KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee coach Pat Summitt had seen it before.
|  | | Semeka Randall ended a season-long shooting slump with a career-best 28-point effort against South Carolina. |
Semeka Randall scored 22 of her career-high 28 points in the first half Thursday to break out of a season-long slump and lead second-ranked Tennessee (15-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) to an easy 99-45 victory over South Carolina (6-9, 2-1).
Randall, the emotional senior guard who helped lead the Lady
Vols to the 1998 national championship as a freshman and holding a
career scoring average of 14.7 points a game, had shot just 36
percent in her previous 15 games. She was even taken out of the
starting lineup for several games.
By rushing her shots or shooting off balance, Randall just hadn't looked like herself in games. But in practice, the same precision has always been there.
"I see it all the time in practice. When we're in our shooting drills, she shoots the ball with great accuracy and consistency," Summitt said. "Tonight it was like I could actually see the drills."
Randall warmed up quickly and made her first six shots, outscoring South Carolina by herself. She had a fastbreak layup after Gwen Jackson's steal, and her 16-foot jumper with 12:46 left gave the Lady Vols a 24-8 lead. Another Randall jumper put Tennessee ahead 34-10.
"Coach always kept saying to focus and refocus. I think I was
focusing too hard. I just came out there and played free and just
played hard like back when I usually do," Randall said.
Summitt pulled Randall after she scored 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting with 8:33 remaining before halftime. She played sparingly the rest of the game.
"I don't know what she did last night, but whatever it is I hope she does it before every game," fellow Vol Tamika Catchings said.
Tennessee led 54-15 at halftime and outrebounded the outmanned
Lady Gamecocks 52-31 for the game.
"I thought Semeka Randall did a great job of sparking her team," South Carolina coach Susan Walvius said. "Our transition defense was poor. Our rebounding was poor and our offensive execution was poor."
Randall's night overshadowed the return of South Carolina center Teresa Geter, who transferred from Tennessee in fall 1999 to be closer to her family in Columbia.
The crowd of more than 10,000 applauded loudly when Geter was
introduced before the game. She was named the SEC player of week
after recording six blocks against Auburn and leads her team in
scoring at 11.5 points a game. Geter finished with four points.
"I was excited. I was nervous," Geter said. "Tennessee is a great place to play, and now I'm getting to see it from the other end."
Catchings added 16 points for Tennessee, while Ashley Robinson had 13 and Michelle Snow 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Nihan Anaz led the Lady Gamecocks with 13 points.
South Carolina is 2-29 against Tennessee since 1972, with the last win coming in Columbia on Jan. 23, 1980.
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
South Carolina Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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