Nov. 25, 2000

Box Score

LAHAINA, Hawaii -- Michelle Snow managed to upstage one of the best starts to a game a team has ever had.

Second-ranked Tennessee opened its game against No. 21 Illinois on Saturday with a 25-3 run in which it made all nine shots it took.

Snow capped the first half in a way most women's players have only dreamed of - she dunked.

Tennessee (3-0) went on to a 111-62 victory in the championship game of the inaugural women's Maui Invitational, and its start in which it went 9-for-9 from the field and scored on 11 of its first 12 possessions became an afterthought after Snow's breakaway dunk with 10 seconds left made it 61-25.

Tamika Catchings, despite playing with five stitches in her left, non-shooting hand after being cut in the opening round, had 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting for the Lady Vols and was the unanimous choice as tournament MVP.

She started the game by making a 3-pointer and Tennessee did not miss its next eight shots. When Kristen Clement hit a 3-pointer 4:41 into the game, it was 25-3.

The Fighting Illini went on a 7-2 run to get within 57-25.

Allison Curtin had 21 points for Illinois, which suffered its worst loss since March 1, 1991, a 112-49 loss to Purdue, the worst in school history.

"I'm proud of my team, I really am," Illinois coach Theresa Grentz said. "We are very young and played an athletic, experienced team and didn't quit. I saw some strong points in the second half. There is no question this will help us."

Iveta Marcauskaite and Shavonna Hunter also reached double figures for Illinois. with 13 points apiece. Anne O'Neil had nine points for the Illini, who were out-rebounded 44-26 Illinois did get to the free-throw line 35 times, the most so far this year, making 26. After Curtin's 11 for 12, Hunter was 5 for 5 and O'Neil was 5 for 6.

The Illini return to action Tuesday night at Kansas. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.