University of Tennessee Athletics
NO. 5 TENNESSEE TOPS GEORGE WASHINGTON, 65-51
December 30, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Dec 30, 2003
By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON - The message comes through loud and clear when Pat Summitt shuffles the lineup.
Tasha Butts and Shanna Zolman, who had started every game, came off the bench Tuesday night and helped lead two key runs in No. 5 Tennessee's 65-51 victory over George Washington.
"Coming off the bench for me is a wake-up call," said Butts, who scored 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting. "As a senior I have to have the maturity and the discipline to be poised on offense and defense, and I don't think I've been doing that.
"I have to earn my spot back. It should have never been taken away from me, but things happen."
Tennessee (8-1) lost its first game Sunday at home against Texas, prompting coach Summitt to start Brittany Jackson and LaToya Davis ahead of Butts and Zolman. Butts responded with a 3-pointer and a put back off an offensive rebound during an 18-6 second-half run, while Zolman made a 3-pointer and assisted on a layup by Ashley Robinson during the run.
"It lights a fire under me," said Zolman, who finished with 8 points and three assists. "I know I'm not guaranteed for the starting spot - I need to work for it."
Jackson also scored 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting, but it was the improved defense - notably Loree Moore's four steals - that caught Summitt's eye.
"If we don't play defense and rebound, I can tell you we'll have a revolving door - as far as who starts and also how long you stay on the floor," Summitt said.
The Lady Vols are 4-0 against George Washington, but this was their closest game yet against the Colonials (6-4), a perennial Atlantic 10 powerhouse that hasn't quite been able to establish a regular presence in the Top 25.
George Washington put a scare into Summit's team by forcing six turnovers on the Lady Vols' first six possessions of the second half to cut the lead to four points, but that wasn't good enough for coach Joe McKeown.
"My goal was to beat them," McKeown said. "When you're GW and you've been in 10 NCAA tournaments, this team's not about moral victories."
Anna Montanana scored 14 points to lead the Colonials.
Tennessee's leading scorer, Shyra Ely, who had been in double digits in every game this season, was held to one point.
Butts made two 3-pointers and Zolman had a jumper and an assist during a 12-2 first-half run that gave the Vols the lead for good at 28-18 with 4? minutes to go.
George Washington cut the deficit to 37-33 in the second half before Robinson made a layup to start the decisive run that made the score 55-39. The Colonials didn't get closer than nine points the rest of the way.
