In case you missed it last night, sophomore Shekinna Stricklen became just the second player in Tennessee history to record a triple-double.
Once you digest her 17-point, 13-rebound, 12-assist performance, there's still a few things left to chew on.
First, Stricklen clinched her triple-double with nearly 9 minutes remaining in the second half. Most triple-doubles are down-to-the-wire deals. Duke's Jasmine Thomas didn't get hers this season until she hit two free-throws with 2:30 remaining against Marquette. Baylor super-freshman Brittney Griner clinched her triple-double with a defensive rebound at the 8-minute mark of the Bears' win over Oral Roberts last month.
Stricklen's looked like a transition lay-up. Not only did she carve up Oklahoma in a 96-75 victory, she pretty much imposed her will. And she did so in just 33 minutes, about 5 ½ over her season average. Thomas and Griner each played 36 minutes in their triple-double games.
Here's betting neither one got yanked early, either.
"I think she was sleeping," UT coach Pat Summitt said of her decision to pull Stricklen as Oklahoma built an early lead in the first half. "She just wasn't attacking. Sometimes players just need a reminder. I decided to take her out and talk to her, and she responded."
What really stands out about Stricklen's triple-double is the litany of players who have never accomplished it. The record books at Tennessee read like a who's who in women's basketball. But before Sunday, Shelia Collins had the only other triple-double in school history, and that one came in 1985.
Candace Parker never did it. Neither did Chamique Holdsclaw or Tamika Catchings or Kara Lawson. Not Bridgette Gordon or Nikki McCray.
Now Stricklen has done it, and she's only a sophomore. A little surprising? Maybe. Entering Sunday's game, she only had four career double-doubles. Her previous career high in assists came last March, when she had nine against Alabama. Her season high before Sunday was six against Louisville.
But, she's incredibly versatile and athletic. As she's grown into the point guard role, so have the opportunities to pile up assists. At 6-foot-2, she's a legitimate threat on the glass. So maybe it's not that surprising at all.
And there was at least one spectator Sunday night in Thompson-Boling Arena who felt the same way, too.
"I watched her play plenty of times in high school," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said, "and I'm not surprised by anything she does."
Shekinna is Amazing. She has adapted to the role of Point Guard for this team, and is really doing a wonderful job of pushing tempo, which gets us going. I think as the season goes on especially with SEC play coming up they are going to not only have a problem with Shekinna but with all the Lady Vols. I like the things that they are doing right now on the court. Angie has been huge with her outside shooting and Alyssia has been great coming off the bench for the Lady Vols. Keep your head in the game continue to listen to Pat and the other coaches and watch how far you ladies will go.
Good luck the rest of the way! Love Them Lady Vols!!
Congrats to Shekinna and the Lady Vol team. After last season's adversities of youth and inexperience at the SEC level, it is gratifying to see the team mature into true winners.
This year's freshmen are fortunate to have the sophs & juniors as leaders. It is apparent that Taber Spani & Kamiko Williams are gaining confidence with every game, yet they don't have to carry the responsibility for leading the team.
BTW, it's also gratifying to see that Miss Brewer has apparently pitched her ill-fitting mouthpiece ;-) .
I was attending an AAU tournament several years ago and there was this player from AR who filled up a stat sheet. I asked several guys where she planned to go to school and they said UT. I was ecstatic because I knew she had a huge upside. Shekinna continues to play at a high level and and is still not the true scorer she could be because she tends to miss easy shots while hitting the difficult ones. Rebounding is natural for her with her reach, quickness, and ball instinct and she plays well with her teammates. I think Pat has her at point in order to have Angie and Shekinna on the floor at the same time. It's hard to have two 2's on the floor and still rebound and defend adequately.
She got the triple double without teammates setting her up to do it. The win was a team effort, but her accomplishment was a matter of her play and efforts. Great job!
i think if she wanted to she should play for the wnba she is a very great player i hope one day i will be a great player just like her i am # 42 on my basketball team us 40s are good go shekinna!!!