No. 1 Tennessee holds off Fighting Irish, 62-51
Published 12:54 pm Monday, January 2, 2006
By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Still No. 1.
Visiting top-ranked Tennessee held off upset minded No. 12 Notre Dame Saturday afternoon before a backed Joyce Center 62-51.
The Lady Volunteers opened up 20-point lead on the Fighting Irish before Notre Dame came storming back late in the second half to make a game of it.
Taking Tennessee guard Shanna Zolman out of the game with a box and one defense, the Fighting Irish were able to frustrate the Lady Vols in the final 10 minutes of the contest.
Notre Dame, ranked No. 12 in the country, cut the lead to six points with just 1:57 to play in the contest.
But showing the poise of a champion, Tennessee regrouped and finally put the Fighting Irish away.
But Tennessee made enough plays down the stretch to remain undefeated on the season.
The Lady Vols are now 12-0 on the season and according to Zolman, who hails from Wawasee, Ind., that is what was important.
Tennessee built up a 29-14 halftime lead as Notre Dame struggled from the field.
The Lady Irish (9-2) took just 19 shots in the first half - connecting on five (26 percent).
It was all Lady Vols in the first six minutes of the second half as Tennessee went up 45-25 with 13:25 left in the contest.
From there, Notre Dame began chopping down the, finally getting it to 57-51 on a jumper by Megan Duffy.
Tennessee was 4-of-6 in the final 34 seconds to seal the win.
Alexis Hornbuckle led the Lady Vols with 15 points, while Nicky Anosike finished with nine points.
Tennessee also got eight points each from Sidney Spencer and Candace Parker.
Duffy led Notre Dame with 19 points.
The Lady Irish also got 10 points from Courtney LaVere off the bench and six points from Melissa D'Amico.
Saturday's game was a sellout, the third in the program's history.
TENNESSEE 62
Sidney Spencer 2 2-2 8, Candace Parker 3 2-2 8, Nicky Anosike 1 7-10 8, Shanna Zolman 1 2-2 5, Alexis Hornbuckle 6 1-2 15, Dominique Redding 2 0-0 6, Lindsey Moss 0 0-0 0, Sybil Dosty 0 2-4 2, Alex Fuller 2 0-0 4, Tye'sha Fluker 2 1-4 5. Totals: 19 17-26 62
NOTRE DAME 51
Cyrstal Erwin 1 2-6 4, Melissa D'Amico 2 2-5 6, Megan Duffy 5 6-6 19, Lindsay Schrader 1 2-4 4, Breona Gray 0 0-0 0, Tulyah Gaines 1 2-2 4, Charel Allen 1 1-2 4, Chandrica Smith 0 0-0 0, Courtney LaVere 4 0-0 10. Totals: 15 15-25 51
Halftime score: Tennessee 29, Notre Dame 14.
Three-point baskets: Spencer (T) 2, Zolman (T), Hornbuckle (T) 2, Duffy (ND) 3, Allen (ND), LaVere (ND) 2. Total fouls: Tennessee 21, Notre Dame 20. Fouled out: LaVere (ND)