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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) -- Two quick fouls and a nasty cut weren't
enough to slow down Tamika Catchings.
|  | | Clemson's Crystal Scott tried to drive against Tennessee's Latasha Butts on Friday at the Maui Invitational. |
Despite playing only 16 minutes because of first-half foul
trouble and a second-half injury, Catchings scored 20 points to
lead No. 2 Tennessee to an 86-58 victory over Clemson on Friday in
the opening round of the women's Maui Invitational.
"There's an obvious difference when Tamika is in the game,"
Tennessee guard Kara Lawson said. "She poses a real perimeter
threat for us and I think we settle down with her in there."
Catchings, the reigning national player of the year and a
preseason All-America for the third straight season, picked up her
second foul six minutes into the game and went to the bench for the
rest of the half.
The 6-foot-1 forward scored the first four points of the second
half to start a 10-2 run that gave the Vols (2-0) a 48-36 lead
with 17:46 to play, and they pulled away from there.
Catchings injured her left (non-shooting) hand with about 15
minutes to play and spent the next several minutes being attended
to on the bench. When she returned with 9:12 to play and her second
and third fingers taped together, it took her all of 23 seconds to
score on a rebound that made it 68-50. After Marci Glenney of
Clemson (0-2) made one of two free throws, Catchings hit a jumper
and then made two free throws to extend the lead to 72-51.
Her 3-pointer with 5:50 left made it 77-52, and she was on the
bench for good 21 seconds later.
"I really don't know how I hurt my hand," Catchings said.
"All I know is I looked down and there was a lot of blood. I have
a cut between my fingers and they think I might need some stitches.
"It was frustrating sitting on the bench in the first half
because I felt like I let my team down. But they stepped up big
when it counted."
Tennessee advanced to Saturday's championship game against No.
21 Illinois, which beat Alcorn State 73-56 in the opening game.
The Vols will again be without starting guard Semeka
Randall and reserve center Shalon Pillow, who were left off the
trip for violating team rules.
"Without Semeka we're forced to start subbing early on the wing
but that meant minutes for the freshmen," Tennessee coach Pat
Summitt said.
Lawson and Kristin Clement each had 11 points for Tennessee,
which shot 51.6 percent (32-for-62) and finished with a 53-35
advantage on the boards.
"They are the very best offensive rebounding (team) in basketball,
men's or women's," Clemson coach Jim Davis said. "They do a great
job crashing the boards."
Chrissy Floyd had 16 points to lead the Tigers, who shot just
31.3 percent (20-for-64).
"Their in-your-face defense will create some poor shooting
games," Davis said.
Clemson led 34-33 late in the first half before Tennessee's Kara
Lawson hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left and Michelle Snow
scored on a rebound at the buzzer to give the Vols a 38-34
lead despite only having had Catchings for the six minutes because
of the two fouls.
"I felt like we were in great shape at halftime and I told the
team that in the locker room, then Tennessee came out and scored on
four of their first five possessions," Davis said.
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Tennessee Clubhouse
Clemson Clubhouse
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