DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Tennessee ended up being lower fourteen factors in opposition to 11th-seeded Kansas, an unheralded collection that will few though could possibly test out that really Lady Vols .
Feisty sophomore Meighan Simmons bought Tennessee the actual increase the item were required to live through as well as improve that will just another regional final.
Simmons have scored sixteen connected with your ex 22 items heli-copter flight standard inside second fifty percent plus Tennessee rallied over the particular Jayhawks 84-73 Saturday as well as state-of-the-art to help its second straight regional finalized in addition to 25th around 31 years.
Glory Johnson added 18 items for any second-seeded Lady Vols (27-8), who'll fulfill undefeated and also top-seeded Baylor upon Monday night regarding a new location in the Final Four.
It seemed to be that 1,098th win pertaining to Tennessee guru Pat Summitt, who released around August she'd already been declared using early attack dementia, Alzheimer's type, plus offers nevertheless for you to click with instruction following season.
"The first 1 / 2 we usually tend to receive ourselves in a very hole, nevertheless we fought against back," claimed Tennessee associate scalp discipline Holly Warlick. "I thought our own standard ended up being outstanding."
The Lady Vols trailed 26-12 inside the earliest half, but structure the particular deficit to help 35-30 by means of halftime. They took your head once for all that has a 19-9 run to help start the next half.
Angel Goodrich experienced a game-high 23 details and also Aishah Sutherland have nineteen pertaining to Kansas (21-13), which usually droped to be able to 0-3 with regional semifinals.
Simmons aided grab this out of it Lady Vols .
"She has a scoring mentality. We've said she has for no reason found a new chance your lady didn't like. But I let you know what, plenty of those images she takes the girl makes," Warlick said. "If we can understand coming from your girlfriend along with be aware that great stuff can occur for those who have plenty of heart, we wouldn't find down just like which within the primary half."
Tennessee couldn't complete everything correct for any primary 11 minutes, falling lurking behind into a Kansas staff this completed below .500 inside the Big 12.
But you will find a rationale your Lady Vols continually seem to be from the regional finals. The Jayhawks observed within the starting minutes belonging to the next half, as soon as Tennessee's outstanding interesting depth as well as athleticism merely overwhelmed your underdogs.
"The second-chance factors for the glass, your unpleasant rebounds, that's precisely what which they have often happen to be about," Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "They found myself in us from the offensive glass, many people experienced us all within transition. That's the manner some people bought this split inside the second half."
The Lady Vols finally required that lead, 44-42, with thanks largely that will back-to-back 3s coming from Ariel Massengale, and also a couple of no cost tosses made it 53-46 Tennessee having 11:07 to help go.
Freshman place battler Chelsea Gardner does the girl best for you to keep your Jayhawks close with 14 factors and eight rebounds. But Simmons strike some sort of layup away a give-and-go through Baugh to allow the Lady Vols their own first double-digit lead, 63-53, along with 7:07 left.
Shekinna Stricklen had sixteen points along with eight rebounds regarding Tennessee, which taken 51. a few percent within the 2nd half.
This appeared as if the ultimate mismatch at the outset. Kansas seemed to be using in just its third regional semifinal, whilst Tennessee ended up being using around its 30th along with taking pictures for any report 19th Final Four.
But quick on, the Jayhawks looked like it ready to the past due morning hours start.
Gardner bullied the woman way with regard to three within buckets inside starting five minutes, and back-to-back layups in the fresh paint by way of Goodrich bought Kansas your surprising 18-10 lead. The Lady Vols known as timeout in an effort to quell the actual run, nonetheless Goodrich along with Tania Jackson smothered 3s that will push the cause fourteen points.
"The earliest very few mins most of us became available which includes a lot regarding electricity on defense and also offense. We were smacking a great deal of shots," Gardner said. "We just simply have great defense."
That's the amount of deficit that could find anyone's attention. They Lady Vols came out of any timeout along with substantially far more energy, answering by using a good effective 19-5 run to go back inside 31-29.
Kansas misplaced movie star Carolyn Davis to your knee injuries very last month, but rallied to gain it is earliest regional semifinals berth seeing that 1998 by using upsets involving Nebraska and third-seeded Delaware.
Tennessee's seniors now have the means to avoid becoming the best four-year school inside school track record to be able to miss your Final Four. They obtained that with large element with the work regarding Simmons. She helped lead 41 counter points, when compared to 11 pertaining to Kansas.
"Since it's actually a one plus executed type of thing, them simply just brings this power on the inside me. Seems for instance I have this change ego," Simmons said. "I want to go out right now there and confirm a issue that will I'm a lot better than what people considered me. I would like some of our senior citizens in store your Final Four."
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