Pat Summitt gets win 1,000

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Tennessee women's basketball Coach Pat Summitt recorded her 1,000th career victory Thursday night in a 73-43 rout of SEC foe Georgia.

In her 35th year in Knoxville, Summitt is the first coach, man or woman, to reach the 1,000-victory plateau. She did it in her second try this week.

The 17th-ranked Lady Volunteers, whose roster this season features seven freshmen, suffered an 80-70 loss at second-ranked Oklahoma Monday night.

Summitt's career record rose to 1,000-186, and her career milestones include being co-captain during Team USA's silver medal-winning team at the 1976 Olympics; eight national championships, three straight from 1996-98; and an Olympic gold medal in 1984.

"I've been extremely blessed to be your coach," she told a packed, enthusiastic crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena. "We've had a few challenges this year and we may be young, but our plan is to be at the Final Four."