24,597 See Vols Triumph Top-Ranked Tennessee Women Score First Nine Points, Defeat No. 3 Uconn 84-69

Chamique Holdsclaw scored 25 points, and freshman Semeka Randall added 23 as top-ranked Tennessee defeated No. 3 Connecticut 84-69 Saturday before the largest crowd ever to see a women’s college game.

The two-time defending champion Vols (15-0) used a driving offense, full-court pressure and an assist from 24,597 cheering fans to hand UConn (12-1) its first loss of the season.

The 6-foot-2 Holdsclaw won the opening tipoff against the Huskies’ 6-5 Paige Sauer, and the Vols took off. They scored the first nine points, getting three quick baskets from freshman Tamika Catchings, who finished with 17.

Connecticut closed to 14-13 with less than 3 minutes left in the first quarter before Tennessee regained control. The Vols built the lead to 17 points shortly before intermission. They led 42-28 at the half.

The Huskies fought back in the second half, keyed by 14 points by freshman reserve Svetlana Abrosimova. A basket by the Russian with 2:34 left in the third quarter brought Connecticut to 49-48.

But a 3-pointer by Kellie Jolly and two driving baskets by Holdsclaw put the Vols up 56-48 at the end of the third period. Connecticut got no closer.

The Vols held Connecticut’s top scorer, Nykesha Sales, far below her 20-point average. Sales finished with 12 points. Amy Duran had 13 points, and Sauer 12.

The attendance record surpassed the old mark of 24,563, set in 1987, when Tennessee hosted Texas.