KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- When Chamique Holdsclaw left Tennessee, many wondered who would replace the Lady Vols' inspirational
leader.
Tamika Catchings became that player -- and now a knee injury might have ended her college career.
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We lost our best player and leader. She was injured the way she played the game -- all out and hard on every play. ” |
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— Tennessee coach Pat Summitt |
"Her intensity, her hustle plays give this team confidence and
inspiration. She leads by example," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt
said. "Obviously, we're a different team when she's resting."
Catchings, the reigning player of the year in women's college
basketball, tore a ligament in her right knee Monday during the No.
2 Lady Vols' 66-59 victory over No. 21 Mississippi State.
Catchings, a senior forward, was injured when she drove to the
basket. She was fouled and hit the floor hard. As she writhed in
pain, team doctors and Summitt tended to her as the crowd of 11,643
went silent.
She was taken from the court in a wheelchair with 5:43 to go and
Tennessee (16-1, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) ahead 55-46.
"We lost our best player and leader," Summitt said. "She was
injured the way she played the game -- all out and hard on every
play."
A freshman on the Lady Vols' 1998 national championship team,
Catchings is one of four seniors this season. Known as "Catch" by
her teammates, she and fellow senior Semeka Randall graduated a
semester early in December and started taking graduate courses.
Randall, Catchings and Holdsclaw, who has played for the
Washington Mystics since 1999, were the three "Meeks."
A preseason All-American for the third time in her career,
Catchings entered Monday's game with averaging 15.1 points and 8.6
rebounds.
She became only the third Lady Vols player to score 2,000
points, joining Holdsclaw and Bridgette Gordon, in a 24-point game
against Arizona State this season. Her 17 points Monday left her
with 2,113 career points.
Catchings became only the second player -- along with Holdsclaw --
to have more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Her 13 rebounds
Monday pushed her career total to 1,004. She had seven
double-doubles this season.
"If she doesn't score a point, she's going to play defense and
rebound. She's taught me a lot," sophomore Gwen Jackson said.
"When you see a player like that night in, night out, you have no
choice but to contribute and help her out."
Mississippi State (10-5, 1-3), the only school in the SEC that
has never beaten Tennessee, was led by LaToya Thomas with 16
points. Jennifer Fambrough added 15 and Cynthia Hall 13.
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ALSO SEE
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Voepel: No love for this ligament
Catchings suffers torn ACL as Lady Vols beat Bulldogs
AUDIO VIDEO
 Tamika Catchings drives to the basket, but falls to the floor with an injured knee.
avi: 2873 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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