MIDEAST REGIONAL : No. 2 Tennessee Falls to Western Kentucky

Second-ranked Tennessee had the history, three national championship trophies and the famous coach, but Western Kentucky had the stubborn confidence.

Tennessee buckled, and fourth-seeded Western Kentucky upset the defending national champion, 75-70, before 5,802 at Mackey Arena Thursday to advance past the top-seeded Volunteers to the Mideast Regional final Saturday. Western Kentucky will play Maryland, which defeated Purdue, 64-58.

“This is a devastating position for us to be in,” said Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt, whose team was eliminated before the final eight for the first time since 1985.

“What we felt tonight as a team and as a staff was that we were playing not to lose, instead of to win. I think it’s much more difficult to handle success than the underdog role. I don’t think we played the confident basketball that allowed us to be seeded No. 1.”

Western Kentucky lost to Tennessee in a regional semifinal last season and was bent on revenge.

The Hilltoppers came from 10 points behind in the second half, took their first lead with three minutes left, then held on down the stretch despite missing the front ends of five one-and-one free throws in the final 43 seconds. Tennessee could have tied the score with a three-pointer with about 20 seconds left but failed to call the timeout Summitt wanted, then turned the ball over when Nikki McCray traveled as she tried to get into position for a three-point shot.

“Our kids believed,” said Western Kentucky Coach Paul Sanderford, whose teams have reached the Final Four twice in his previous nine seasons. “We’ve believed since we saw the NCAA pairings. We’ve believed since last March that we could beat Tennessee.”

Western Kentucky (25-7) has a determined guard in Kim Pehlke, who suffered through one of her poorer games against Tennessee last season, but carried the team this time, scoring 28 points--21 in the second half--on 10-for-14 shooting from the field.

“Kim Pehlke was in the ozone most of the second half,” Sanderford said.

Guard Renee Westmoreland made what proved to be the winning three-point shot with 1:03 left.

Western Kentucky didn’t falter despite trailing by eight at halftime after missing 15 shots in the lane.

Tennessee (28-3) was without point guard Jody Adams for part of the second half because of an injury.

Maryland 64, Purdue 58--The second-seeded Terrapins held off the third-seeded Boilermakers, who cut the lead to two points with 28 seconds remaining, by making four free throws in the final 18 seconds. Purdue (23-7), playing on its own court, lost at home for the first time this season as MaChelle Joseph, who had scored in double figures in all 29 previous games, was four for 16 from the field and finished with nine points.