JOHN ADAMS

John Adams: Lady Vols end losing streak with fourth-quarter charge

John Adams
john.adams@knoxnews.com
University of Tennessee's Diamond DeShields (11) battles for the ball against Notre Dame's Kathryn Westbeld (33) during a game between University of Tennessee and Notre Dame University at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee on Monday, January 16, 2017.

In an up-and-down season, the Tennessee women’s basketball team hit a new high. Credit Diamond DeShields with the biggest lift.

She scored eight consecutive points in an early fourth-quarter stretch as Tennessee (11-6) overcame a 15-point Notre Dame lead for its biggest victory of the season Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. Her defense was as noteworthy as her offense during the Lady Vols’ pivotal run in a 71-69 victory that was preceded by back-to-back SEC losses.

Lady Vols rally past Notre Dame

Notre Dame, which has won six consecutive games in the series by double-digit margins, seemingly was breezing toward a victory worthy of its No. 6 ranking when DeShields showed why she is one of the most talented players in the country. Her highlight moment began on defense,

Notre Dame guard Arike Ogunbowale was going up for a baseline shot when DeShields went up even higher. The 6-foot-1 DeShields didn’t just block the shot. She took it right out of Ogunbowale's hands.

“We all knew for them to win, she has to score,” DeShields said of Notre Dame’s leading scorer. “I knew she liked to go left. She just put the ball in my arms. At that point, I was turning and going.”

And she was just getting started.

She raced the ball up court before delivering it to teammate Jamie Nared, whose missed shot gave DeShields a chance to finish what she started. Her put-back basket cut Notre Dame’s lead to six points. Four DeShields’ points later, the lead had shrunk to four and the crowd was roaring its approval.

The crowd still was roaring and standing when Tennessee clinched the victory on a last-second miss by Notre Dame guard Lindsay Allen.

DeShields finished with one of her best stat lines of the seasons: a game-high 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and only one turnover in 36 minutes.

“We had a freshman (Jackie Young) guarding her,” Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. “That was probably a mistake on my part. She’s incredibly talented and was able to score on mismatches.”

DeShields didn’t wait until those crucial fourth-quarter moments to assert herself. She had a baseline jumper and a 3-pointer as Tennessee jumped to an 11-2 lead.

But that lead quickly dissolved amid Notre Dame’s offensive efficiency. A 23-5 Notre Dame surge left the Lady Vols down by nine points and reminded their fans why Notre Dame has dominated the series recently.

The Fighting Irish repeatedly passed the ball for open shots and connected from near and far as their lead grew to 41-26 late in the first half. They were still up by 10 entering the fourth quarter.

“I thought Tennessee really had a great run down the stretch,” McGraw said. “We couldn’t get a rebound. We weren’t able to guard the ball screen.”

The defensive frustration was strikingly similar to what UT encountered in its losing streak to the Irish.

Its comeback spoke volumes for its stamina as well as its defense. Notre Dame went to its bench early and often, but Tennessee didn’t tire although four of its starters played 36 or more minutes.

As impressive as the comeback and victory were, they could loom larger depending on what happens next.

After losing back-to-back games to nationally ranked Baylor and Texas earlier this season, UT responded with six consecutive victories. Then came consecutive losses to Mississippi State and Ole Miss last week.

“I believe we can go somewhere we haven’t been,” DeShields said. “But we can’t afford to look back.”

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.

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