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Nov. 5, 2006

Recap |  Box Score

TENNESSEE HEAD COACH Pat Summitt: "I think the first bright spot is that our starting five got us off to a good start both halves. We were not good off the bench in the first half. Players have to learn to come in off the bench. I told Alberta (Auguste) that she has to learn to be able to come in off the bench (instead of starting). I thought we had some quick shots. We didn't shoot as well today, but we did better in the second half. Alex Fuller came in and did some good things. She had 15 boards. She and Candace (Parker) and Alexis (Hornbuckle) really got on the boards."

(on defensive improvement) "I think this team has definitely improved. This team is quicker. We may not have as much size, but we are mobile. We have worked on defense and extending the defense and setting the tempo defensively. Candace (Parker) is playing better defense. Nicky (Anosike). . .we know that we can count on her on defense. Sidney (Spencer) is playing better defense. We place a lot of emphasis on defense. When you shoot 41 percent, you need to make positive things happen on defense."

"We've been able to put things together and see results. With Shannon (Bobbitt) and Alberta (Auguste) coming in, we didn't know how quickly they would adjust. They had college experience, but they have been willing to adjust. Shannon sets the tempo. She's a difference-maker. She's great at creating havoc and getting after people. It's fun to see her bring pressure. This team follows her lead."

(on the performance of Alex Fuller) "Alex is our most improved player. In the first half, Alex wasn't the same player that I'd been watching in practice. In the second half, though. . . .She's got a lot of weapons. She can face up. She can shoot the three, and she's got a good mid-range game. It's apparent that she's much faster in transition. She runs the floor well. She's a better player all around. She's in better shape than she's ever been in. Her offensive skills-she's much more efficient."

(on preparation this week for the first game of the regular season against Chattanooga on Sunday, November 12) "We won't take off until Thursday. We've got some work to do. We'll work on our match-up defense. We've only worked on our man defense to this point. We'll expand on our zone offense because a lot of people will zone us."

(on a better rebounding effort in today's game) "We had a little more desire. Rebounding is a lot about desire. At halftime, I asked the team, 'Is anyone going to step up and help (Candace) Parker ( Alexis) Hornbuckle rebound?' We need to be committed to the boards. When you shoot 41 percent, you want to make sure that you get a lot of second chance boards."

(on Sidney Spencer) "Sidney understands that she has to play the role of Shanna Zolman (2006 senior) for us this year. She has better size and can shoot over people. She has made that commitment. She got in the gym this summer and shot more than she ever has. She's got a quicker release now. She'll draw a lot of attention, but she can take advantage of spacing."

(on the expected return of Cait McMahan) "I'm not Jenny Moshak, but based on what I've seen from Cait, we could see her on the floor next week. That's our goal. We don't have to fast-forward this, but she's worked hard, and she says she feels great. It's up to Jenny."

Alex Fuller:

"Every game means something. I try to play hard every time I go out on the floor. I try to play my hardest for the team."

"In the offseason, I stayed in the weight room a lot. I played pick-up games with older men in North Carolina where I live. I tried to be physical and stay up with them. And I ran miles every day."

Candace Parker:

(on teammate Alex Fuller's performance) "It was huge. Alex's intensity to be on the inside and outside and hit the glass opens up things for other people. That's huge for us."

"We didn't shoot well tonight. Our offense depended on our defense. I'm happy with where we are on defense."

Sidney Spencer:

(on facing a zone defense) "We adjusted throughout the game. Our posts were getting beat up, but they showed composure and played through it."

(on point guard Shannon Bobbitt) "Having a true point guard has made all the difference in the world. Shannon is quick and can distribute the ball well. Last year, Alexis (Hornbuckle) was playing with a broken hand and out of position. Having Shannon gives us confidence and helps us out a lot."

HOUSTON JAGUARS COACH LOUIS RAY III:

"Tennessee, right now, from what we've seen, is the best team in the country. We've played a lot of teams thus far. What will take them over the hump - I know they've got a great player in Parker - but their point guard, Bobbitt, she's definitely one of the best. She's up there with (North Carolina point guard Ivory) Latta. Even though you haven't seen her play in a regular Division I game, I've seen her play more than just this one time. I think that will be the difference in them winning the national championship. Right now, I'd say Tennessee is probably the team to beat."

On the difference between UT and other opponents the Jaguars have faced: "First of all, I'd compare the size. Tennessee is always big. They're strong and much bigger than I thought. Rutgers wasn't that big, position for position. Point guard-wise, Bobbitt controlled the floor better than any point guard we've seen. Texas has a lot of size. Right now, due to the experience of Parker and the point guard play of Bobbitt, that's the difference in comparing Texas, Tennessee and Rutgers."

On Sidney Spencer: "I think Bobbitt will free Spencer up a little. This will be probably be Spencer's best year. With a point guard who can penetrate, take you off the dribble and find an open shooter, Spencer will definitely have a great season."

On Bobbitt: "I know she probably could have done a little bit more if she had wanted to, so y'all haven't seen anything yet. We scrimmaged their junior college two years in a row. I mean, she was hitting outside shots like they were lay-ups. What makes her an even greater threat is the fact that she can take you off the dribble, then she'll pass it and have the intelligence to find the open person. She's definitely an aggressive ball-hawk on defense. Basically the way we ran our offense was to keep the ball out of (Tennessee's) hands. We really didn't give her a chance to show her defensive stress. So she's definitely the type of player who can pressure a ball all up and down the floor. She can guard Latta, when you get a chance to play (North Carolina).

On defensive adjustments for UT: "When we were playing a strong 2-3 zone, they were standing around and not moving as much. They didn't know who to throw the ball to. That's where we had them confused. Of course, Coach Summitt, being the coach she is, did make the necessary adjustments in the second half. Every team we've played, we played straight-up man, so I'm pretty sure that's what they expected. And we just threw them a curve by basically playing zone. We really saved our zone for this game."