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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- It was a bad night to play Tennessee, even if the opponent
was coach Pat Summitt's alma mater.
Coming off a season-opening 69-64 loss to highly ranked Lousiana Tech on
Sunday, the Lady Vols (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) routed Tennessee-Martin 133-60 on Friday night.
|  | | Freshman Kara Lawson led Tennessee with 23 points. |
It was the most points ever scored by a Lady Volunteer team, surpassing the 130 points Tennessee ran up on Hawaii Pacific in 1985.
"Their timing may not have been very good because they caught a
very inspired team," Summitt said.
"I thought we came out with great intensity. We played better
together both on offense and defense. We played well together."
Still, Summitt had praise for the Skyhawks, last season's Ohio Valley Conference co-champions, and their husband and wife coaches, Gary and Kim Van Atta.
"I think they're going to be one of the top teams in the OVC," she said. "I know I will be pulling for them."
Despite the score, Gary Van Atta said the experience was
invaluable. "Playing this type of game gives our players a chance
to learn, and it will hopefully help us as we compete for the
conference title again."
Freshman Kara Lawson led Tennessee with 23 points, including five 3-pointers. The Lady Vols were 8-of-16 from 3-point range.
"Pat said Kara Lawson can shoot, and she sure nailed them,"
Van Atta said. "I think this team shoots the ball outside a lot
better. There's a lot of depth."
"I think that's something this team lacked last year," Lawson said. "Teams would pack it in and play zones. This makes the defense play honest."
Amanda Canon made the record-breaking basket with six seconds
left, her only points of the game. Summitt, wearing a pantsuit in
Tennessee-Martin's royal blue colors, played her entire bench, and
all 13 players scored.
Lawson's first 3-pointer was the first basket of the game, coming with less than a minute gone. The Lady Vols, now 1-1, never looked back.
The loss was the first game of the season for Tennessee-Martin.
Tennessee led 58-26 at halftime, but the Lady Vols' biggest
margin came at the end. The Lady Vols shot 59 percent for the game,
to the Skyhawks' 43 percent.
Tennessee outrebounded Tennessee-Martin 54-21 and scored 56
points off 35 Skyhawks' turnovers.
Lawson, who hit 7-of-10 from the field, was one of six Lady Vols
in double figures. Tamika Catchings had 15, Gwen Jackson 14, Semeka
Randall 13, Michelle Snow 12 and Niya Butts 11
Tennessee-Martin was led by Querida Jones with eight points and
Zabrina Harris had seven.
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Tennessee Martin Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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