Vandy Topples Tennessee in Women's Shocker

Saturday, February 2, 2002
 
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Chantelle Anderson scored all of her 22 points in the second half as No. 8 Vanderbilt rallied from an 11-point deficit to upset second-ranked Tennessee 76-59 Saturday night.

The victory ended a nine-game home losing streak for the Commodores (20-5, 6-3 Southeastern) against the Vols and snapped Tennessee's seven-game winning streak. Vanderbilt hadn't beaten Tennessee (18-2, 7-1) in Memorial Gym since Dec. 6, 1990, a year before coach Jim Foster took over the program.

Foster picked up only his third victory over the six-time national champions who have dominated this series by winning 36 of the first 41 games.

Jillian Danker had 19 points for Vanderbilt. Zuzi Klimesova added 15 and Ashley McElhiney 13.

The Lady Vols have been beating teams by an average of 19 points, and looked like they would win easily after scoring the first seven points of the game.

Vanderbilt came into the game having lost two of its last three, and the Commodores lost the ball three times and missed their first five shots. Anderson was sidelined with two fouls when Ashley Earley got Vanderbilt's first basket nearly four minutes into the game. Anderson spent the rest of the half on the bench.

But the Commodores settled down and took their first lead with a 17-4 run before going into halftime tied at 29.

They took control and never trailed again by scoring the first eight points of the second half. Anderson got her first basket of the game with 19:12 left, and had 10 points as the Commodores finished off a 20-6 run that gave them their biggest lead at 49-35 with 11:21 left.

The Lady Vols never got any closer than six points, the last time at 65-59 with 1:48 left on a 3-pointer by reserve April McDivitt. She led Tennessee with 13 points. Kara Lawson had 11, and Michelle Snow 10.

Vanderbilt has beaten Tennessee consecutively for the first time. The Commodores upset the Vols last March's win in the SEC tournament.

On Saturday night, the Commodores hit 55 percent (26-of-47) compared to 39 percent (25-of-64) as Tennessee turned in its lowest point total of the season.