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Catchings Out for the Remainder of the Season

© Michelle Parke

All-American Tennessee forward Tamika Catchings suffered a torn ligament in her knee during Monday's game against Mississippi State. The Lady Vols earned a 66-54 victory but the loss of Catchings could change the remainder of the season for Pat Summitt's talented squad. Catchings, the current player of the year and leader of the Tennessee team, had hoped to avenge last year's Final Four loss to Connecticut later in March. She was predicted to be the No. 1 draft pick in the 2001 WNBA draft.

Catchings was hurt late in the game as she drove to the basket, was fouled hard and hit the ground. Summitt and team doctors tended to Catchings on the court as the crowd of 11,000-plus watched in silence. Catchings left the court in a wheelchair.

Catchings was expected to surpass former Lady Vol star Chamique Holdsclaw's scoring record by the end of this season. She was averaging 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game entering the Mississippi State game. Her coaches and teammates respect her for her leadership and hustle, whether it's on offensive or defensive. Catchings has taught a lot to the younger Lady Vol players and now they'll return the favor by supporting her through her injury.

The Lady Vols now face their biggest challenge yet: how to win without our best player? If any coach can motivate and inspire her players to move on, it is Pat Summitt. She will do her best to help her team move on into March without Tamika Catchings.

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