KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Kentucky played Tennessee a little closer,
but still lost by 44 points to the No. 3 Lady Vols.
|  | | Semeka Randall scored 11 points in the Vols' rout. |
Semeka Randall scored 11 points and Gwen Jackson and Tasha Butts
had 10 points apiece Saturday as Tennessee (20-1, 8-0 SEC) coasted
to an 83-39 win over the Wildcats (5-14, 1-7).
Six days ago, the Lady Vols handed the Wildcats their worst
defeat ever in a 110-38 rout.
"Kentucky did a better job today," Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt
said. "They were patient. They worked the ball well and got great
looks."
Tennessee, though, won easily, taking control with a 16-0 run in
the first half and moving out to a 28-11 lead with 8:35 left in the
half. Michelle Snow started the spurt with a basket. Randall, who
played just 16 minutes, added two jumpers, LaToya Davis had two
steals that led to four points and Butts finished off the run with
two baskets.
The Wildcats finally broke their drought with Dasieka
Hawthorne's basket at 8:01 but then didn't score again until
Shambrica Jones' 3-pointer at the buzzer.
In the first game, Tennessee had runs of 11-0 and 11-2 before
halftime. Kentucky, which has four freshmen starters and only four
players with more than a year's experience, beat Alabama in between
the Tennessee games.
"I thought that we competed more today," Kentucky coach
Bernadette Mattox said. "We play in a tough conference and we are
still learning to compete against Top 25 teams. They are maturing
at the rate they should be."
Each of Tennessee's four freshmen also got more experience in
playing at least 10 minutes.
Davis appeared to find a niche in defending the top of the key
in the zone defense, which Tennessee used the entire game.
"Looks like she was born to play there," Summitt said of
Davis. "She's got those long arms, exceptional quickness and she
anticipates well."
Tennessee was ahead 46-16 at halftime after shooting 19-of-28
from the floor and outscoring Kentucky 32-5 over the last 14:37 of
the first half.
Tennessee hit just four of its first 15 shots to open the second
half, but Wildcats still couldn't whittle down the lead. Kara
Lawson's 3-point shot with 8:55 left put the Vols ahead 61-30.
Se Se Helm scored 10 points to lead Kentucky, which has lost 20
straight to Tennessee dating to Jan. 24, 1986.
Tennessee reserve center Shalon Pillow sprained the medial
collateral ligament in her right knee during a collision with
defenders in the first half and had to be taken away in a
wheelchair. Team officials said Pillow will be listed day-to-day.
The Lady Vols have now won at least 20 games in each of the last
25 years.
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Kentucky Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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