The Lady Vols walked onto “The Summitt” court in Thompson-Boling Arena with their heads held high.
They were there to honor head coach emeritus and coaching legend Pat Summitt, they were there to win a basketball game for her and for the team. The No. 9 Lady Vols (16-4, 7-0 SEC) were looking for an upset over No. 2 Notre Dame.
It never came.While the team struggled to stay in the game, tying it up time after time, the Fighting Irish stayed in control, overcoming the Lady Vols 77-67. The result was disappointing.
Junior guard Meighan Simmons said that while the day was about Summitt, the ceremony was no distraction, it was a case of just playing hard for all forty minutes.
“It’s an emotional thing because it is our coach, but we just gotta go out there and play,” Simmons said.
For the Lady Vols, their biggest challenge was stopping Notre Dame senior guard Skylar Diggins. Diggins drained 33 of her team’s 77 points, 22 from the second half alone.
Senior forward Taber Spani said that while the team prides itself on a strong defense, it was ultimately their defense that let them down last night.
“We didn’t have it at all until the last ten minutes of the second half and they were able to do whatever they wanted, and they executed extremely well,” Spani said.
Simmons said she realized too late that the Fighting Irish had a plan. They were working to trap Simmons off of any ball screen she managed to accomplish.
“They read our offenses really well,” Simmons said. “Notre Dame is the No. 2 team in the country so their defense is gonna be really good.”
Spani said the heart of the team was the only thing that kept them within reach of a top 10 win.
“This team is one of the most competitive teams I’ve been on since I’ve been here. Everyone is invested into wanting to win and wanting to play not just for yourself but for each other and for this program,” Spani said. “We had an amazing turnout and amazing fans who are loud and crazy. Pat Summitt and her ceremony and then you have all these former Lady Vols and we want to play for them. I think the heart of this team and their competitiveness got us back into the game.”
Unfortunately for the Lady Vols, that just wasn’t enough.
“Notre Dame’s exceptional and we just didn’t make the adjustments,” Spani said. “We didn’t move and react quick enough to jump to the ball and get back to the high side of that cut and they just had layups.”
Head coach Holly Warlick said the outcome was disappointing.
“We went up against a great team and a great player in Skylar Diggins and we battled,” Warlick said. “When we learn to maintain a level of play for us we’re going to be very good. We just get in some lulls and valleys and that’s just part of us continuing to practice and demanding their focus. Proud of their effort at times, but disappointed in the outcome, obviously.”
Warlick agreed with Spani that the Lady Vols’ defense was lacking throughout the game.
“At times I thought we played really well, then we give somebody a backdoor cut about six times to different players. We just aren’t consistent,” Warlick said. “We can’t use the excuse that we are young, we are young, but it is just being disciplined and sticking to the game plan. We are young, that’s the way it is and we are going to play young. We have injuries and that’s part of the game. We don’t have an excuse for it, we have to get a little tougher and maintain some more consistency on the defensive end.”
In spite of the loss, there was one highlight to the evening. Summitt was awarded one of the highest honors the athletics program had to offer: a banner hung from the rafters of the arena. Summitt said the ceremony made for a very special evening.
“I find myself in very good company among the others with banners hanging from the rafters in Thompson-Boling Arena,” Summitt said. “I am grateful for this incredible honor and want to share it with the exceptionally-talented student-athletes and staff who have represented Tennessee and with our amazing fan base that has been so supportive through the years.”
Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director Dave Hart said it was a thrill to honor the former coach.
“She is a legend who transcends women’s basketball,” Hart said. “This banner serves as yet another reminder of the impact Coach Summitt has at our university and throughout the country. Her integrity, class and competitiveness continue to inspire the world of sports and, now, the fight to beat Alzheimer’s.”
After being cleared to play despite a lateral meniscus injury in her left knee, sophomore center Izzy Harrison spent 13 minutes on the floor before falling, crippled, to the floor. Warlick said she wasn’t sure what her condition was at this point.
“Her knee was sore for the Vanderbilt game and she didn’t practice the past two days,” Warlick said. “I thought it hurt us when Izzy (Harrison) went out. I thought she was playing well on the defensive end, rebounding, but it’s part of the game. I hope she’s going to be back because we need her. She’s a vital part of our program.”
