Zags lure Vols into deep-freeze

It’s not easy to upstage the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team, but Mother Nature was giving it her best shot Monday.

The eighth-ranked Lady Vols (9-2) were a half-hour late to practice for tonight’s matchup with Gonzaga (11-3) because of bus problems in snow-clogged downtown Spokane.

“We have been bombarded,” Gonzaga coach Kelly Graves said. “It’s been quite a winter. Let’s hope it’s not quite as cold in here tomorrow.”

Though not necessary with the game sold out and moved to 5 p.m. for the FSN telecast, Graves proceeded to sell the attraction.

“This is a big deal,” he said. “Spokanites, we’re used to that (weather). Hopefully, it won’t keep them home. This is a big opportunity to showcase women’s basketball. Girls basketball, women’s basketball is a big deal in the Inland Empire.

“And let’s face it, Tennessee is the epitome, the pinnacle, of women’s basketball. Hopefully people brave the weather.

“They’re arguably the most storied basketball program in the country, not just on the women’s side. You have a Hall of Fame coach, eight national championships, two-time defending national champions, you put all that together and I think it’s wonderful we can showcase the women’s game like this.”

The game is the second of the home-and-home series, born because of the matchup between sisters and former University High School stars, Gonzaga senior Jami Schaefer and Tennessee sophomore Angie Bjorklund.

“We talked about that even when I went out to visit with Angie,” said Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, who is eight wins from 1,000 for her 35-year career. “I thought that was a great idea so they could go against each other home and away.”

The Lady Vols, on their way to the NCAA championship, won 96-73 last December. It was the first of three times Bjorklund matched the school record with seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points while Schaefer had 19.

The rematch lost some luster when Schaefer, who was married during the summer, injured a knee in Gonzaga’s last game. She will not only miss her chance to play against her sister, being sidelined about six weeks derailed her march toward setting a Bulldogs record for games played. The record is 126 games and Schaefer was at 112 with at least 17 to go. She is also 76 points shy of becoming the 14th Bulldog to score 1,000 points.

“I was excited to play in this game, but things happen you can’t control,” said Schaefer, the reigning West Coast Conference defensive player of the year. “I’m disappointed but at the same time I’m still on this team and we have a game to play. My role has changed but I can still be a part of it, help out the younger players on defense, giving tips on guarding Angie. It will be awesome. The atmosphere is going to be great. I’m looking forward to that.”

Bjorklund, the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year, said, “Jami has always had high spirits. She’s definitely a strong person. I know this is hard on her but at the same time things happen. It just happened to be bad timing.”

The only Vol with previous starting experience and the top returning scorer at 8.4 points a game, is still excited for the game.

“To come home, spend time with family, has been awesome,” she added. “To play in the gym I’ve grown up playing in in the summers, having the homecoming game, is an experience I won’t forget. I’m excited to pack this gym.”

Graves is hoping his team can control its emotions.

“I told the girls let’s not get too keyed up,” he said. “The crowd is not going to affect them, they’re used to big crowds everywhere. It should only affect us in a positive way. We have to control our emotions.”

Controlling the Lady Vols is another story.

Three freshmen generally start with Bjorklund and classmate Vicki Baugh. Point guard Briana Bass is 5-foot-2, with Bjorklund the next shortest at 6 foot. The frontline of Baugh, Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen goes 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

“They don’t rebuild, they reload,” said Graves, who is GU’s winningest coach at 156-105. “They’re so talented. And there’s so many of them. … They just keep coming at you and they’re all so talented, they’re all so athletic. And it’s not like you’re going to outcoach their coaches. They just have it all.”

Both teams faced now-No. 16 Virginia last month, Tennessee losing at home 83-82 in the second game, Gonzaga winning 69-62 in a tournament at Marquette.

“It was good for us but at the same time it was a tough pill to swallow,” Summitt said. “We didn’t defend the way we can defend. … Overall, I’m pleased where we are but we will not settle for that, we’re going to get better.

“You can get what you expect or you can get what you demand. I’m very demanding.”

The Lady Vols average 77.5 points a game and give up 66.3. GU scores 77.4 and allows 59.3.

GU junior Heather Bowman understands the challenge but is excited to play after missing last year’s game because she broke her hand in practice two days before.

“I missed the opportunity to play against the best so this year I fully intend to take advantage of that opportunity,” the WCC player of the year said. “They’re very talented. I think everyone in the country knows they’re very athletic, very skilled and they’ll be a very good challenge.

“(The key) is a combination of us playing our game, not letting them dictate what we do. And then also knowing what they do, their tendencies, adjusting to them to a degree.”

Gonzaga’s experience, at least prior to a recent spat of injuries, against her young squad concerned Summitt.

“They’re playing well,” she said. “They’re a very skilled team and execute well. They’re a lot like Stanford except they don’t have their size. It will be a good test for us.

“There is no good way of fast forwarding (freshmen). My line this year is every moment is a teaching moment. I have been frustrated at times. Typically, that comes from high school players not understanding the intensity you have to play at at the college level.”

Graves said the Virginia experience helps.

“We can play with the best teams,” he said. “Obviously, we have to bring a great game, but we’re capable. To some degree we have nothing to lose. Good team, nothing to lose, that’s a dangerous combination.”