Tennessee’s Snow Leaves Louisiana Tech Stranded

Michelle Snow scored a career-high 27 points Friday night as second-ranked Tennessee beat No. 5 Louisiana Tech, 90-75.

Louisiana Tech (2-1) got as close as 60-53 with 9:30 left, but that just seemed to allow the Lady Vols (3-0) to kick into another gear in an already hurried game full of fouls.

Snow’s basket with 5:25 left gave Tennessee a 75-55 lead and capped a 15-2 run.

Kara Lawson and Gwen Jackson each scored 16 points and Brittany Jackson had 13.

Louisiana Tech was led by Amber Obaze with 19 points, while Ayana Walker had 15, Brooke Lassiter 14 and Essence Perry 10.

The teams combined for 70 free throws but neither team shot them well.

Snow had the best night at the foul line, making nine of 10.

The win evened the series between the storied programs at 17 victories apiece.

Tennessee has won 300 times in 423 games against ranked teams.

After cutting Tennessee’s lead to 13 at the end of the first half, Louisiana Tech got as close as nine twice in the first five minutes of the second half.

Takeisha Lewis’ basket with 16:55 remaining cut it to 44-35, but she picked up her fourth foul 50 seconds later and had to sit down.

The Lady Vols then went ahead by 16 after Brittany Jackson made two free throws with 15:31 left, but Walker got an easy basket inside on the other end.

Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt, mad about her team’s defense, called a timeout and yelled “Get over here!” to get her players to the sideline.

But the Lady Techsters kept going on a 9-0 run.

Walker got by Snow under the basket and converted a three-point play and then made another free throw to reduce the lead to 51-44 with 11:41 to go.

Louisiana Tech could get no closer. The Lady Vols extended their lead to 15 with an 8-0 run.