The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Shanna Zolman sank a key 3-pointer with 1:06 left and scored 23 points to lead No. 1 Tennessee to an 81-72 win over Kentucky Thursday.

Shyra Ely added 22 for Tennessee (17-1, 6-0 Southeastern Conference), which won its 10th straight game.

Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt won her first meeting against former assistant Mickie DeMoss, who was an assistant at Tennessee from 1985-2003 before taking over the Wildcats last spring. Each of the five Tennessee starters hugged DeMoss as they were introduced before the game, which drew 8,429 fans, the second largest crowd for a women's game at Memorial Coliseum.

Sara Potts scored a career-high 29 points to lead Kentucky (9-10, 1-5), which lost to Tennessee for the 23rd consecutive time, but trailed only 72-67 with two minutes left. The Wildcats had a chance to get closer, but LaToya Davis intercepted a pass and got fouled at the other end. Zolman sank a 3-pointer from the corner 20 seconds later.

TENNESSEE - Jackson 1-5 0-0 2, Ely 7-12 8-8 22, Robinson 6-13 1-2 13, Butts 1-3 0-0 2, Zolman 7-11 7-8 23, Spencer 5-7 1-2 11, Davis 3-5 0-1 6, Redding 0-0 0-0 0, McDaniel 0-1 0-0 0, Fluker 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 31-58 17-21 81.

KENTUCKY - Potts 11-25 2-2 29, Jones 7-10 0-0 14, Helm 5-11 1-2 11, Phillips 1-4 0-0 2, Payne 2-7 3-3 7, Ellis 0-1 0-0 0, Perry 1-2 0-1 2, Tate 2-5 3-3 7. Totals 29-65 9-11 72.

Halftime-Tennessee 36-32. 3-Point Goals-Tennessee 2-9 (Zolman 2-5, Butts 0-1, Davis 0-1, Jackson 0-2), Kentucky 5-17 (Potts 5-12, Payne 0-1, Helm 0-2, Phillips 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Tennessee 35 (Ely 7), Kentucky 30 (Potts 9). Assists-Tennessee 12 (Butts 4), Kentucky 12 (Phillips 6). Total fouls-Tennessee 11, Kentucky 15. A-8,429.