season when the team went 39-0.
CHALLENGED
The Lady Vols participated in their "first challenge" format with the ACC and recorded an 89-68 win over Duke. Previously, the Lady Vols had appeared as a part of the SEC/Big 10 Challenge. The Lady Vols won games versus Illinois and Purdue in those Challenges.
ROBINSON RETURNS
UT sophomore center Ashley Robinson appeared on the court for the first time this season in the game against DePaul. In 13 minutes of action, she scored eight points, grabbed a rebound and dished out an assist. She did not post a turnover. Robinson suffered a torn ACL on June 30, 2001, and had reconstructive surgery on July 12, 2001.
CONGRATS K-LAW
Junior guard Kara Lawson joined the Lady Vol 1,000 career point club when she hit a lay-up with 5:15 to go in UT's game at DePaul on Dec. 19. Lawson becomes the 26th member of the Lady Vols' 1000-point club.
SLIGHTLY OFFENSIVE
Prior to UT's win at DePaul, the Lady Vols rebounding had been extremely anemic but particularly so on the offensive end. UT was out-rebounded by both Boston College (37-35) and Stanford (42-33) and managed a scant total of just 15 offensive rebounds out of their 72 missed shots in both games (just 19%). Against DePaul, things picked up as UT ruled the boards, 50-36 and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. In the Lady Vols most recent games versus Duke and Memphis, the team collected a total of 33 offensive boards.
PRESTO-CHANGE-O
Lady Vol fans might be confused when they see #43 step onto the court this season. Sophomore Ashley Robinson is #43, right? Well, Robinson was #43 as a rookie but switched to her favorite number, 33, after Kristen "Ace" Clement graduated last season. Rookie Shyra Ely will don number 43 this season.
ELITE COMPANY
When Pat Summitt started freshman forward Shyra Ely against Tennessee-Chattanooga on Nov. 16, 2001, it marked only the ninth time in her coaching career that a freshman started her very first game at Tennessee. The list of opening day rookie starters: Ashley Robinson 2000, Gwen Jackson 1999, Semeka Randall 1997, Kyra Elzy 1996, Chamique Holdsclaw 1995, Tiffani Johnson 1994, Bridgette Gordon and Sheila Frost 1985.
IN OVERTIME
The Lady Vols are 20-10 all-time in overtime games. The most OT games in a season was 1996-97, when the Lady Vols were 3-1 in overtime contests losing to Georgia, 94-93, and defeating Texas, 68-65, Vanderbilt, 92-79 and LSU, 100-99. Tennessee's 21 points in the extra stanza against Vanderbilt on Jan.19, 1997, was the most ever scored by the Lady Vols in a single overtime. The previous high-water mark was 18 points versus Colorado on Dec. 20, 1993.
100 POINT GAMES
Since 1974, the Lady Vols have gone over the century mark 67 times - and once so far in the 2001-02 season. Noteworthy: Tennessee went over 100 points in an NCAA playoff game for the first time ever in 1993-94 with the win over North Carolina A&T, 111-37. The 1987-88 team hit triple digits in seven games leading the NCAA.
THE POLLING PLACE
In the first Associated Press and USA TODAY/ESPN polls of the year on Nov. 5, the Tennessee Lady Vols began the 2001-02 season as the number three (AP) and number two (USA TODAY/ESPN) ranked team in the country. It marked the sixth time that UT has started the season in the second spot in at least one of the polls.
BROGDON TO JOIN WBHOF
Former Lady Vol Olympian and All-American Cindy Brogdon will be inducted into the Class of 2002 in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Brogdon, who was an All-American and Olympian at Tennessee from 1977-79, will be inducted as a player. She becomes the fifth University of Tennessee product to be enshrined in the WBHOF joining Pat Summitt and former Lady Vol players Trish Roberts, Cindy Noble-Hauserman and Holly Warlick.
LADY VOL SIGNEES
UT signed two outstanding players during the 2001 early signing period-- Shanna Zolman, a 5-9 guard from Syracuse, Ind. (Wawasee H.S.) and Tye'sha Fluker, a 6-5 center from Pasadena, Calif. (John Muir H.S.). Entering her senior season, Zolman averaged 32.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.5 apg and 5.0 spg as a high school All-American. Fluker, also a high school All-America, tossed in over 26 points and grabbed 18.7 rpg as a junior last year.
THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA 200 WINS IN THE BAG
Tennessee recorded its 200th win in Thompson-Boling Arena when the Lady Vols defeated the University of Southern California Women of Troy on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2001, 106-66. UT has now amassed a 210-11 record since the Orange and White moved into the Thompson-Boling Arena to start the 1987-88 season 14-years ago. Along the way, the Lady Vols have produced eight flawless home records in 1988-89 (15-0), 1991-92 (14-0), 1992-93 (13-0), 1993-94 (15-0), 1994-95 (15-0), 1997-98 (16-0), 1998-99 (14-0) and 2000-01 (15-0). UT also registered an NCAA record 69-game home court-winning streak from Feb. 1, 1991thru Jan. 2, 1996.
HOME, SWEET, HOME?
The Tennessee Lady Vols rarely lose at home. In fact, since moving to the Thompson-Boling Arena for the 1987-88 season, UT has lost two games in one season just four times. Another loss at home this season would be a new record. UT lost two games in TBA during the inaugural 1987-88 campaign, the 1996-97 season, the 1999-2000 season, and with the loss to #18/17 Texas on Feb. 12, add the 2001-02 season. The 11 all-time losses at Thompson-Boling Arena have come at the hands of just six teams: Connecticut (2002, 2000, 1996), Louisiana Tech (1999, 1989), Georgia (1996, 1991), Texas (2002, 1987), Stanford (1996) and Auburn (1988).
UT GOES OVER 200,000
The Tennessee Lady Vols have gone over the 200,000 fans at home games for the fifth consecutive season. Earlier, UT went over the 100,000 mark in home attendance for the eighth consecutive season. The Lady Vols have attracted 200,132 to 14 home dates. Last season, Tennessee attracted 232,646 patrons to 15 home games.
NOTEWORTHY
The Lady Vols won their 100th game in Thompson-Boling Arena with the victory over Stanford on 12-1-94.
UT suffered two losses the first year in the new arena (12-2 overall), a 97-78 defeat to Texas on Dec. 9, 1987 and a 71-68 loss to Auburn exactly one month later on Jan. 9, 1988.
The Lady Vols enjoyed a flawless home slate in 1988-89 with a 15-0 record. UT almost duplicated the record a year later but dropped a one-point decision to Louisiana Tech, 59-58 (again on Dec. 9), and turned in a 14-1 showing in 1989-90.
In 1990-91, the Lady Vols (15-1 at home) went down in defeat to Georgia, 81-74 on Jan. 28, 1991. From that point, until UT lost to Connecticut on Jan. 6, 1996 (59-53), the Lady Vols won a NCAA record 69 consecutive games.
In 1996-97, the Lady Vols went 13-2 at home after losing back-to-back games to Georgia and Stanford in December. It marked the first time the team had lost consecutive games in the Arena.
In 1999-2000, UT was 13-2 with losses to Louisiana Tech and Connecticut.
161 OF 168 AT HOME
UT has won 161 of their last 168 games in Thompson-Boling Arena dating back to 2-1-91. UT's seven losses were to Louisiana Tech, UConn (three times), Stanford, Texas and Georgia (OT).
HOME SWEET HOME
UT is 362-35 (.914) at home since the 1974-75 season. Home losses (in the Summitt era) include: six in Alumni Gym from 1974-76, 18 in Stokely Athletics Center from 1976-87, and 11 in Thompson-Boling Arena since 1987.
TBA STREAK BROKEN AT 26 GAMES
Tennessee's 26-game home court winning streak in Thompson-Boling Arena was broken on Jan. 5, 2002 by Connecticut. It ranked as the fourth longest home court-winning streak in Lady Vol history.
AT LEAST 5000 IN THE HOUSE
The Lady Vols have played in front of at least 5000 fans in 165 consecutive games at home dating back to 1991.
