Unbeaten Lady Vols top archrival UConn
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Free throws and Sidney Spencer helped keep top-ranked Tennessee undefeated with the Lady Vols’ second straight win over Connecticut.
Spencer scored a career-high 21 points, and the Lady Vols (15-0) went 32 of 41 from the foul line on Saturday afternoon to beat the No. 7 Huskies 89-80 in another classic game in this rivalry.
“I enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say that I was excited about our defense, but we found a way to reach down and win,” Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said.
UConn (12-2) lost for the first time in Knoxville since 2001 and had not dropped back-to-back games to Tennessee since 1998 and 1999.
Attendance was announced as 24,653, the largest in Thompson-Boling Arena history.
“It was electrifying,” Summitt said. “This is a rivalry that is special in women’s basketball on the national scene.”
UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who was booed by Lady Vols fans who don’t like his brash attitude, said Tennessee’s free-throw shooting was hard to overcome. He also didn’t like the way his guards played.
“We’re the University of Connecticut, and when we tee it up, we expect to win,” he said. “We’re really, really disappointed in ourselves.”
UConn leads the all-time series 13-8, which includes six matchups in the Final Four.
Zolman, Candace Parker and Tye’sha Fluker each added 13 points, and Alexis Hornbuckle had 14 rebounds, 10 points and nine assists, barely missing the distinction of being the first Lady Vol with a triple double.
In a game that featured plenty of stars, it was Spencer who was clutch for the Lady Vols. The junior forward’s previous career high was 14 points.
“(My teammates) needed a double team to defend them, and that was leaving me open so they could kick the ball out to me to get the open shot,” she said.
Tennessee led most of the second half but couldn’t extend the lead past six points until late. UConn cut it to 77-75 with 2:44 left on Barbara Turner’s pair of free throws. In response, Spencer made four free throws in a row.
Charde Houston had a jumper for the Huskies with 1:18 remaining, but Parker scored and Zolman had two free throws. UConn kept up the pressure, and Ann Strother was fouled shooting a 3 and made two of three free throws to cut it back to six.
But Houston’s free throw with 8.7 seconds left was the Huskies’ final point.
The Huskies led 41-39 at halftime after several lead changes.
The Lady Vols had few answers for Strother, who finished with 25 points and was 5 of 15 from beyond the arc. Houston scored 19 points, and Brittany Hunter added 12.
Tennessee had trouble shooting, but Spencer was 6 of 9 from the floor. She made all five 3s she attempted.
Spencer started some games last season before she hurt her knee, and Summitt added her to the lineup this season after guard Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood quit the team last month.
“Sidney Spencer had the game of her life,” Auriemma said. “They just have way too many weapons.”