“Lady Vols” win thriller over in-state rival Vanderbilt

Three-point shoot-out highlight thriller in semi-finals

Bi-Lo Center – Greenville, SC

Tennessee rookie Alexis Hornbuckle sticks this shot for 2 of her 14 points.

Not only was this game to see who was going to be playing in the SEC Championship Game against No.1 LSU but Tennessee and Vanderbilt are also in-state rivals so bragging rights were also on the line, so with all of that at stake the “Lady Vols” and “Lady Commodores” got right after it.

Tennessee took a 5-2 lead on a three-point play by Shyra Ely. Vandy responded with a three-pointer by Caroline Williams a sweet shooting guard from Rockmart, GA. Vandy went up 8-5 when Abi Ramsey drilled another three-pointer. Threes continued to fill the Bi-Lo Center when Tennessee’s Shannon Zolman knocked one down to cut the lead to 16-12.

The teams continued to push the ball up and down the court trading baskets back and forth. Vandy’s 6-3 sophomore Carla Thomas made a strong move to the hole to score opening up a 18-12 lead midway through the half. Reserve Brittany Jackson from Tennessee could be starting at any major college in the country came in and immediately provided the “Lady Vols” with a spark hitting a pair of free-throws and knocking down a baseline jumper to tie the game at 18-18.

Vandy's Ashley Early and Tennessee's Brittany Jackson hit the floor for the ball.

Tennessee got on a little role as Jackson heated up draining back-to-back three-pointers as the “Lady Vols” opened up a 28-21 lead. But like in most rivalry games when one team makes a run soon after the other team will strike right back and that’s what Vanderbilt did, finally getting the ball inside to Ashley Earley who scored to cut the lead to 28-25. With just under 4:00 minutes left in the half  Williams and Dee Davis knocked down back-to-back three-pointers for the “Lady Commodores” to pulled them to within one at 32-31.

Tennessee’s two post players 6-4 freshman Nicky Anoske and 6-2 senor Shyra Ely did a great job of controlling the boards in the 1st half. Ely finished off the half scoring a pair of baskets to give the “Lady Vols” a 36-31 halftime lead.

The “Lady Commodores” came out in the 2nd half and quickly established Earley inside as she scored scored two baskets. Tennessee’s outside shooting continued to carry them, jumpers by Loree Moore and Zolman gave the “Lady Vols” their largest lead of the game 45-35 forcing Vanderbilt to call a timeout.

"Snoop Hound Dog" was sharp with his pin-strip suit on.

Earley continued to get inside and drew the 3rd foul on Anosike who had to take a seat on the Tennessee bench. Caroline Williams drilled her second three-pointer to cut Tennessee’s lead to 54-46. Thomas started to make her presence felt inside hitting a soft jumper to pull Vanderbilt to within six, 54-48 with 10:18 left to play.

The Vanderbilt fans really started getting jacked up when Williams hit her third three-pointer and Thomas made a nice pass to Earley to cut the lead to 56-54 forcing Tennessee to call a timeout. 

With a little under 7:00 minutes to play both teams put on a three-point shooting display that would have lit-up the NBA All-Star weekend. Back-to-back 3’s by Tenneesee’s Brittany Jackson and Shanna Zolman send the fans wild, Vanderbilt’s Abi Ramsey then brought the house down as she went all up in the “MATRIX”, the 5-10 senior busted three consecutive three-pointers cutting the Tennessee lead to 72-66 with 4:05 to pay.

Coach Summit had her team pull the ball out and work it around for a good shot that came when highly touted freshman Alexis Hornbuckle made a nice assist to Jackson to make the score 74-70. With :32 seconds to play Ramsey drilled another three-pointer to cut it to one 74-73. A Vandy turnover resulted in a lay-up by Tye’sha Fluker giving the “Lady Vols” a three-point lead 76-73.

Earley and Ely battle for position.

The “Lady Commodroes” had a chance but Ramsey who had been smoking from the three-point line fired up an air-ball with :20 seconds to play. Tennessee turned around and turned the ball over giving Vanderbilt one last chance but Caroline Williams missed a three-pointer and Tennessee got the ball and ran out the clock to win a thrilling 76-73 game, setting up a match-up that most had anticipated against the top seed No.1 ranked “Lady Tigers” from LSU.

Scoring Recap

Tennessee

Shanna Zolman led 4 “Lady Vols” in double-figures with 18 points (4 three-pointers) and 4 assists. Brittany Jackson added 15 (3 three-pointers), freshman Alexis Hornbuckle stepped up scoring 14 points and dishing out 7 assists. Shyra Ely finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

Vanderbilt