No. 11 Lady Vols' struggles continue with loss

By Beth Rucker

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Feb. 10 2012 2:01 p.m. MST

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Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt, second from right, confers with her assistant coaches in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.

Mark Humphrey, Associated Press

Summary

As legendary coach Pat Summitt's role with Tennessee seems to be diminishing, her 11th-ranked Lady Volunteers continue to struggle.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As legendary coach Pat Summitt's role with Tennessee seems to be diminishing, her 11th-ranked Lady Volunteers continue to struggle.

In a matter of eight days, they've lost twice in the Southeastern Conference, a prospect backed off her longtime commitment to the program and they're out of the top 10 for the first time this season.

Summitt, who announced in August that she was facing a diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, said the 93-79 loss at Vanderbilt on Thursday night really hurt and that her players let her down.

Things don't get any easier. Tennessee (17-7, 8-3) hosts No. 7 Kentucky (21-3, 10-1) on Monday night. With the Lady Vols' loss to the Commodores, the Wildcats are back in control of their own destiny in the SEC.

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