University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOLS OPEN NCAA TOURNAMENT AGAINST WESTERN CAROLINA
March 17, 2005 | Women's Basketball
March 17, 2005
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| #1 Tennessee Lady Volunteers vs. #16 Western Carolina Catamounts
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THE GAME The top-seeded and #3-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (26-4, 13-1 SEC) opens play in its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sun., Mar. 20, 2005 taking on the Southern Conference League Champ and #16-seeded Western Carolina (18-13) at home in the Thompson-Boling Arena. LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE This is the Lady Vols' 31st season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 878-171 overall record...Needs just two wins to become the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history...With the victory over Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament, she passed the legendary Adolph Rupp (876) of Kentucky into sole possession of second place...She will tie Dean Smith at 879 victories with her next "W"...Her 2003-04 squad finished as the NCAA runner-up with a 31-4 record and were the regular season SEC Champs with a 14-0 record... This season, UT returned seven letterwinners and welcomed eight newcomers ...Rookies Candace Parker and Alex Fuller will redshirt this season continuing to rehab their left knees...The week of Feb. 21st, the Lady Vols were dealt a double blow losing sophomore Sidney Spencer to a right knee ACL (had surgery on Mar. 14) and rookie guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood to patella tendonitis (surgery scheduled for Mar. 21)...The Lady Vols are down to nine healthy scholarship players as they begin NCAA March Madness... THE COUNTDOWN - 2 TO GO Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt is just two wins away from passing Dean Smith (879) as the winningest coach in NCAA basketball. Summitt now has 878 wins. EIGHT IS ENOUGH The format for the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament has taken on a new look this year. Eight first/second round sites will host eight teams. In Knoxville, six games will be played, Mar. 20-22, with one team advancing each to Sweet 16 games in the Chattanooga (Mideast) and Philadelphia (East) regionals. Tennessee (26-4) is seeded #1 in the East and will face #16-seeded Western Carolina (18-13) in a first round game, while #8 New Mexico (26-4) faces #9 Purdue (16-12). The winners of each of those games meet on Tuesday with one team advancing to Philadelphia. LSU is seeded #1 in the Mideast and will face #16 Stetson (17-13), while #8 Oklahoma (17-12) takes on #9 Arizona (19-11). Winners will meet on Tues., Mar. 22 and advance to Chattanooga. OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK The #3-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols continues March Madness at the NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds, Mar. 20-22, 2005, in Knoxville, Tenn. LADY VOLS ON TV Eighteen Lady Vol games have been on national television this season. Upcoming games on TV: NCAA TOURNAMENT. UT is 14-4 in TV games. ON THIS DAY Tennessee is 5-0 in their history when playing on Mar. 20. The Lady Vols are 2-0 at home, 0-0 on the road, and 3-0 on neutral courts. The last time out on the 20th, the Lady Vols defeated Colgate, 77-54, in the 2004 NCAA Tourney. On Mar. 22, UT is 5-2 all-time with a 1-0 record at home and a 4-2 neutral record. The last time out on the 22nd, the Lady Vols defeated DePaul, 79-59, in the 2004 NCAA's. LOOKING BACK Last year at this time, the Lady Vols (26-3) had just lost to Georgia, 68-66 OT, in the semifinal round of the SEC Tournament. UT'S OFFENSIVE ACCURACY In all games, this is how Tennessee has shot from the field: 60%: none 50%FG: .580 (Ala.), .545 (Ark2), .500 (Vandy2) 40%FG: .486 (Ole Miss), .483 (Vandy1), .481 (UTC), .469 (USC2 & Vandy3), .468 (GWU & Auburn), .456 (LaTech), .444 (LSU2), .441 (TCU),.438 (Miss St) .436 (Ark1), .435 (DePaul), .418 (Fla), 30%FG: .397 (UConn), .393 (Georgia), .391 (USC1), .373 (Stanford, NC State), .370 (ODU), .369 (Kentucky), .323 (Temple), .329 (Texas); .310 (LSU) 20%FG: .284 (Auburn2), .280 (Duke), .278 (Rutgers). DEEE ----- FENSE In all games, this is how the opposition has shot from the field: 60% FG: .604 (Texas), 50%FG: .581 (Auburn), .536 (Vandy3), .520 (LSU) 40%FG: .490 (UConn), .473 (Stanford), .456 (Vandy1), .453 (LSU2), .448 (Georgia), .446 (Vandy2), .426 (LaTech & Fla.), .400 (Miss St. & Ark2), ,30%FG: .393 (Rutgers), .391 (USC2), .390 (Duke), .389 (Auburn2), .373 (NC State), .333 (Ark1, Temple), .321 (GWU), .311 (USC1), .310 (Ole Miss), .300 (TCU), 20%FG: .299 (ODU), .288 (Kentucky), .265 (DePaul), 10%: .135 (UTC) AGAINST THE 2005 TOURNAMENT FIELD Tennessee has faced in 16 teams in 19 games from the 63-team (plus UT) NCAA bracket. Overall, the Lady Vols have turned in a 15-4 record. UT has defeated: LSU 67-65, DePaul 78-63, Georgia 77-70, Mississippi 99-67, George Washington 71-41, Old Dominion 68-58, TCU 82-55, N.C. State 64-54, Temple 52-48, Louisiana Tech 70-59, UConn 68-67, Stanford 70-67 and Vanderbilt 79-65, 72-63, 76-73. The Lady Vols' four losses have come against LSU 58-68, Texas 59-74, Duke 57-59 and Rutgers 51-65. THE SEED HAS BEEN PLANTED You can call it longevity. You can call it coaching and performance. You can call it strength of schedule. Whatever you call it, the University of Tennessee has earned 17 number-one seeds all-time in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. Additionally, UT has been seeded number two on three occasions, number three, three times and number four just once. From 1988-96, the Lady Vols had nine consecutive number one seeds. Only 27 schools have ever received number one seeds over the years. 2005 #1 SEEDS The four number one seeds in the 2005 NCAA Tournament has three teams who have been there before as Tennessee leads with 17 number one seeds in 24 NCAA Tournaments, LSU (2003 and 2005) and North Carolina (1997 and 2005) have had number one seeds twice and Michigan State has earned their first top seeding. GARDEN PARTY Teams with the most number one seeds through the years:
YOU'D THINK AFTER 31 YEARS After last season, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt declared, "we need to lighten our schedule." Except, she has said that each and every year she has coached the Big Orange. So this season's "lightened" schedule of non-conference teams featured 13 opponents who had all played in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Perhaps we need Summitt's definition of "light." 2005 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK 2005 NCAA TOURNEY TIME FOR TENNESSEE The Lady Vols are ready to head into the postseason for the 30th time in coach Pat Summitt's 31-year career at Tennessee. Tennessee is back home in Knoxville this season for the NCAA First/Second Rounds after traveling last year for the first time ever attending the NCAA Midwest First and Second Round in Tallahassee, Fla. In the new NCAA format this year, eight teams will descend on Knoxville and Thompson-Boling Arena, March 20 & 22, representing the Chattanooga (Mideast) and Philadelphia (East) Regionals. On March 20, the first game of the day (noon) pits #8-seeded Oklahoma against #9-seeded Arizona on ESPN2. In the matinee game, 30 minutes later (approximately 2:30 p.m.), #1-seeded LSU and #16-seeded Stetson will meet on ESPN. The winners of the two games will face each other on Tues., Mar. 22 (time TBD, ESPN2) hoping to advance to the Mideast Regional Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. In the nightcap at 7:00 p.m., #8-seeded New Mexico will face #9-seeded Purdue on ESPN2. Approximately 30 minutes later (9:30 p.m.), top-seeded Tennessee will take on #16-seeded Western Carolina. The winners of these two games will face each other on Tues., Mar. 22 (time TBD, ESPN2) hoping to advance to the East Regional Championship in Philadelphia, Pa. THEY CALL IT PHILADELPHIA BUT WE'RE GOING EAST The Lady Vols have been placed in the Philadelphia (East) bracket of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in 24 trips to the Big Dance. Tennessee advanced to the Final Four from the East in 1988 (finishing in 3rd in Tacoma, Washington), again in 1989 (winning UT's second NCAA title while playing in Tacoma, Wash.), and in 1996 (winning UT's fourth NCAA title at the Final Four in Charlotte, N.C.). While advancing from the East produced two NCAA titles and a third place finish, the East Regional is more remembered for what failed to occur for the Lady Vols. In 1990, the Lady Vols were sent to the East Regional at Old Dominion where two wins separated the Lady Vols from playing for a national championship on their home floor in Knoxville, site of the 1990 NCAA Final Four. UT got by Clemson, 80-62 in the Sweet 16 and then lost in overtime to Virginia, 79-75, failing to play in the NCAA Final Four in Knoxville. Instead of "Tennessee and the Final Three," the Lady Vols served as hostesses for the event. Almost a decade later, the East Regional would serve up another dark day in Lady Vol hoops history. In 1999, UT was going for its fourth consecutive NCAA title after winning in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Current Western Carolina head coach Kellie Jolly Harper was the Lady Vol point guard and her sidekick was four-time All-America Chamique Holdsclaw. The duo helped UT get by Virginia Tech, 68-52, in the Sweet 16 in Greensboro, N.C. However, Duke dashed Tennessee's dream of a fourth consecutive title with a 69-63 win. It marked UT's last trip to the East until 2005. Fifteen times previously, the Lady Vols were placed in the Mideast Regional and advanced to the Final Four nine times -- in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000 and 2003. UT has been in the Midwest bracket of the NCAA Tournament three times. Tennessee has advanced to the Final Four from the Midwest every time: in 1997 (claiming the NCAA title in Cincinnati, Ohio), in 2002, where the team lost to UConn in the Final Four semis in San Antonio and in 2004, where the team lost to UConn in the NCAA title game in New Orleans. BREAKING DOWN THE PHILADELPHIA BRACKET- HOW WE'VE FARED ALL-TIME Of the other 15 teams in the Philadelphia bracket, Tennessee has faced 10 schools all-time. Against all teams in this bracket, UT has a 91-38 (.705) record all-time. In the most recent games against these teams, the Lady Vols has posted an overall 9-1 record. 2005 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK PHILLY BRACKET -- PLAYED FOUR IN THE REGULAR SEASON Tennessee has faced four of the 15 teams in the 2005 NCAA Philadelphia (East) bracket this season and posted a 3-1 record. The Lady Vols defeated then unranked N.C. State 64-54, then-unranked Temple 52-48, then-unranked Louisiana Tech 70-59 and lost to tehn-#24 Rutgers 65-51. OTHER PHILLY REGIONAL MATCHUPS Joining #1 Tennessee (26-4), #16 Western Carolina (18-13), #8 New Mexico (26-4) and #9 Arizona (19-11) in the 2005 NCAA East Regional is #2 seed Ohio State (28-4) who will face #15 seed Holy Cross (20-10); #7 seed Maryland (21-9) who will meet #10 Wisconsin Green Bay (27-3); #3 seed Rutgers (25-6) who will entertain #14 Hartford (22-8); #4 seed Texas Tech (22-7) who will face #13 seed Texas Arlington (21-9); #5 seed N.C. State (21-7) will play #12 seed Middle Tennessee State (23-8), and #6 seed Temple (27-3) who meets #11 seed La Tech (20-9). SUMMITT'S NCAA RECORD Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has coached in 1,049 basketball games to date producing an incredible 878-171 (.837) overall record. What's even more amazing (at least to me) is that she has coached in over 100 NCAA Tournament games --- her record in the NCAA's, 85-17 (.833) in 102 NCAA contests. Just as an FYI, Dean Smith (North Carolina) leads the men's side of things in the NCAAs recording 65 NCAA wins from 1967-97. Summitt has appeared in all 24 (consecutive) NCAA Tournaments, and has now passed Smith who appeared in 23 consecutive tournaments from 1975-97. OUTTA KNOXVILLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN MARCH In last year's NCAA Tournament, for the first time in 25 years of postseason play, the Tennessee Lady Vols weren't playing a post-season play-off game in Knoxville. Tennessee has won 44 consecutive NCAA play-off games at home since 1982 (32-0 in NCAA First/Second Rounds and 12-0 in six NCAA Mideast Regionals hosted in Knoxville). When you add in the AIAW years, Tennessee has won 50 consecutive (since Mar. 15, 1980) post-season AIAW/NCAA games at home. Overall, UT has won 52 out of 53 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. (Fordham Univ.) for the East Regional. Both ODU and Tennessee advanced to the AIAW "Final Four" in Greensboro, N.C. that year. KNOXVILLE'S NOT FRIENDLY TO THE OPPOSITION The average score of an NCAA First/Second round game against the Lady Vols in Knoxville typically does not bode well for the opposition. The Lady Vols defeat its NCAA Tournament opponents in Knoxville by a score of 89.5-52.1 - or an average victory margin of 37.8 ppg. 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 was the fifth most ever scored in NCAA First/Second Round action. THESE SEEDS GREW Tennessee has played in an incredible 102 games in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. Six times the Lady Vols have brought home NCAA titles to Knoxville. On the 17 occasions when UT lost in the tournament, the following seeds bounced the Lady Vols out. #1 seed-1982, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003 UT'S NCAA OT GAMES UT has played in five overtime games in the NCAA Tournament producing 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 NCAA's 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 UT's most heartbreaking loss in the program's history, Virginia defeated UT, 79-75 in OT, for the 1990 NCAA East Regional title. That loss kept the Lady Vols from playing in the 1990 Final Four on its home court - Thompson-Boling Arena. 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 Semi game. RANKED TEAMS - PHILLY REGION In the AP and USA TODAY/ESPN polls, seven teams from the 2005 NCAA Philadelphia (East) Regional are ranked led by third-ranked Tennessee. The next highest ranked team is Ohio State (#7/8), and is followed by Rutgers (#9/10), Texas Tech (#14/14), Temple (#15/15), N.C. State (#21/22) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (#24/21). 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 23 consecutive years. Additionally, Tennessee has made it to the regional finals in 19 of the last 23 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 in 2001 after a devastating loss to Xavier, 80-65. NAMED TO THE KODAK ALL-DISTRICT TEAM Lady Vol senior forward Shyra Ely has been named to the Kodak All-American, All-District team. The Indianapolis, Ind., native now appears on the national ballot for consideration as one of the 10 Kodak All-American for 2005. Ely was named to the Kodak team as a junior last season. BACK TO THE FINAL FOUR After attending four consecutive Final Fours (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998) and winning three consecutive titles (1996, 1997 and 1998), the Lady Vols missed the festivities in 1999 and 2001. UT did make an appearance at the 2000 NCAA Final Four in Philadelphia, Penn., and lost to the Connecticut Huskies for the title. UConn turned the same trick at the 2002 Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, rocking the Lady Vols in the semis, 79-56. In Atlanta, Tennessee advanced to the 2003 NCAA title game before dropping a 73-68 decision - again to UConn. Last year, the Huskies turned the trick again in the 2004 Final Four in New Orleans with a 70-61 victory in the title game. All-time, the Lady Vols have advanced to 15 NCAA Final Fours and grabbed an unprecedented six titles. 15 FOR SUMMITT Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has passed legendary John Wooden of UCLA in a number of NCAA Tournament categories. Most significantly, Summitt has passed Wooden for most trips to the Final Four with 15 to Wooden's 12. CHECK OUT THAT NCAA RECORD IN THE 90's The Lady Vols put together a 38-6 (.863) winning record in the NCAA Tournament in the 1990s while winning four NCAA titles in 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998. UT IN NCAA TITLE GAMES Tennessee has appeared in 11 NCAA title games (6-5 overall) since 1982 and won six championships. The Lady Vols have a 17-9 record in Final Four play. In the old AIAW days, UT made two title game appearances (1980 and 1981). EVERY LADY VOL PLAYED Every Lady Vol hoopster (since 1976) has played in at least one Final Four during her career at Tennessee. MOST PARTICIPANTS EVER All-time, a total of 79 Lady Vol team members have participated/played in 15 Final Fours. That ranks first among all schools. Louisiana Tech is second with 65 participants all time in 10 Final Fours. FIVE SEC TEAMS DANCE The Southeastern Conference has five teams dancing in March. In the Mideast (Chattanooga) Regional, the SEC's natural regional site, LSU and Georgia are represented. The West (Tempe) Regional features Ole Miss; Tennessee travels to the East (Philadelphia) Regional, while Vanderbilt has been sent to the Midwest (Kansas City) Regional. SEC TITLES AND NATIONAL FINISHES The Lady Vols have won 13 SEC titles and 11 SEC Tournament titles since 1980. This is how UT fared in the NCAA Tournament after winning the SEC Tournament: 2005-Beat LSU for the SEC title; in progress 2004-05 LADY VOL NOTEBOOK PECK'S THE ONLY ONE The roll call goes like this: Sylvia Hatchell, Sharon Fanning, Jane Albright, Lea Henry, Nancy Darsch, Trish Roberts, Mickie DeMoss and now Kellie Jolly Harper. UT coach Pat Summitt has faced many former players and assistant coaches in a variety of games thru the years but Carolyn Peck is the only one to record a victory over her former boss. While at Purdue, Peck handed Summitt a 78-68 loss on Nov.15, 1998 in the State Farm Tip-Off Classic in West Lafayette, Ind. The defeat snapped UT's 46-game consecutive winning streak (that was second only to Louisiana Tech's NCAA all-time 54-game winning streak). LADY VOL SENIORS IN SEC LEAGUE GAMES Tennessee's senior trio of Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson and Moore have fashioned a 54-2 overall record in four seasons in SEC league games...Until the loss at LSU on Feb. 10, their only previous loss came at the hands of Vanderbilt, 76-59, on Feb. 2, 2002, as rookies...In four years, they never lost a home SEC game. SUMMITT PASSES RUPP AT THE SEC TOURNAMENT Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt (878-171) won three memorable games in the 2005 SEC Tournament culminating with a Championship. With her SEC Tournament victory over #18/17 Vanderbilt, Summitt moved past the legendary Kentucky coach, Adolph Rupp (876-190) into second all-time in NCAA Division 1 coaches' victories. RUPP'S RECORD TIDBITS Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt claimed her 878th career win with a victory over #1 LSU, 67-65, on Mar. 6, 2005, in her 31st season at the helm of the Lady Vols. Rupp notched his 875th coaching win with a 67-66 victory over Tennessee in Stokely Athletics Center on March 9, 1972. Rupp achieved this in his 41st season of coaching. By virtue of defeating Tennessee, Rupp's Wildcats earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. His 876th win came at the 1972 NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament where his Wildcats defeated Marquette, 85-69, on Mar. 16 in Dayton, Ohio. The illustrious Rupp's coaching career came to an end in his very next game losing to Florida State, 73-54, on Mar. 18 in the MER finals. Rupp concluded 41 years in coaching with an 876-190 all-time record. WOW, THIS DOES NOt BODE WELL The Tennessee Lady Vols have played in 40 games all-time versus the nation's top ranked team. In all games, UT is 14-26 in these games. In two of the last three times Tennessee has defeated the top-ranked team. Top-ranked LSU defeated the Lady Vols in Baton Rouge on Feb. 10, 68-58 before UT returned the favor in the SEC Championship game winning 67-65. In UT's only #1 match-up last season, the Lady Vols knocked off #1-ranked Duke, 72-69 on 1-24-04 in Durham, N.C. at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Ranked #5 going into the SEC final against #1 LSU, the Lady Vols faced tough odds. When ranked #5, and facing the nation's top-ranked team, the Lady Vols were 0-5 all-time going into the game. REMEMBER THE SEC MEDIA DAY PREDICTION? The Tennessee Lady Vols were predicted to repeat as Southeastern Conference Basketball Champions, according to a preseason vote of media attending the Tip-off 2005, the SEC Basketball Media Day on Oct. 28, 2004. Tennessee and LSU changed positions as a result of LSU's 68-58 win over Tennessee on Feb. 10. RANDOM NUMBERS The number to remember when watching the Lady Vols is 60... 24 times this year, the Big Orange has scored at least 60 points in a game...Their record in those games is 24-0... When tallying less than 60, the Orange and White are just 1-4, with their only victory coming against Temple (54-52)...This squad is one of UT's deepest in recent history, as at least 10 players are averaging extra digit minutes...Additionally, eight different players have started games this year for the Lady Vols...Only two players are currently averaging more than 10 points a game...Perhaps that bodes well for the Big Orange, as in program history only five teams have had just two players in double-digit scoring... Four of those teams advanced to the national championship game, with three of them, the 1986-87, 1988-89 and 1990-91 squads winning it all...Shyra Ely is UT's leading scorer at 14.1 points per game...That figure needs to remain above 14.0 ppg or it would mark the lowest average for Tennessee's top scorer in program history... ZOLMAN SWITCHES TO #1 Shanna Zolman had a surprise for her best friend and teammate Sidney Spencer on Feb. 24. After Zolman heard the news that Spencer had torn the ACL in her right knee and would be lost for the season, the junior guard asked Coach Pat Summitt if she could wear Spencer's number 1 Lady Vol game jersey for the remainder of the season. Summitt said yes and when Zolman was introduced at the Mississippi State game as #1, she caught Spencer totally by surprise. SID's SURGERY A SUCCESS Jenny Moshak, University of Tennessee Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, announced on March 14, 2005, that Lady Vol sophomore basketball forward Sidney Spencer had undergone surgery. "Today's surgery was to repair Sidney's torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee," said Moshak. "This morning, Dr. William T. Youmans, UT Team Orthopedist, reconstructed Sid's knee at the UT Medical Center and found an isolated tear but no other damage." Spencer injured her right knee in practice on Feb. 23 and the ACL tear was confirmed the next day. Up to that point, Spencer, a 6'3" sophomore forward from Hoover, Ala., had played in all 25 games and started 13. She averaged 5.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg and almost 19-minutes per game for the then-#5-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols. According to Moshak, Spencer begins her rehabilitation immediately. SWG SLATED FOR SURGERY Jenny Moshak, UT Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, announced on Fri., Feb. 25, that Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood would be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Wiley-Gatewood has been rehabbing her left knee for patella tendonitis. "We will continue her rehab as we prepare for surgery on March 21. UT Team Orthopedist, Dr. William T. Youmans will perform a debridement of the patella tendon at the UT Medical Center," said Moshak. Wiley-Gatewood, a 5-9 guard, appeared in 13 games this season and averaged 3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 1.2 apg. She registered career highs of 12 points at Connecticut, six rebounds at South Carolina and had four steals and four assists against TCU. OH NO, NOT SID'S KNEE Jenny Moshak, University of Tennessee Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, announced on Feb. 24 that Lady Vol basketball sophomore Sidney Spencer had indeed suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. "Sidney hurt her right knee in practice on Wednesday, Feb. 23. She was immediately evaluated by Lady Vol team physician Dr. Rebecca Morgan who diagnosed ligament damage. She subsequently ordered an MRI. This afternoon, team orthopaedist Dr. William T. Youmans confirmed the isolated tear," said Moshak. Spencer, a 6'3" sophomore forward from Hoover, Ala., had played in all 25 games and started 13. She averaged 5.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg and almost 19-minutes per game for the #5-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (21-4, 11-1 SEC). "We'll get to work rehabbing her knee immediately," said Moshak. "Her surgery date has not been set." Tennessee coach Pat Summitt was disappointed to hear the news about Spencer. "I hate this for Sid and our program," Summitt said. "Sidney has been a big part of our rotation this season either as a starter or coming in off the bench. She has played some of her best basketball in the last two weeks. Our team will miss her contributions," Summitt concluded. ANOTHER 20 WIN SEASON The Tennessee Lady Vols have claimed yet another 20-win season. With its victory over South Carolina, it marks the 29th consecutive time a Lady Vol team reached at least 20 wins in a season under Coach Pat Summitt. The perfect 39-0, 1997-98 Lady Vol squad reached 20-wins the earliest - Jan. 20. While the 1984 NCAA runner-up Tennessee team reached 20 wins the latest by any Lady Vol team ever - March 17. Summitt has only had two teams ever fail to reach 20-win seasons during her 31-year tenure...In her first and second seasons (1974-75 and 1975-76) at UT, the Lady Vols were 16-8 and 16-11, respectively. SENIOR NIGHT 2005 In pre-game ceremonies prior to the game with Mississippi State, the Lady Vol senior players and managers were honored. Players: Shyra Ely (parents-Shy-Quon and Jean Ely), Aubrey Guastalli (parents-Donna and Dennis Guastalli), Brittany Jackson (parents-Liz and Turner Jackson), and Loree Moore (mother-Paulette Marlowe, brother-Brian Hunter). Managers: Bernitha Johnson (father-James Johnson, brother-Chris Johnson), Andrea Piercy (parents-Cindy and Doug Piercy), Tommy Francis (parents-Ginger and Rick Francis), Tara Brooks (parents-Kathy and Dan Brooks), and Adam Waller (parents-Debbie and Mike Waller). GREATEST OF ALL-TIME Now on newsstands is Street & Smith's "Greatest College Basketball Programs of All Time." The publication ranked the Top 10 women's teams and the Top 100 men's teams. Tennessee received the top honors for the best women's program of all-time followed by: 2. Louisiana Tech, 3. Connecticut, 4. ODU, 5. Stanford, 6. Texas, 7. Montana, 8. Virginia, 9. SF Austin, and 10. Texas Tech. 2004-05 9 DIFFERENT LINE-UPS -- In 2001-02, the rookie season for Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson and Loree Moore, Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt started 17 different line-ups in 34 games. In the final 19 games she started 12 different line-ups. The only common denominator in all 34 games was junior guard Kara Lawson who started every contest. The three rookies all had their chances in the starting line-up at various times in the season. There were 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. ZOLMAN EARNS HONORS Lady Vol junior basketball standout Shanna Zolman has been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Feb. 17. The honor marks the second straight year that the Syracuse, Ind., native has garnered all-district accolades, as she was named to the third team last season. Zolman currently maintains a 3.59 cumulative grade point average and is pursuing a degree in broadcasting. PARKER TO REDSHIRT Pat Summitt, head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols, announced on Feb. 17 that Lady Vol rookie basketball standout Candace Parker would redshirt this season. "Everyday of my life I'm asked umpteen times about Candace's future. We want to give a definite answer about the direction we are going in. With Candace's mom and dad, Jenny Moshak and Dr. Bill Youmans, we have decided to redshirt Candace this year. We want a healthy Candace Parker. We wanted her on the floor this year but she needs to be ready and 100%," said Summitt. Parker, a 6'3" freshman forward from Napierville, Ill., took the news in stride. "I'm comfortable with the decision. I'm looking forward to feeling healthy and that's the most important thing. I wasn't feeling 100% -- this is my second major knee injury in two years. The knee is good. I'm fortunate to be at the University of Tennessee where they recognized this early. I felt in my heart that I would play this year. I feel like I'm a good healer. Jenny Moshak (Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine) is great. There are no doubts in my mind about making the decision. There are no regrets," said Parker. ZOLMAN CLEARS 1,000 CAREER POINTS One of the greatest scorers in Lady Vol history, junior Shanna Zolman joined the exclusive Lady Vol 1,000-point club at the 8:56 mark in the second half against South Carolina in Knoxville on Feb. 17. Zolman becomes the 29 member of the club and currently has 1,001 career points. WE CAN PLAY SOME "D" The Lady Vols have been stingy against the some of the nation's best in 2004-05. Tennessee has faced four of the top seven offenses in the nation (heading into this week), holding each opponent at least nine points below their season averages:
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