University of Tennessee Athletics
NO. 2 TENNESSEE SURVIVES DEPAUL IN OT, 96-89
December 17, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Dec 17, 2003
By JASON STRAIT
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO - Ashley Robinson had 18 points and eight rebounds and No. 2 Tennessee rallied to win for the third straight time in a 96-89 overtime victory over DePaul on Wednesday night
Loree Moore hit a 3 with the scored tied at 83 to start a 7-0 run in overtime for the Lady Vols (6-0). Shanna Zolman found Shyra Ely wide open under the basket for an easy layup and Tasha Butts made a short jumper in the lane to put the game away for Tennessee.
Moore had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Tennessee, which shot 53 percent for the game - the first time the Lady Vols have been over 50 percent this season.
Tennessee had not fallen to an unranked opponent since a loss to LSU in March 2002. It took everything they had to keep the streak alive against DePaul (8-1).
Tennessee trailed 81-77 with 1:30 to go in regulation when Ely scored down low, Zolman stole the ball at halfcourt and Robinson put back her miss to tie the game at 81 and send it into overtime.
Tennessee had a chance to go ahead in regulation, but Zolman's 3-point attempt was off and Ely couldn't get up a shot after grabbing the rebound.
In overtime, the shots stopped falling for DePaul as Tennessee overpowered the Blue Demons. Ashley Luke missed two 3-point attempts in the extra period as DePaul went just 2-of-8.
Khara Smith had 23 points and Jenni Dant added 21 for DePaul.
Tennessee trailed 46-44 at halftime but relied on its size advantage to take an early lead in the second half.
Tye'sha Fluker scored seven points during 9-0 run to start the second half that gave Tennessee a 53-46 lead.
DePaul wouldn't go away.
After cutting the deficit to one, Luke hit a long 3-pointer and Dant scored down low to give DePaul a 75-71 lead - its largest since the first half.
DePaul was off to its best start since 1996 when the Blue Demons were 9-0. DePaul had won three straight games by 40 points or more, though not against teams the caliber of Tennessee.
DePaul has never beaten Tennessee, losing 15 in a row.
