PHILADELPHIA — The theme of the postseason is simple.
Win and keep playing. Lose and go home.
For Tennessee (29-4), making the program’s 20th appearance in the Elite Eight, ending six consecutive years without a championship is at the forefront. Doing so is a matter of taking care of business.
“The intensity is much greater,” senior forward Shyra Ely said. “There is much more on the line and the game is brought to a different level. You either take your game to that level or your season is done.”
The path to extending the Lady Vol season now lies directly through Rutgers. The two teams will face off tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
The Scarlet Knights (28-6) fought their way into the regional final with a 64-58 win over second-seed Ohio State in Sunday’s action. In that game, Rutgers relied on 24 points from junior forward Cappie Poindexter and stifling defense to shut down the Buckeyes.
The defense limited Ohio State to 39.6 percent shooting from the field. The Buckeyes entered the game leading the nation in field goal percentage at over 50 percent per game.
The same problem faced the Lady Vols in their first go-around with Rutgers this season. The Scarlet Knights met a cold-shooting UT team, which hit only 27.8 percent of its shots in a 65-51 loss on Dec. 29.
The combined perimeter shooting of junior guard Shanna Zolman, senior guard Brittany Jackson and freshman guard Alexis Hornbuckle was only 6-of-27 on a night that the Lady Vols had 17 turnovers.
Meanwhile, four Rutgers players rang up double figures against Tennessee, led by freshman Matee Ajavon with 20 points. The win over UT was part of a three-game streak that saw the Scarlet Knights beat then-No.8 Tennessee, No.3 Texas and top-ranked LSU within a week’s time.
But the Tennessee team that faced Rutgers in December is far from the one taking the court now.
“They’re a great team and they’re playing a lot better,” Rutgers senior guard Chelsea Newton said.
“This is not the same team.”
Part of the revival for the Lady Vols came in welcoming senior point guard Loree Moore back to the court. Moore missed most of the month of December, including the loss at Rutgers, after undergoing a tonsillectomy.
Her part in defeating Texas Tech was significant — badgering Red Raider point guard Erin Grant into six turnovers and early foul trouble.
“Loree doesn’t always get the credit she deserves,” UT coach Pat Summitt said. “She was terrific leading our team on both sides of the court today.”
Having a healthy Moore on the court is key, but so is having Ely back at her natural position. Ely, who spent most of the season at the small forward position, switched back into the post after the loss to LSU and has been at ease there ever since.
Though she led the team with 13 points in the early season meeting with Rutgers, her presence is expected to be even more significant in the second meeting. Ely has averaged 17 points and eight rebounds during the NCAA Tournament.
“Shyra has been terrific in positioning and also just finishing some tough, tough shots,” Summitt said. “When I look at her stat line, that’s how we need her to play. It makes a big difference in how we play.”
Summitt, who picked up her 881st win with Sunday’s victory, thinks that the team as a whole is clicking at the right time.
“This team reminds me of our ’87 team in that we didn’t have an All-American so to speak, but we had players step up and make big plays for us, and we had good balance,” Summitt said. “I like the personality of this team and I like their competitiveness.
“They will fight you to the bitter end.”
