KNOXVILLE - Glory Johnson had 17 points and 13 rebounds as No. 3 Tennessee held off Pepperdine for an 89-57 win in both teams' season opener Sunday.
The defensively tough Waves never led, but kept within two baskets until an 8-0 run capped by a Meighan Simmons jumper with 10:32 in the first half gave Tennessee a 20-9 lead. Pepperdine got back within seven points with 7:23 before halftime, but Tennessee went on another 8-0 run before the break and scored 18 unanswered points early in the second half to take a 58-26 lead with 14:19 to play and put the game out of reach.
Jazmine Jackson led Pepperdine with 17 points.
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt has been ready for the season to begin in hopes of getting the attention off of her and onto her players. In August, Summitt revealed she'd been diagnosed with early onset dementia.