Ninth-seeded Purdue (17-13) tried its best to stall Summitt’s chase, hanging tough with the Lady Vols in the first half.

But Tennessee’s defense was too much for Purdue in the second half. The Boilermakers didn’t have a field goal in the first 6:35 of the second half, while the Lady Vols pushed their lead to 20 with a 19-6 run.

“Congratulations to Coach Summitt,” Purdue coach Kristy Curry said. “I’m really happy for her, and I’m proud of my team for how they fought and battled.”

Tye’sha Fluker tied a career high with 18 points and had 10 rebounds. Shyra Ely added 16 points, Zolman 15 and Nicky Anosike 11.

Sharika Webb had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Katie Gearlds added 13 for the Boilermakers, who made only four field goals in the second half.

Summitt paced in front of the bench and clapped at each turnover her team forced. She flashed “The Stare” at officials and at her players. At one point, Summitt waved her arms around when a Purdue player drove past her to the basket as if she was going to guard her.

Alex Brandon / AP Tennessee coach Pat Summitt gives her mother Hazel Head a hug during the ceremony naming the court after her following her record-breaking victory Tuesday.

Summitt overtook Texas’ Jody Conradt as the winningest women’s college coach early in the 2002-03 season.

Summitt holds nearly every NCAA tournament record for a women’s coach, including NCAA titles (six), Final Four appearances (15), Final Four wins (17), tournament appearances (24), tournament games (104) and tournament wins (87).

“A lot of players come and go, but the great ones leave and other great ones arrive,” Summitt said. “They wear the orange with tremendous pride.”

And many of her tournament runs have started in Knoxville, where the Lady Vols are to 46-0 in NCAA tournament play.

Summitt took over the women’s program at Tennessee in 1974 at age 22 when there were no scholarships and she had to wash the uniforms and drive the team van. The Lady Vols nickname didn’t even exist.

A mere 53 fans watched Summitt win her first game, a 69-32 victory over Middle Tennessee on Jan. 10, 1975.

Thousands of orange-clad supporters came to see Summitt reach 880 on Tuesday, creating an atmosphere even more electric than usual.

Among those in attendance were Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer, former Lady Vols assistant Mickie DeMoss, former Lady Vol guard Kara Lawson and former men’s basketball coach Buzz Peterson, who was fired last week after four seasons.

The fans are likely to see many more wins. Summitt’s record could stretch well past 1,000 before she retires.

“Let me just say to all you fans, you’re a part of this. You’ve helped us build a great tradition,” Summitt said over the loudspeaker after the game.

“This basketball team is on a mission, so stick with us!” she said.

Summitt is the second college coach to pass Smith this season.

Harry Statham of McKendree College in the NAIA did earlier this season and finished with 896 wins.

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