Tennessee coach Pat Summitt (AP Photo/Wade Payne)ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) – Tennessee is looking for another Final Four for Pat Summitt, and it’s just about in sight.
Shekinna Stricklen scored 17 points and Glory Johnson grabbed a season-high 21 rebounds to lead Summitt and Tennessee past DePaul 63-48 in the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament on Monday night.
Vicki Baugh scored 16 for the Lady Volunteers (26-8), who grabbed a double-digit lead early in the second half and closed out a physical game in which players seemed to hit the floor about as often as they hit shots. Now, they’re headed to the round of 16, where they’ll meet third-seeded Delaware or 11th-seeded Kansas on Saturday.
Tennessee stretched a five-point halftime lead to 12 early in the second half and was up 42-29 after a hook shot by Baugh with 11:41 remaining. The Lady Vols remained in control from there and moved closer toward their ultimate goal – a 19th Final Four and ninth NCAA title.
The powerhouse program hasn’t been that far since it repeated as champions in 2008, a nearly four-year drought that might as well be four decades given its history.