Check out SBN's Rocky Top Talk for all the post game video from Tennessee vs. Ohio State.
The Dayton region of the 2011 NCAA women's basketball tournament has turned out pretty much as most people expected with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Tennessee Lady Vols advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
SBN's Rocky Top Talk (Tennessee) describes how the Ohio State Buckeyes' lacking depth haunted them in their 85-75 loss to the Lady Vols.
Tennessee Runs Ohio State into The Ground, 85-75 - Rocky Top Talk
With almost no bench rotation of their starters throughout the first half, the Lady Buckeyes consumed a lot of energy trying to keep up with the Lady Vols in transition and working for the open baskets. For about 25 minutes of game time, it worked; even when Tennessee went on their traditional second half opening run, the Lady Buckeyes kept the score close and kept fighting.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame handled the sixth-seeded Oklahoma Sooners, holding them to 17 first half points and using their defensive pressure to overwhelm them, as written by Joe Kay of the AP.
Notre Dame beats Oklahoma 78-53 - College Women's Basketball - Rivals.com
Hands with green fingernail polish—Notre Dame’s NCAA tournament tradition—seemed to swipe at every dribble and reach for every pass.Brittany Mallory scored season-high 20 points, and Notre Dame’s defensive pressure forced 24 turnovers and quickly took its toll in a 78-53 win over Oklahoma on Saturday that sent the Fighting Irish to the regional final.
Those green-painted fingers were everywhere.
Although it was a tough game to watch for Sooners fans, at least one fan from SBN's Crimson and Cream Machine is proud of his team's performance this season.
2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - Sweet Sixteen OU vs. Notre Dame Game Thread - Crimson And Cream Machine
The inconsistent team from the regular season showed up. Hand who had come on the last 2 tourny games was limping. D-Rob was pressing and their bigs, took ours out. 16 was seriously the round I guess I expected or would be happy for the way the team was playing at the end of the regular season. So I’m proud.