R U SERIOUS!

The Tennessee Lady Vols end the first half of their game against Rutgers University with only 13 points. Everyone says they are an embarassment to Tennessee. But, everyone seems to think we only play 20 minutes! Nope, as Summitt tells her team at halftime, there is another 20 minutes to play and they better play Tennessee basketball! So, what do the "Baby" Vols do? They grow up a little more. Shekinna Stricklen scored 16 points and No. 8 Tennessee rallied from the biggest deficit in school history to beat No. 15 Rutgers 55-51 on Saturday. After the Lady Vols trailed 33-13 at the break, scoring the fewest points ever in a half, Tennessee regrouped to give coach Pat Summitt her 994th career win. The loss ended a 20-game home winning streak for Rutgers (8-3), led by Epiphanny Prince with 25 points. Trailing 49-40 with 6:40 left, Tennessee (11-2) went on a 13-0 run. Angie Bjorkland's jumper with 1:30 left gave the Lady Vols their first lead at 51-49. Stricklen made two free throws for 53-49 lead with 39.8 seconds left. Prince's jumper cut it to 53-51 with 21.8 seconds left. She then forced a jump ball giving Rutgers one last chance, but Kia Vaughn missed underneath. Bjorklund, who scored 12 points, sealed the game from the free throw line. “Never in my 35 years of coaching have I seen a game like that,” said Summitt, who earned the 994th win of her career. “I’ve been in a lot of games, I’ve been behind a lot in my career, this one stands out as one of the most special.”
The only game that came close to this was when the Lady Vols rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to stun Virginia in the regional finals of the 1996 NCAA tournament.

Lady Vols

The Tennessee Lady Vols are in practice mode. They are preparing for a successful 2008-2009 campaign. We are the National Champions and have been for the past two years. We will be aiming for that goal this year too. We have 6 new freshmen and several sophomores. We have Alex Fuller too. She is a Senior this year because she red shirted her freshman year due to a knee injury. This will be a young and exciting team to watch. I can't wait until November for the season to begin. I also can't wait to arrive at TBA for the raising of the new National Championship banner. It is a shame that many of last year's graduating class can't attend this event. Nicky Anosike will be in Israel, Alexis Hornbuckle will be playing in Turkey, Shannon Bobbit is talking with several overseas teams, and Candace Parker may or may not make it back. She probably won't leave for Europe until January. I hope she will be getting some well deserved rest.

What can you say about Candace Parker, Rookie star for La Sparks. She has two NCAA college championships, National player of the year awards, Rookie of the year for the WNBA, Rebounding award for the WNBA (229) for the season, Peak Performance award for the WNBA, First Team WNBA, and in consideration for MVP of the WNBA. Oh, yea, I forgot that Gold Medal from the Olympics!!!!

Yes, it is going to be an interesting year for our young Lady Vols team, but we have something no one else has. We have Pat Summitt. Coach Summitt's teams have won more games for her than any other coach, male or female, in the NCAA. She has more National Championships than anyone other than John Wooden, and only needs 3 more to pass him!

Go Lady Vols!