Boxscore KNOXVILLE ? Top-ranked Tennessee hit 10 first half three-pointers to build a big halftime lead on its way to downing Louisiana Tech 81-60 Monday night before 14,891 fans at Thompson Boling Arena.
Shannon Bobbit and Sydney Smallbone each hit a trio of trifectas in the first half while Angie Bjorklund and Alexis Hornbuckle each added two as Tennessee built a 55-26 halftime lead.
?I told my assistants at the half that I didn?t think I?ve ever seen a team shoot the basketball as well as they did from the three-point line in the first half,? said Tech head coach Chris Long. ?Coming into the game, we wanted to make them beat us from the outside due to their size advantage and you have to give them credit. They couldn?t miss in the first half.?
While Tennessee was shooting well in the opening 20 minutes, Louisiana Tech (2-2) struggled from the field, making only 9-of-34 first half field goals. It was a combination that spelled trouble for Long and Co.
?In the opening couple of minutes, we got the basketball exactly where we wanted it but we simply didn?t make shots,? Long said. ?You could see some nerves out there on our part. We are a young team, but I think we grew up a lot tonight.?
Despite Tech?s first half struggles, the Lady Techsters didn?t go away quietly in the second half, outscoring the top-ranked Lady Vols 34-26 while doing a much better job on both ends of the floor.
Tech hit 38 percent (14-37) of its field goals in the final half while limiting Tennessee to only 30 percent (10-33).
Senior forward Jo Sneed and sophomore guard
Whitney Jones were two bright spots for the Lady Techsters. Sneed battled with the much taller Tennessee post players all night long and ended with 15 points, a career-high 18 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots in 36 minutes.
?I can?t say enough about Jo,? Long said. ?She never gave up. Our team never game up. I was proud of the way she competed. We need her to be a leader for us this year and took a big step in that direction tonight.?
Jones, who hit only 1-of-6 field goals in the first half, connected on 6-of-10 in the second half and ended with a game-high 16 points and three steals.
?I told Whitney at halftime that I needed her to step up and look for her shot more,? Long said. ?She did a great job of that in the second half.?
Shanavia Dowdell added 11 points for Tech.
Tennessee was led by Candace Parker, Nicky Anosike and Bobbitt with 13 points each while Bjorklund scored 12.
The Lady Vols barely outrebounded Tech 54-49 as the Lady Techsters pulled down 25 offensive boards.
Tech returns to action Saturday as it hosts Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.
