SEC/TOP 25 WOMEN: Tennessee puts depth on display

— Pat Summitt is well aware of the challenges of the Paradise Jam tournament, having to play three games in three days.

With games looming against Georgia Tech and No. 12 Georgetown, Summitt rested her starters for most of the second half in the fourth ranked Lady Vols’ 82-44 victory over Missouri on Thursday night.

“We have two very tough games coming up so it was important to rest some starters and give everyone a chance to play,” Summitt said. “We wanted to share the minutes the best we could. I didn’t play [Vicki] Baugh, but she will be ready tomorrow.”

Summitt has been monitoring the junior’s minutes this season as she continues to recover from two knee surgeries.

Meighan Simmons scored 14 points to lead a balanced Tennessee offense. Alicia Manning added a season-high 11 points, and Taber Spani and Kamiko Williams each had 10.

“I think our depth played a big part,” Summitt said. “Our zone defense also played a big part. We’re long and there’s some range there. People came off the bench and everyone did a nice job.”

Tennessee (5-0) scored 11 of the game’s first 13 points before Missouri rallied within 11-8. The Lady Vols answered with a 17-3 run sparked by Spani and Williams.

Raeshara Brown had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Missouri (1-2), which missed six of its first seven shots and had 15 turnovers in the first half.

Tennessee (5-0) led 43-24 at halftime and ended any thoughts of an upset by scoring the first 10 points after the break.

“Oh, we keep our foot on the gas and we keep going,” Simmons said. “Especially when we have a lead. We always want to keep the momentum going.”

The Lady Vols will face Georgia Tech today, and Missouri will play Georgetown.

TOP 25 MEN CALIFORNIA 57, NO. 21 TEMPLE 50

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.- Harper Kamp scored 13 points, Allen Crabbe had 12 and California beat No. 21 Temple in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic.

The Golden Bears (3-0) were propelled by a 16-1 run late in the second half to help the defending Pacific-10 champions hand the Owls (2-1) their first loss of the season.

Crabbe ripped the ball away from Rhalir Jefferson with about 30 seconds remaining, and he hit two free throws to give Cal a six-point lead and seal the victory.

Lavoy Allen had 13 points, and Jefferson scored 10 for a Temple team whose nonconference schedule is only getting tougher.

Cal will play Notre Dame today. Temple will face Georgia in the losers bracket of the tournament.

SEC MEN NOTRE DAME 89, GEORGIA 83 2OT

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.- Tim Abromaitis had 25 points, Tyrone Nash scored 18 and Notre Dame rallied from 12 points down at the half for a double-overtime victory over Georgia in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic.

The Irish (5-0) held the Bulldogs scoreless for more than six minutes in the second half, using a 14-0 run during that stretch to force overtime. They outscored Georgia 20-14 in the second overtime, hitting some big free throws late to pull away.

Travis Leslie had 23 points and Trey Thompkins finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in his first game this season for Georgia (3-1). Thompkins, Georgia’s leading scorer and rebounder last year, had missed the first three games with a high ankle sprain.

Thursday’s scores MEN TOURNAMENT 76 Classic First Round Murray St. 55, Stanford 52 Oklahoma St. 60, DePaul 56 Virginia Tech 72, CS Northridge 56 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout First Round Arizona St. 73, Houston Baptist 55 Old Spice Classic First Round Boston College 67, Texas A&M 65 California 57, Temple 50 Notre Dame 89, Georgia 83, 2OT Wisconsin 50, Manhattan 35 WOMEN SOUTH Georgetown 67, Georgia Tech 58 Grambling St. 73, Dillard 55 Iowa St. 66, Virginia 48 Tennessee 82, Missouri 44 West Virginia 62, TCU 49 SOUTHWEST Florida Gulf Coast 73, Virginia Tech 65 Iowa 67, James Madison 61 Penn St. 70, Utah 58 Wis.-Green Bay 78 Hartford 44

Sports, Pages 29 on 11/26/2010

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