Georgia no match for Tennessee ‘D’

No. 4 Tennessee knocked off another ranked team, this time with a stifling defensive performance.

On an off day for Candace Parker, the Lady Vols held No. 15 Georgia to its fewest points since 1974 in a 52-41 victory Sunday in Athens, Ga.

Alexis Hornbuckle and Nicky Anosike scored 14 points apiece for Tennessee (16-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference), which has beaten seven ranked teams this season – four of them on the road.

The Lady Vols’ lone loss was at No. 2 North Carolina.

“This team is much more athletic and can cover a lot of ground,” said coach Pat Summitt, whose career record improved to 929-178. “That has been the key for us and our success on the road. We’re able to generate points off our defense. That’s how you win ballgames.”

Georgia (14-4, 2-2) shot only 32 percent from the field (15-of-47) and had just one player in double figures, Christy Marshall with 12 points.

(5) Louisiana State 77, Mississippi State 50: At Starkville, Miss., Sylvia Fowles scored 16 points and the Tigers (16-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) held the Bulldogs (10-7, 1-2) without a field goal for more than 12 minutes in the first half on the way to a win.

(6) Ohio State 70, Northwestern 42: At Columbus, Ohio, Jessica Davenport scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and the Buckeyes (15-1, 4-0) stretched its Big Ten winning streak to 21 games with a victory over the Wildcats (6-12, 0-5).

(12) George Washington 61, Massachusetts 48: At Washington, Kenan Cole had a season-high 19 points and the Colonials (14-2, 3-0 Atlantic 10) routed the Minutewomen (10-8, 0-3) for their 18th consecutive home victory over UMass.

(13) Purdue 73, Indiana 51: At West Lafayette, Ind., Katie Gearlds scored 20 points and FahKara Malone added 15 as the Boilermakers (16-3, 5-0 Big Ten) beat the Hoosiers (13-6, 2-4) in Sharon Versyp’s first game against her former team and nine players she either coached or recruited last year.

(14) Vanderbilt 82, Florida 69: At Nashville, Tenn., Christina Wirth scored 20 points to lead the Commodores (16-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) to a comeback victory over the Gators (6-12, 0-3).

(20) Michigan State 83, Iowa 63: At Iowa City, Iowa, Allyssa DeHaan had 20 points and six rebounds to help the Spartans (13-4, 4-1 Big Ten) beat the Hawkeyes (11-8, 3-3).

Cincinnati 62, (24) DePaul 44: At Cincinnati, Michelle Jones had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Bearcats (11-5, 2-3 Big East) to a victory over the Blue Demons (11-6, 1-3).

(25) Arkansas 65, Auburn 62: At Auburn, Ala., Dominique Washington scored 24 points and Lauren Ervin had 19 to lead the Razorbacks (16-3, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) to a victory over the Tigers (14-5, 1-2).

•The game between No. 8 Oklahoma and Texas Tech at Norman, Okla., was postponed until Jan. 22 after an ice storm pelted Oklahoma.