Women’s Hoops Suffer First Home Loss

Women’s Hoops Suffer First Home Loss

1/19/2006

By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer
January 19, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Pat Summitt didn’t have to wait long to get her 900th career victory.

Tennessee (18-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) had never gone through a first half without leading at least once until this game, and the Lady Vols trailed by 14 late in the half.

Vanderbilt (13-5, 2-2) looked ready to end that skid and get its first victory against the Lady Vols since Feb. 2, 2002. As well as the Commodores shot, they couldn’t stop Tennessee from turning their turnovers into 25 points.

Caroline Williams led Vanderbilt with 21 points, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Dee Davis added 20 points.

The Lady Vols, who trailed 33-19 in the first half, didn’t take their first lead until 45-44 with 14:53 left on a pair of fast-break layups by Hornbuckle coming off a Parker block, then an Anosike steal.

Vanderbilt last led 50-49 on a 3-pointer by Cherish Stringfield. Then Tennessee scored 19 of the next 21 points in taking its biggest lead at 68-52 with 5:47 to go on a pair of Anosike free throws.

The Commodores came into the game as the nation’s fourth-best shooting team, and they shot 54 percent in the first half. They finished 10-of-22 from 3-point range.

They hit four 3s in a 14-0 spurt capped by Davis’ 3 from the top of the key for a 33-19 lead with 5:13 left in the first half.