Florida stuns No. 5 Tennessee 95-93 in overtime
Tennessee has struggled on defense much of the season and, coupled with the loss of point guard Alexis Hornbuckle, the fifth-ranked Lady Vols haven’t dominated teams this season they way they usually do.
This time, Florida took advantage and the Lady Vols lost at home to an unranked team for the second time in school history and first time in 22 years, falling 95-93 to Florida in overtime Sunday. On top of that, Tennessee (25-4, 11-3 Southeastern Conference) lost to two unranked teams in one season for the first time since the women’s rankings started in 1976. Its first loss to an unranked team this year came at Kentucky, 66-63 on Jan. 26.
“We’re Tennessee. It’s not like anyone is going to feel sorry for us,” Summitt said. “We have yet to buy into defense. We have to bring that every possession.”
Florida (20-7, 8-6) used a full-court press that forced most of Tennessee’s season-high 28 turnovers and further exposed the loss of point guard Alexis Hornbuckle. Without a true backup, the Lady Vols have struggled to replace Hornbuckle, who broke her right wrist earlier this month and is out for the season.
“We have to learn to handle better. We have to do it by committee when we don’t have a point guard on the floor,” Summitt said.
Brittany Davis scored a career-high 29 points and Sha Brooks added 25 for the Gators, who improved to 2-34 all-time against Tennessee. Sarah Lowe added 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and no turnovers while playing the entire 45 minutes. Danielle Santos and Dalila Eshe each scored 13 points for Florida.
The Gators reached 20 wins for the first time under coach Carolyn Peck, a former Tennessee assistant.
“I thought it was a great game. It was about as close as it can be going down to overtime,” Peck said. “I don’t know if we necessarily stopped them but we battled. That’s all I ask for these young women.”
Florida beat then-No. 2 LSU on Feb. 16, marking the first time the Gators have ever beaten two Top 10 teams in the same season.
The Lady Vols had never lost to an unranked team in Thompson-Boling Arena, which opened in 1987. Unranked Cincinnati beat then-No. 12 Tennessee 72-69 on Nov. 26, 1984, in the university’s old arena.
It was only the 16th loss for Tennessee in Thompson-Boling Arena. Florida won for the first time in Knoxville, becoming the second SEC team to win for the first time here. LSU did it in February, snapping Tennessee’s 64-game home winning streak over SEC teams.
“Teams come in and see Tennessee on the jersey and fold. The game is over before it even starts,” Lowe said. “It’s a matter of coming out and giving it everything you’ve got, and that’s what we did.”
The Gators grabbed the lead early in the second half and didn’t trail again until overtime. But that only lasted 15 seconds.
Candace Parker converted a three-point play to put Tennessee ahead 87-84 with 3 minutes left in the extra period.
Davis hit her only 3 of the game and then made the second of two free throws on the ensuing possession to give the lead back to Florida, and the Gators held on to win. After the buzzer, Peck and her players huddled at midcourt to celebrate.
Parker posted career-highs with 34 points and 15 rebounds. Zolman and Tye’sha Fluker each scored 22, and Sidney Spencer added 11 points. Fluker also had 16 rebounds, and Zolman had 10 assists.
Florida went up 51-50 on Brooks’ 3 with 13:29 left in regulation, starting a 13-0 run.
The Lady Vols got back in it with a 10-2 run to cut it to 65-64 with 6:46 left. Zolman hit a 3 with 8.4 seconds left to force overtime.