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Powerhouse Lady Vols to Face Unheralded Kansas in Des Moines

Sports

March 23rd, 2012 by Jim Field

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Pat Summitt and her Tennessee Lady Vols’ NCAA tournament history is staggering. For Kansas, it’s spotty at best.

Yet the Lady Vols don’t think the Jayhawks will be weighed down by all those suggesting they’re in for a short stay in Des Moines.

Saturday’s regional semifinals between powerhouse Tennessee (26-8) and unheralded Kansas (21-12) looks like a classic mismatch.

The 11th-seeded Jayhawks are in the third round for the first time in 14 years. The second-seeded Lady Vols have made it at least this far every year but one since the tournament’s inception in 1982 and have advanced to the regional finals 24 times.

But Tennessee associate head coach Holly Warlick says the underdog Jayhawks are playing with energy, heart and confidence.