#13 Lady Vols Pull Away From Lady Bulldogs Late, 82-68

Sunday, February 22

Knoxville, Tenn.

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

19-8, 6-6SEC

#13 Tennessee

19-8, 8-4SEC

Team	1	2	F
Mississippi State	36	32	68
Tennessee	34	48	82

Lady Bulldogs Fall In SEC Quarters To LSU

#13 Lady Vols Pull Away From Lady Bulldogs Late, 82-68

February 22, 2009 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics
? Official Statistics (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Mississippi State battled 13th-ranked Tennessee into the final minutes Sunday afternoon. The Lady Volunteers eventually held off the upset bid, claiming an 82-68 Southeastern Conference women's basketball victory in Thompson-Boling Arena.

MSU actually held a 64-62 lead with 6:58 left in the contest. Tennessee then closed the contest with a 20-4 run to seal a 30th straight win in the series.

The Lady Bulldogs fell to 19-8 overall and 6-6 in league play. The Lady Vols improved to 19-8 and 8-4. MSU remains in sole possession of sixth place in the overall conference standings.

The contest was nip and tuck throughout. The scored was tied on 16 occasions and the lead changed hands 14 times. The Lady Vols parlayed a 48-31 rebounding advantage and a season-best 51.8 percent night from the field to garner the victory.

On the other hand, the Lady Bulldogs made 11 3-point baskets - the most in a league game this season. MSU also was charged with only three turnovers in the contest. Tennessee's biggest lead was 5-0 prior to the game-ending flurry.

The Lady Bulldogs built a 28-24 advantage in the final stages of the first half. Another Alexis Rack 3-point basket ran the lead to the team's largest at 33-28 with 1:27 left in the half. UT cut the deficit to 36-34 at the half.

The final half was just as competitive. MSU only held two additional leads in the half though, at 39-38 and 64-62. The Lady Vols held a 66-65 advantage before scoring on an offensive putback from Kelley Cain with 4:45 remaining. MSU was unable to recover the rest of the way.

The Lady Bulldogs managed only one field goal in the final 6:58 - a Mary Kathryn Govero 3-point basket in the final seconds.

For the contest, the Lady Bulldogs hit 25 of 71 shots from the field (35.2 percent), 11 of 27 shots from 3-point range (40.7 percent) and 7 of 13 shots from the foul line (53.8 percent). The Lady Vols hit 29 of 56 shots from the field (51.8 percent), 3 of 9 shots from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 21 of 30 shots from the foul line (70.0 percent).

UT held a 48-31 rebounding advantage. The Lady Bulldogs had nine assists and three turnovers, while the Lady Vols had 21 assists and 12 turnovers.

Rack paced the Lady Bulldogs with 24 points, including a 6 of 14 night from 3-point range. Govero added 14 points, while both Chanel Mokango and Armelie Lumanu each added 13 points.

Cain led UT with 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots. Alex Fuller and Shekinna Stricklen each had 14 points.

The Lady Bulldogs play their final regular season home game of the year Thursday night. MSU will host South Carolina in a 7 p.m. start in the Humphrey Coliseum. That contest will be the final home game for seniors Donnisha Tate, Lauren Roberts and Robin Porter. MSU then closes the regular season Sunday with a 2 p.m. start at Alabama.