University of Tennessee Athletics
Game Preview - Florida
February 27, 2008 | Women's Basketball
THE GAME??
The #3-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (25-2, 11-1 SEC) will host the Florida Gators (16-11, 5-7 SEC) on Senior Night at Thompson-Boling Arena in a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. In pregame activities, UT will say good-bye to Lady Vol seniors Alberta Auguste, Shannon Bobbitt, Nicky Anosike, Alexis Hornbuckle and Candace Parker. Depree Bowden, a senior for Florida, will also be recognized.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES TO BE STREAMED
Since the Lady Vols have used up their SEC TV exemptions there is no way to stream the whole game but UTLadyVols.com will have the senior night ceremonies available for video streaming.?? You can view the video stream free of charge by visiting the front page of the web site and viewing the mulimedia player there or by visiting the Multimedia Player in the Multimedia menu at the top of the page.??
LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE??
This is the Lady Vols??? 34th season under Head Coach Pat Summitt???She has compiled a staggering 972-182 overall record??? Is just 28 wins away from a remarkable 1,000 career victories???Achieved her 950th win with a 92-67 decision over #22/21-ranked Texas on Nov. 18, 2007... Collected her 900th coaching win with a 80-68 decision over #19-ranked Vanderbilt on Jan. 19, 2006??? She passed Dean Smith (879 wins) for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 victory over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005 ???Her 2006-07 squad was crowned as the NCAA Champions producing the program???s seventh title???UT fi nished with a 34-3 overall record and were also the SEC Champions???
This season, UT returned seven letterwinners and welcomed a talented quartet of rookies???The 2007- 08 season marks the Lady Vol debut for freshmen, #5 Angie Bjorklund, a 6-0 forward/guard from Spokane, Wash., #20 Sydney Smallbone, a 5-10 guard from Granger, Ind., and #21 Vicki Baugh, a 6-4 center from Sacramento, Calif. Kelley Cain, a 6-6 center from Atlanta, Ga., will redshirt after having surgery on Dec. 11.
OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK??
This week, Tennessee will play the fi nal week of the regular SEC Thursday-Sunday format. On Thursday, UT concludes its home schedule for 2007-08 with a game versus Florida at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28. The Lady Vols will hit the road for the fi nal game of the regular season at #22/20 Georgia in Athens on Mar. 2 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. As of Feb. 28, less than 500 reserved tickets remained.
ON THIS DAY IN LADY VOL BASKETBALL HISTORY??
UT is 9-2 in games played on Feb. 28. The Lady Vols are 0-0 at home, 1-1 on the road and 8-1 on neutral courts. The last time out on Feb. 28, #2-ranked UT defeated #14-ranked Georgia, 85-69, in Chattanooga for the 1999 SEC Tournament Championship title.
LOOKING BACK??
Last year at this time, the #2-ranked Lady Vols were 27-2 on the season after defeating #12 Vanderbilt, 73-53, in Knoxville.
LADY VOLS ON TV??
A record 27 (of 29) Lady Vol regular season games are slated for television this season. Upcoming TV games include: Georgia on ESPN2. UT is 24-2 on TV this season.
BAUGH NAMED SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK??
Lady Vol basketball forward Vicki Baugh was tabbed as the the SEC Freshman of the Week (Feb. 18- 24). It is the fi rst such honor for the Lady Vol rookie, who is averaging 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the defending national champions. In two games last week, the Sacramento, Calif., native connected on 100% of her shots from both the fi eld (7-7) and the charity stripe (6-6). She averaged 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 14.0 minutes in victories at Alabama and against Mississippi State. In the Lady Vols??? 85-58 rout at Alabama, Baugh scored a career-high 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and rejected two shots. Against Mississippi State, she registered eight points in eight minutes and added three rebounds and an assist. Baugh joins fellow Lady Vol rookie Angie Bjorklund and UT junior Candace Parker as the only Tennessee players to earn weekly conference honors in their fi rst year.
PARKER NAMED 2008 ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN OF THE YEAR/ANOSIKE HONORED TOO??
UT junior forward Candace Parker headlined the 2007-08 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America?? Women???s Basketball Teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, by being named as the Academic All-America of the Year in the University Divisions. Parker is the latest member of the Tennessee women???s basketball program to be honored by the Academic All-America?? program, as her head coach, Pat Summitt, was honored last summer as the recipient of CoSIDA???s prestigious Dick Enberg Award. A Sport Management major at Tennessee, Parker holds a 3.35 cumulative grade point average.???This is such an honor,??? Parker said. ???An athletic career could end at a moment???s notice, but a solid education will last a lifetime. My parents always made sure that I understood the importance of academics and impressed upon me a work ethic that has helped me sustain a certain level in the classroom while managing the busy schedule of being a collegiate student-athlete.??? Joining Parker as fi rst team Academic All-America selections in the University Division are Delaney Conway of Portland State, Jackie McFarland of Colorado, Laura Rudolphi of Indiana State and Lindsay Whorton of Drake. Parker???s senior teammate, Nicky Anosike, earned second team Academic All-America honors along with Megan Frazee of Liberty, Danielle Green of Oklahoma St., Lauren Kohn of Ohio and Crystal Langhorne of Maryland.
Lady Vol Senior Night Salute??
On Lady Vol Senior Night 2008, pre-game ceremonies will honor the following senior basketball managers, athletic trainer and players:
CHARLIE HARLESS??
From Hollywood, Maryland, Charlie Harless is in his third season as a Lady Vol manager. He is majoring in Sport Management and is joined by his parents, Peg & Charlie Harless. Delores Haynes is a four-year manager from Trenton, Georgia, majoring in Psychology. She is joined tonight by her parents, Suzanne & Lanny Haynes.
KELLY MILHALIK??
Kelly Milhalik is a senior athletic trainer from Somerset, Pennsylvania, majoring in Sociology. She is joined courtside by her mother Amy Mihalik Tonight we honor the Tennessee Lady Vol Basketball Senior Class of 2008. Over the past four years, they have accumulated an overall record of 120 wins and just 15 losses ??? an 89 percent winning percentage. Against SEC opponents, they have an outstanding 49-5 record! The seniors have made two trips to the NCAA Final Four???winning the 2007 Championship! They have also captured an SEC regular season crown and two SEC Tournament Titles ??? they???d like to add another one next week in Nashville:
And now, introducing your University of Tennessee starting five seniors:
ALBERTA AUGUSTE??
The Tennessee coaching staff dipped into the junior college ranks two years ago and we???re sure glad that they found Alberta Auguste. ???Bird??? arrived in Knoxville with credentials as a defensive stopper and a great team player???She has played in 64 games in the Orange and White and earned one start with the Lady Vols???She has scored 308 points, grabbed 154 rebounds, dished 88 assists and snagged 83 steals???Nine times, she has connected in double-fi gures scoring???She recorded a career high 13 points versus Chattanooga, 8 rebounds against Arkansas and claimed a career best 8 steals versus Louisiana Tech???In the 2007 NCAA Tournament, she was exceptional on both ends of the fl oor coming up big in the wins over Ole Miss in the Elite 8, and in the title game versus Rutgers with 10 points and fi ve rebounds???We know you and your fellow seniors would like to add an SEC Tournament title and another shot at an NCAA Championship before you leave???A senior majoring in Psychology, she is joined tonight by her father, Albert Auguste. Lady Vol fans, a 5???11??? forward from Marrero, Louisiana, number 33, senior ALBERTA AUGUSTE.
SHANNON BOBBITT??
The shortest player ever to sign a scholarship with the Lady Vols has come up big every time she has stepped on the court. This diminutive package of dynamite has made herself at home in the Lady Vol backcourt starting 63 games. In less than two seasons, she has scored 577 points, dished 191 assists, hauled in 145 rebounds and grabbed 98 steals. Tough from three-point land, she already ranks eighth all-time in treys made and is fourth in the UT record books for career three-point percentage at 40.7. She has scored in double-fi gures 28 times for the Lady Vols and registered career highs of 27 points versus Oklahoma, 13 assists against Gonzaga and fi ve steals at Georgia. Twice this season, ???Little Bit??? has grabbed a career high seven rebounds. A clutch performer in the NCAA Tournament last year, she averaged 10.8 ppg while being named to the 2007 All-Final Four Team and the Dayton Regional All- Tournament team. Decorated as a Vol Scholar this year, she is a fi nalist for the Nancy Lieberman and Francis Pomeroy Awards annually given to the Most Outstanding point guard in women???s college basketball. A senior in psychology, she is joined on the court tonight by her parents, Linda & Anthony Bobbitt, brothers Christopher and Stevie and sister Shareese Bobbitt. Starting at point guard, number 00, from Manhattan, New York, 5???2??? senior SHANNON BOBBITT.
NICKY ANOSIKE??
During her four years at Tennessee, she has scored 1,016 points and grabbed 816 rebounds??? She has 149 career blocked shots, ranking her fi fth in the UT record books??? As a prowler in the paint, she has scored in double fi gures 34 times and grabbed double-digit rebounds 18 times during her career??? Earlier this season, she poured in a career-high 20 points against Auburn???No one will ever forget the career high 16 rebounds ???Big Nick??? pulled down in the 2007 NCAA Championship game versus Rutgers???We have marveled as she balanced academic and athletic success with a triple major in sociology (criminal justice), political science and legal studies???This week, ESPN The Magazine placed her on its prestigious Academic All-America Second Team???A district Academic All-American as well as a four-time member of the SEC All-Academic Team and a nominee for the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year Award in 2008??? She has played in 135 games and started in 122 games during her career ??? which ranks fi fth all-time???Named to the 2008 SEC Community Service Team, the 2007 All-Final Four Tournament Team and to the 2005 SEC All-Freshman Team??? I think Tennessee fans will agree ??? some of her best games are yet to come ??? we can???t wait to see Nicky dominate the postseason paint???she is joined tonight by her mother Ngozi, sisters Nneoma and Anulika, and brothers Ifesanachi and Ejimofor. Ladies and gentlemen, a 6???4??? post from Staten Island, New York, number 55, senior NICKY ANOSIKE.
ALEXIS HORNBUCKLE??
Our next senior has been the heartbeat and a sparkplug of the Lady Vols for the last four years??? A crowd favorite, the fans sense that something???s about to happen when she gets the ball in her hands or takes it away from her opponent???Last week, she became the new all-time leader in steals for the Lady Vols with 339 thefts, breaking Bridgette Gordon???s 19-year old ???untouchable??? school record???Perhaps the most complete player ever to suit-up in the Lady Vol backcourt, she has amassed some incredible numbers ??? 1,234 career points, 672 career rebounds, 459 assists (which ranks fourth all-time) and 79 career blocked shots. Only two other Lady Vols appear as high as Lex does in the fi ve all-time categories ??? Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings ??? not bad company! During her Lady Vol career, she has played in 127 games with 108 starting assignments ??? remember when she gutted it out and played with a broken wrist as a sophomore? She has tallied double-fi gure scoring 63 times???Fell short of registering the fi rst career triple double in UT history two times ??? the most recent time coming against Florida last season???Her career highs include 29 points versus LSU, 14 rebounds against Connecticut, 10 assists against Florida and 7 steals versus Chattanooga. She has been a Naismith Award fi - nalist, a member of the 2007 All-SEC and All-SEC Tournament teams, 2006 Second Team All-SEC and on the 2005 All-SEC Rookie Team???She will graduate with a degree in Sociology and is joined tonight by her parents, Quandora and Jerome Hornbuckle. Ladies and gentleman, starting at guard and the pride of Charleston, West Virginia, number 14, 5???11??? senior ALEXIS HORNBUCKLE.
CANDACE PARKER??
When the heralded ???six-pack??? rookie class arrived four seasons ago, she was the one with the easy smile and the deadly game. From the moment she stepped on the fl oor in an orange and white jersey ??? we knew that she was a special person and a phenomenal player. Unfortunately, her rookie season didn???t unfold like that of her fellow classmates ??? she had to undergo surgery and start a year behind her class. She???s more than made up for lost time over the last three seasons. She has played in 99 games with 98 starts and registered 94 games in double fi gure scoring, 45 games in extra digit rebounding and 43 career double-doubles. She is sixth in career points with 1,882 and 10th in career rebounds with 883. Last week, she became the all-time blocked shot leader in UT history with 247. Overall, her name appears in the top 10 of 21 Lady Vol all-time stat categories. Her honors would fi ll-up a tractor-trailer???She has been named the John Wooden Player of the Year, recipient of the State Farm Wade Trophy, Honda Award winner and two-time State Farm/Kodak All-American, MVP of the 2007 Final Four, 2007 SEC Player of the Year, MVP of the 2006 SEC Tournament, and 2006 SEC Rookie of the Year. Academically, she was just named as the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year for women???s basketball and was selected as a 2007 Academic All-American and recognized as a four-time All- SEC Academic honoree. She has wowed us with seven dunks! Her career highs include 34 points, 17 rebounds, 7 blocked shots, 7 assists, and 6 steals ??? not bad for a player who is listed at all fi ve positions. We each have incredible memories of a great competitor who has taken Lady Vol basketball to another level. And for this we say, Thank You. A sport management major, she is joined by her parents Sara Parker and Larry Parker and grandmother Joan Potter. Starting at forward, a 6???4??? senior from Naperville, Illinois, number 3 CANDACE PARKER.
THE 4-1-1 ON FLORIDA??
In the last game before meeting Tennessee, Florida dropped a disappointing 69-65 decision to South Carolina on Feb. 24 in the fi nal regular-season home game played at O???Connell Center. The Gators (16-11, 5-7 SEC) managed a nine-point lead midway through the fi rst half, limiting USC to just seven points with 6:26 remaining in the period. The Gamecocks woke-up and rallied to a 24-13 scoring fl urry to take a 31-29 lead at the half. USC continued that momentum in the second half, to lead 52-40. The Gators rallied to within one, 63-62, with 2:27 showing but USC hit 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the fi nal 1:56. UF???s Marshae Dotson came off the bench to fi nish with a game-high 17 points and seven rebounds. Depree Bowden, the lone UF senior, added 12 points and six rebounds, while Sha Brooks chipped in 10 points.
OUR LAST MEETING??
Tennessee???s Sidney Spencer scored 21 points and Candace Parker added 19 to lead the fourthranked Lady Vols to their ninth straight win, 80-58, over the Florida Gators on Jan. 11, 2007 in Gainesville. Spencer???s points (21) and three-pointers (5) both matched career highs. Alexis Hornbuckle fell one rebound shy of the fi rst triple-double in Lady Vol history. She had 10 assists and 10 points ( and 9 rebounds) en route to becoming just the eighth alltime UT player to earn a double-double in points and assists. Ironically, the last one came at the hands of Florida, when 2006 UT graduate Shanna Zolman scored 22 points and added 10 assists on Feb. 26, 2006. Cait McMahan and Alex Fuller offered career highs in points (7) and rebounds (8), respectively. UT raced out to a 25-0 lead, getting four 3-pointers from Spencer in the fi rst 10:40 of the game. Marshae Dotson got Florida???s fi rst points with a short jumper with 12:19 left in the half. It was the second longest opening drought by a UT opponent on the season. Tennessee extended its lead to 43-9 with 4:47 left in the half before Florida responded with a 17-1 run heading into halftime. The Lady Vols shot 60 percent from beyond the arc in the opening stanza to lead 44-26 at the half. For the game, the Big Orange held the rebounding advantage, 46-42, but struggled from the charity stripe, shooting a season-worst 41.7% from the line.
LAST MEETING IN KNOXVILLE??
The Lady Vols closed out the 2005-06 regular season Feb. 26, 2006 with a 95-93 overtime loss to Florida on Senior Day in Knoxville. Candace Parker scored a career-high for the Lady Vols, netting 25 of her 34 points in the second half. Shanna Zolman and Tye???sha Fluker accounted for 44 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists in their last home game. Parker, Fluker and Zolman each fi nished with a double-double. The #5-ranked Lady Vols lost at home to an unranked team for the second time in school history and fi rst time in 22 years. UT (25-4, 11-3 SEC) had never lost to an unranked team in Thompson-Boling Arena. Unranked Cincinnati beat then-No. 12 Tennessee 72-69 on Nov. 26, 1984, in the university???s old gym, Stokely Athletics Center. It was only the 16th loss for Tennessee in TBA. Florida???s Brittany Davis scored a career-high 29 points and Sha Brooks added 25 for the Gators (20-7, 8-6). Sarah Lowe added 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and no turnovers while playing the entire 45 minutes. UF utilized a full-court press that forced most of UT???s season high 28 turnovers and further exposed the loss of point guard Alexis Hornbuckle (broken writst). The Gators grabbed the lead early in the second half and didn???t trail again until overtime. But that only lasted 15 seconds. Parker converted a three-point play to put UT ahead 87-84 with 3 minutes left in the extra period. Davis hit her only 3 of the game and then made the second of two free throws on the ensuing possession to give the lead back to Florida, and the Gators held on to win. UF went up 51-50 on Brooks??? 3 with 13:29 left in regulation, starting a 13-0 run. The Lady Vols got back in it with a 10-2 run to cut it to 65-64 with 6:46 left. UT cut it to one three more times before Eshe made two free throws with 34.4 seconds left to push it to 81-76. Tennessee needed Zolman???s 3 with 8.4 seconds left to send the game into extra periods. UT out-rebounded UF 54-38 and shot 49 percent compared to the Gators 40 percent.
THIRTEEN MEETINGS WITH RANKED FOR UT??
In 27 games this season, UT is 11-2 vs. ranked teams. From Feb. 11-17, the Lady Vols faced three ranked teams in consecutive games. Tennessee defeated #25 Vanderbilt on the road, 81-68, lost to #7 LSU, 78-62 and defeated #5/7 Rutgers, 59-58 -- both at home. Two weeks before that, UT beat #9/10-ranked Duke, 67-64. UT also routed #15 DePaul before traveling to South Bend and defeating #14 Notre Dame and then returned home to put a 33-point hurting on No. 20/22 Auburn. To open the season, UT faced three consecutive ranked opponents in six days -- #9/8 Oklahoma, #21/22-ranked Texas and #16/17th-ranked West Virginia. The Lady Vols also defeated #4-ranked North Carolina and #24 Old Dominion. UT???s losses have been to then #5/4 Stanford, 73-69 OT and #7 LSU 78-62. Florida has faced four ranked teams this season and sports an 0-4 record. UF lost to then #20/21-ranked Florida State (81-78), #17/14 Georgia (82-55), #8 LSU (85-71) and #24 Georgia (85-66).
The UT-UF Series
Tennessee leads 35-2
| DATE | RANK | SITE | W/L | SCORE |
| 2/8/80 | 5/nr | H | W | 118-44 |
| 11/28/81 | 2/nr | A | W | 85-73 |
| 2/1/82 | H | W | 83-67 | |
| 1/23/83 | 8/nr | A | W | 94-62 |
| 2/2/83 | 8/nr | H | W | 70-69 |
| 1/8/84 | 8/nr | A | W | 78-70 |
| 1/31/84 | 9/nr | H | W | 69-49 |
| 1/21/85 | H | W | 69-61 | |
| 2/10/85 | A | W | 83-74 | |
| 2/2/86 | 10/nr | H | W | 82-60 |
| 1/17/87 | 2/nr | A | W | 90-72 |
| 2/21/88 | 3/nr | H | W | 108-53 |
| 2/18/89 | 3/nr | A | W | 85-52 |
| 2/17/90 | 4/nr | H | W | 75-42 |
| 3/3/90 | 3/nr | N51 | W | 81-56 |
| 1/16/91 | 4/nr | A | W | 71-70(OT) |
| 2/22/92 | 2/nr | H | W | 90-69 |
| 2/21/93 | 1/nr | A | W | 88-75 |
| 12/18/93 | 1/nr | H | W | 84-69 |
| 2/1/95 | 2/14 | A | W | 76-69 |
| 1/2/96 | 4/21 | H | W | 87-67 |
| 3/3/96 | 5/18 | N65 | W | 74-63 |
| 1/21/97 | 8/19 | A | L | 62-71 |
| 1/10/98 | 1/12 | H | W | 99-60 |
| 1/21/99 | 1/21 | A | W | 77-64 |
| 2/26/99 | 2/nr | N65 | W | 92-80 |
| 2/13/00 | 2/nr | H | W | 97-78 |
| 3/3/00 | 2/nr | N65 | W | 91-79 |
| 2/11/01 | 2/6 | A | W | 103-73 |
| 1/3/02 | 2/15 | A | W | 88-64 |
| 1/31/02 | 2/12 | H | W | 86-66 |
| 1/19/03 | 5/nr | A | W | 94-53 |
| 2/9/03 | 3/nr | H | W | 79-40 |
| 2/19/04 | 3/nr | H | W | 88-79 |
| 2/3/05 | 5/nr | A | W | 91-82(OT) |
| 2/26/06 | 5/nr | H | L | 93-95(OT) |
| 1/11/07 | 4/nr | A | W | 80-58 |
FLORIDA SERIES??
Tennessee leads the series with Florida, 35-2. UT has gone to overtime with the Gators in two of the last three meetings. In 2006, Florida became the fi rst unranked team to deal the Lady Vols a loss in Thompson-Boling Arena and the second home loss ever delivered by an unranked team. The other Gator victory came in the 1997 meeting in Gainesville where Florida upended the eventual 1997 NCAA Champs, 71-62. The Gators win in 2006 broke a 12-game winning run by the Lady Vols and spoiled ???Senior Night??? for Shanna Zolman and Tye???sha Fluker.
AVERAGE SCORE??
The average score of all UT-Florida games is 86.2 (UT) and 65.3 (UF).
SUNSHINE GIRLS??
Former Lady Vols from Florida includes Dominique Redding from Clearwater. slam-dunk queen Michelle Snow (Pensacola), Lady Vol Hall of Famer Bridgette Gordon (DeLand) and Pam Marr (Winter Park).
UT???S OFFENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES??
In all games, this is how Tennessee has shot from the fi eld: 60% FG: DePaul (.603); 50%FG: Texas (.537), Vanderbilt-2 (.518), Gonzaga (.507), Arkansas, Vanderbilt- 1, Kentucky-1, Notre Dame, UCLA (.500); 40%FG: Old Dominion (.492), MTSU (.473), Mississippi State-1 (.471), Chattanooga (.465), Ole Miss (.464), Stanford (.460), Mississippi State2 (.439), Alabama, Auburn, UNC (.438), Oklahoma (.429), WVU (.426), Kentucky-2 (.408), LaTech (.405), USC, Duke (.400); 30%FG: LSU (.348); 20%FG: Rutgers (.296)
DEEE ----- FENSE??
In all games, this is how the opposition has shot from the fi eld: 50%FG: none, 40%FG: UCLA (.475), Kentucky- 2 (.474), Vanderbilt-2 (.472), Alabama, LSU (.464), Gonzaga (.463), Duke (.441), Rutgers (.440), Texas (.436), Stanford (.434), Vanderbilt1 (.426), Oklahoma (.424), UNC (.422), Notre Dame (.422); USC (.417); 30%FG: Chattanooga (.389), Mississippi State-1 (.371), MTSU (.364), Arkansas (.351), DePaul (.333), LaTech (.324), Old Dominion (.323), Auburn (.317), KY1 (.314), WVU (.306); 20%FG: Mississippi State-2 (.283), Ole Miss (.278)
2007-08 WON-LOSS DIFFERENTIAL??
Wins: +43 (1), +34(1), +33 (1), +32 (1), +28 (1), +27 (1), +26 (1), +25 (2), +24 (2), +23 (3), +21 (1), + 20 (1), +18 (2), +16 (1), +13 (1), +12 (1), +4 (1), +3 (2), +1 (1).
Loss: -4 (1), -16 (1)
TOP BLOCK FOR TENNESSEE??
Lady Vol junior Candace Parker rejected fi ve shots versus Miss. State on Feb. 24 to break the 19- year old school record for rejections in a career with 247 breaking Sheila Frost???s record.
OVER 200,000 AT HOME??
Tennessee broke the 200,000 home attendance mark for the 11th time in the game against LSU on Feb.14. A nation leading 220,408 have clicked thru the turnstiles in 14 home games.
LITTLE BIT ON THE BOARDS??
Look out posts, here comes Tennessee???s secret rebounding machine, 5???2??? Shannon Bobbitt. Since Feb. 7, Bobbitt has averaged 4.8 rpg including a career high seven boards at Mississippi State. On the season, she has collected four or more rebounds in 10 games.
BJORKLUND LEADS SEC ROOKIES??
Tennessee???s Angie Bjorklund (6-0, F), Georgia???s Angela Puleo (5-9, G) and Kentucky???s Victoria Dunlap (6-1, F) are the only three SEC rookies who have started every game this season for their teams. The threesome are considered leading candidates for SEC Rookie of the Year honors. Bjorklund, a record-breaking three point scorer in 27 games, leads the trio tossing in 10.0 ppg on 40.8 percent fi eld goals (97-238), 39.2 percent three-pointers (58- 148) and 90.0 percent free throws (18-20). She also averages 26.0 minutes per contest and 3.4 rpg. In the post, Dunlap adds 7.5 ppg on 45.8 percent fi eld goals (76-166) and 45.5 percent free throws (35-77). She also averages 27.2 minutes per contest and 6.2 rpg. Puleo operates out of the backcourt and has started every games where she chips in 8.6 ppg on 42.3 percent fi eld goals (82-194), 35.2 percent three-pointers (44-125) and 64.0 percent free throws (16-25). She also averages 29.7 minutes per contest and 2.5 rpg.
HOW ???BOUT THAT ROOKIE???
Freshman Angie Bjorklund knocked down three treys against the Crimson Tide and moved into a tie for eighth in the UT record books for three pointers made in a season with 58.
ANOTHER RECORD FALLS??
Senior Alexis Hornbuckle snagged fi ve steals against Alabama and broke Bridgette Gordon???s 19- year old Lady Vol record (333 career steals) on Feb. 21, 2008. Hornbuckle now has the Lady Vol record for career swipes with 339 and ranks eighth all-time in the SEC thefts column.
IN THE LADY VOL LINE-UP -- THREE 1,000 POINT SCORERS??
When senior post Nicky Anosike got her fi rst point in the game with Alabama on Feb. 21, she became the 33rd 1,000 point scorer in the history of Lady Vol hoops. Not only that, she joined two fellow 1,000 point scorers in the 2008 UT line-up in junior Candace Parker and senior Alexis Hornbuckle. It marks the seventh time that the Lady Vols have had three players in the line-up with over 1,000 career points and the fi rst time in seven seasons. The 1,000 point UT trios: 2000-01 ??? Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall, Michelle Snow; 1998-99 ??? Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall; 1994-95 ??? Dana Johnson, Nikki McCray, Tiffany Woosley; 1993-94 ??? Dana Johnson, Nikki McCray, Tiffany Woosley; 1983-84 ??? Tanya Haave, Mary Ostrowski, Paula Towns and 1982-83 ??? Tanya Haave, Mary Ostrowski, Lea Henry. Lady Vols Southeastern Conference Success
SEC LOCKDOWN??
In SEC games this season, the Lady Vols have turned up their defense, holding opponents to an average of just 56.0 points per game in contests versus then-#22/20-ranked Auburn, South Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU and Alabama. Additionally, UT???s margin of victory in SEC games has jumped 10 points more per game than the season???s overall games winning average ??? against SEC opposition, UT???s winning margin is 21.7 ppg. Other ???lockdown??? factors???Kentucky didn???t score until 14:18 left in the fi rst half ??? the longest opening drought by a UT opponent this season??? UT had an 18-0 run-out versus Arkansas before they hit their fi rst basket at 15:18...UT held three opponents to under 20 fi rst-half points (Ole Miss (13), South Carolina (14), Kentucky (19)).
EIGHT WAS GREAT??
Over the years, eight Lady Vols teams have gone undefeated in SEC play: 1993, ???94, ???95, ???98, 2001, ???03, ???04 and ???07.
SEC TWOSIES??
This season, the Lady Vols will face Kentucky, from the SEC East, and Mississippi State, from the SEC West, in home-and-home games along with traditional rival Vanderbilt. In 2001, when UT last played UK twice in the regular season, the Lady Vols won 110-38 in Lexington and 83-39 in Knoxville six days later.
UT WINNING STREAKS VS. SEC TEAMS??
School Streak and last loss
Alabama 33 in a row, since 3-3-1984
Arkansas 14 in row, since 12-29-1996
Auburn 16 in a row, since 3-2-1997
Florida 1 in a row, since 2-26-2006
Georgia 6 in a row, since 3-6-2004
Kentucky 3 in a row, since 1-26-2006
LSU no streak, 2-13-2008
Mississippi 16 in a row, since 2-4-1996
Mississippi State 28 in a row, never lost to MSU
South Carolina 35 in a row, since 1-23-1980
Vanderbilt 15 in a row, since 2-2-2002
FANS IN THE STANDS??
Once again, the Lady Vols are leading the nation in home attendance for women???s collegiate hoops with 15,743 per game. UT is currently averaging almost 5,000 more fans per game than arch rival Connecticut ranking second with 10,876 spectators. Four SEC teams made the cut in the Top 25 schools in NCAA attendance.
| Rank | School | Total Att./Games | Avg. |
| 1. | Tennessee | 220,408/14 | 15,743 |
| 2. | Connecticut | 163,138/15 | 10,876 |
| 3. | Oklahoma | 121,106/12 | 10,092 |
| 4. | Purdue | 132,079/14 | 9,434 |
| 5. | Iowa State | 147,768/16 | 9,236 |
| SEC TEAMS IN THE TOP-25 OF NCAA ATT. | |||
| 17. | Vanderbilt | 85,740/16 | 5,359 |
| 18. | Kentucky | 74,553/14 | 5,325 |
| 19. | LSU | 52,271/10 | 5,227 |
| 23. | Georgia | 67,612/15 | 4,507 |
AGAINST THE SEC??
Tennessee owns a 392-59 record all-time record vs. 12 teams from the Southeastern Conference. UT maintains a winning record against every team in the SEC.
AMAZING AT HOME VS. THE SEC??
Since Tennessee began contesting games with SEC opponents, the Lady Vols have produced a 163- 12 record in home games. Only six SEC teams have ever managed a victory over the Lady Vols in Knoxville ??? Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU and Ole Miss. Georgia has won three games on UT???s turf while Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss and LSU have registered two wins each and Florida one win. Georgia was the only team to defeat UT at home in the 1990s (1991 & 1996). LSU and Florida are the only SEC teams to defeat UT at home in the 21st century.
SEC LEAGUE PLAY??
UT owns a league best record of 263-34 (.886) against all SEC teams dating back to the 1982-83 season.
THIS IS AMAZING??
From 1980-1997, the Lady Vols claimed a total of six SEC regular season titles in 17 years. From 1998-2004, Tennessee captured seven consecutive SEC regular season crowns producing an amazing 109-4 record. UT???s only league losses were to Vandy, Georgia and LSU (twice) during this stretch.
SEC TURNOVER MAGIC IN 2007??
In 14 SEC regular season games in 2007, the Tennessee Lady Vols forced their conference foes into 24.2 turnovers per outing It resulted in a total of 344 points scored off of turnovers for the Lady Vols against SEC teams ??? or an average of 24.5 ppg. So for every turnover an SEC team committed against UT, the Lady Vols scored a point.
SEC ROAD WIN STREAK??
Tennessee is on a 16-game SEC road winning streak. The Lady Vols have not lost on the road to an SEC opponent since Kentucky turned the trick in on Jan. 26, 2006 in Rupp Arena (66-63).
SEC OPENERS??
The Tennessee Lady Vols have produced a 24- 5 opening day record in SEC play dating back to the 1979-80 season. UT is 12-2 in home SEC openers and 12-3 on the road. Georgia (1984 and 1996) and Auburn (1988 and 1989) each ambushed the Lady Vols in two SEC opening games, while Vanderbilt turned the trick in 1990. The Lady Vols have not dropped an SEC opener since 1996 when Georgia escaped with a 94-93 overtime victory in Knoxville on Dec. 8, 1996.
UT HOME WINNING STREAK HALTED??
The Tennessee Lady Vols were riding a 17- game winning streak at home until LSU defeated UT, 78-62 on Feb. 14, 2008. UT had not lost in Thompson-Boling Arena since a 74-70 setback to top-ranked Duke on Jan. 22, 2007. It marked the 10th longest home winning skein for the Lady Vols.
THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA??
WELCOME TO ???THE SUMMITT?????
The playing court in the Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus donned a new look for the 2005-06 season. After Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt passed Dean Smith for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 win over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005, UT named the TBA court, ???The Summitt.??? The fl oor had a complete overhaul with permanent logos of both the Lady Vols and Vols painted directly in front of the scorer???s table; the free throw lanes were painted orange with ???SEC??? reversed out; the giant jump circle/ mid-court TENNESSEE was given a new brighter color scheme, and ???The Summitt,??? Coach Summitt???s actual signature adorns the sidelines opposite the team benches.
ON OUR WAY TO 300 WINS??
Tennessee recorded its 200th win in Thompson- Boling Arena when the Lady Vols defeated the University of Southern California on Nov. 18, 2001, 106-66. UT has now amassed a 292-18 (.943) record since the Orange and White moved into the Thompson-Boling Arena to start the 1987-88 season 20-years ago. Along the way, the Lady Vols have produced nine fl awless 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), 2000-01 (15-0) and 2002-03 (16-0). UT also registered an NCAA record 69-game home court-winning streak from Feb. 1, 1991 thru Jan. 2, 1996.
JUST 18 LOSSES??
The Tennessee Lady Vols rarely lose at home. In fact, since moving to the Thompson-Boling Arena for the 1987-88 campaign, UT has lost two games in one season just six times. UT lost two games in TBA during the inaugural 1987-88 campaign, 1996- 97, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2003-04 and the 2005-06 seasons. The 18 all-time losses at TBA have come at the hands of just nine teams: Florida (2006), LSU (2006, 2008), Duke (2004, 2007), Connecticut (2004, 2002, 2000, 1996), Louisiana Tech (1999, 1989), Georgia (1996, 1991), Texas (2003, 2002, 1987), Stanford (1996) and Auburn (1988).
HOME SWEET HOME -- OVER 400 HOME WINS??
The victory over Georgia on Jan. 31, 2005, was the Lady Vols 400th home win since Pat Summitt took over as head coach in 1974. Summitt has won 91.4 percent of all home games in 34 years producing a 443-43 overall record. Home losses (in the Summitt era) include: six in Alumni Gym from 1974- 76; 18 in Stokely Athletics Center from 1976-87; and 18 in Thompson-Boling Arena since 1987.
ON THE ROAD -- SELLOUTS AND SUCH??
With the addition of Vanderbilt, fi ve opponents (#10 Duke, #4 Stanford, #15 DePaul and #14 Notre Dame) have all enjoyed advance sellouts of their games with Tennessee. The Lady Vols have played to season-high crowds at Duke (9,314), Kentucky (7,278), South Carolina (7,841) UCLA (4,002) and Ole Miss (3,120). UT has also played to a record crowd in one of its 11 games away from home. UT???s game versus West Virginia at a neutral site in Charleston, WV, produced the record for the largest crowd ever to see a women???s game in state of West Virginia (10,677). On the road, the Lady Vols are attracting an average of 7,065 fans per site in 2007- 08. Tennessee has been a hot road ticket since the 1994-95 season when 7,724 per game showed up on the road. Since then, UT has produced 10 other seasons of plus-7,000 fans per game on the road.
10-YEAR LOOK AT ATTENDANCE??
The Tennessee Lady Vols staying power with the home fans is evidenced by the huge numbers who have turned for games in Knoxville since 1990. Tennessee has won the attendance challenge 12 out of the last 18 years. From 2000-07, the Lady Vols attracted 1,482,754 to 104 home games for an average of 14,257 spectators per game. Texas Tech is second with 1,317,848 attending 108 games in Lubbock for an average of 12,202. Connecticut ranks third with 1,534,673 folks at 128 games for an average of 11,989.
100 POINT GAMES??
Since 1974, the Lady Vols have gone over the century mark 69 times. Most recently, DePaul allowed 102 Tennessee points on Jan. 2, 2008. Last season, UT eclipsed 100 points in the opening game of the season against UT-Chattanooga with 102 points. The 1987-88 team hit triple digits in seven games to lead the NCAA.
IN OVERTIME??
The Lady Vols are 25-14 all-time in overtime games. The most OT games in a year was tied in 2003-04 with four as the Lady Vols went 3-1 in overtime losing to Georgia, 68-66, and defeating Auburn, 68-61, DePaul, 96-89, and Stanford, 70-66. It tied the mark set in 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. UT???s 22 points in the OT against Florida (2-3-05), was the most ever scored by the Lady Vols in a single overtime. UT???s most recent OT affair was a 73-69 loss to Stanford on Dec. 22, 2007, on the road.
The Sports Animal, WNML (990 AM, 99.1 and 99.3 FM). Mickey Dearstone
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Ranking: #3/#3
Record: 25-2 (11-1 SEC)
Coach:
?? ?? Pat Summitt- 34th (972-182)
?? ?? Roster
?? ?? Coaches
?? ?? Schedule
?? ?? Stats
Recent Results:
?? ?? 2/24 def. MSU, 72-46
Upcoming Games:
?? ?? 3-2 #3 UT at #22/20 Georgia, 7:00 pm ESPN2
Ranking: NR
Record: 16-11 (5-7 SEC)
Coach:
?? ?? Amanda Butler- 3rd (56-33)
?? ?? Roster
?? ?? Coaches
?? ?? Schedule
?? ?? Stats
Recent Results:
?? ?? 2/24 lost to S. Carolina, 69-65
Overall: UT is 35-2
In Knoxville: UT is 16-1
Away: UT is 15-1
Neutral: UT is 4-0
Last Meeting: 1/11/07 in Gainesville
?? ?? UT def. Fla., 80-58
Order Home Tickets Online
Ticket Office Hours:
8:30 am - 6:00 EST
Monday - Friday
Week day game ticket office hours are 8:30 am - half time of the game.
Weekend basketball game ticket office hours are 90 minutes before tip off and close at half time.
Ticket Hotline - 24 hour a day ticket office and game day hotline 865-974-9100
The Tennessee Athletic Ticket office is located at 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way in Thompson-Boling Arena (Suite 200). The Ticket Office is at the corner of Phillip Fulmer Way and Lake Loudon Blvd.
Thompson-Boling Arena & Assembly Center??
Capacity: 21,678
Seating Chart
Home Court History??
