KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Kara Lawson scored a career-high
31 points and made all six 3-pointers she attempted
as No. 3 Tennessee beat No. 17 Vanderbilt 91-71 Thursday
night to claim at least a share of the Southeast Conference
regular-season title for the sixth straight season.
Gwen Jackson added 19 points, reserve Shanna Zolman
had 16 and Shyra Ely 14 points for the Lady Vols (25-3,
13-0 Southeastern Conference), who put the game away
with a 16-0 run late in the second half.
The Commodores (18-8, 8-5) were led by Chantelle Anderson,
who scored a season-high 35 points. Anderson, who dislocated
her right toe in Vanderbilt's 81-67 loss to Tennessee
on Feb. 2, scored 21 points during one 29-minute stretch.
Abi Ramsey was 6-of-9 from behind the 3-point line,
finishing with a career-high 20 points for Vanderbilt,
which is 0-18 in Knoxville and has lost four straight
to Tennessee.
Tennessee led nearly the entire game, but Vanderbilt
was able to stay close because of Anderson's inside
presence and Ramsey's outside shooting.
The Commodores pulled within nine with 7:21 to go after
a basket by Anderson, but they could not get closer.
The Lady Vols then put the game away with their decisive
run over the next three minutes.
Jackson scored two baskets, Lawson hit a 3, Zolman
scored twice and Brittany Jackson had four free throws
as Tennessee went ahead 84-59 with 4:11 left.
Anderson ended Vanderbilt's drought with a pair of
free throws, but it was too late for a rally.
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt presented flowers to Anderson
and Ashley McElhiney, the Vanderbilt seniors who have
played well against Tennessee during their careers.
But Tennessee's two seniors, Lawson and Gwen Jackson,
stepped up in their final regular-season game.
Lawson was 9-of-12 from the field and made all seven
free throws she attempted. She shook her head after
scoring a 3 and flexed her arms like a bodybuilder after
the Lady Vols were ahead for good.
Tennessee led 35-32 at halftime before Lawson hit two
3-pointers and Jackson scored five points early in the
second half as the Lady Vols went ahead by eight.
Ramsey hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Vanderbilt,
Shanna Zolman hit a 3 and Lawson had a driving layup
to put Tennessee ahead by 10 with 15:38 remaining.
Anderson scored Vanderbilt's first 14 points of the
game and had 18 by halftime. No other Commodore scored
until Ramsey's 3-pointer with 7:43 remaining in the
first half.
Anderson's presence was frustrating the Lady Vols during
the first half. Ely tried to grab an offensive rebound
from Anderson under the Tennessee basket but lost it
and shoved Anderson with her forearm. Ely was called
for a technical foul.
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