Associated Press

Virginia's Monica Wright (22) shoots over Tennessee's Alicia Manning (right). Wright scored 35 points in the UVa victory.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Virginia coach Debbie Ryan doesn't have many fond memories of Thompson-Boling Arena.

That all changed Monday night when Monica Wright scored 35 points and Britnee Millner made a free throw with 6.4 seconds left to help No. 16 Virginia upset No. 5 Tennessee 83-82.

Ryan coached her first Final Four game at the arena in 1990 against Stanford and she didn't come out victorious.

"Ever since then when I've returned it was usually just a complete drubbing, so I was pretty surprised to see our team step up like they did," Ryan said.

It was easier with Wright's dominating performance.

"Monica Wright's performance tonight was just absolutely incredible. I mean, she just willed us to win," Ryan said. "She just put us on her back and carried us to victory."

Trailing 80-75 with 1:44 left, Virginia (2-0) rallied. Wright made a 3-pointer and Whitny Edwards converted a steal to tie the game at 80.

Alex Fuller gave Tennessee (1-1) an 82-80 lead with a pair of free throws with 49 seconds left before Wright tied it with a jumper.

"I was just trying to stay relaxed and not force anything," Wright said. "Coach Ryan settled me down a few times when I was doing too much. I had my team to rebound me if I missed."

Shekinna Stricklen had a chance to give the Lady Vols the lead, but she missed a jumper with 9 seconds left and then fouled Millner, who made one of two free throws.

Millner is a former All-Timesland player from Carlisle in Martinsville, Va.

"We just weren't tough," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "We just didn't have that competitive drive every possession. We played in spurts. I thought Virginia maintained the intensity throughout the 40 minutes."

VIRGINIA (2-0)

Hartig 0-1 0-0 0, Mohammed 8-10 3-4 19, Millner 3-7 2-5 9, Moorer 1-2 1-2 3, Wright 14-26 3-5 35, W.Edwards 5-12 2-2 13, Hartig 0-3 0-0 0, B.Edwards 0-1 0-0 0, Shine 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 33-66 11-18 83.

TENNESSEE (1-1)

Johnson 5-12 3-7 13, Stricklen 3-14 4-4 12, Fuller 1-3 2-2 4, McMahan 3-5 4-4 11, Smallbone 4-9 1-1 12, Bass 4-7 3-4 13, Gray 1-2 1-1 3, Manning 1-2 0-0 2, Brewer 1-3 0-0 2, Cain 3-6 4-4 10. Totals 26-63 22-27 82.

Halftime--Tennessee 43-35. 3-Point Goals--Virginia 6-16 (Wright 4-5, Millner 1-2, W.Edwards 1-7, Hartig 0-2), Tennessee 8-21 (Smallbone 3-7, Bass 2-3, Stricklen 2-5, McMahan 1-2, Fuller 0-1, Brewer 0-1, Gray 0-1, Manning 0-1). Fouled Out--Hartig, Stricklen. Rebounds--Virginia 38 (Wright 8), Tennessee 39 (Fuller 8). Assists--Virginia 13 (Millner 5), Tennessee 11 (Bass 5). Total Fouls--Virginia 23, Tennessee 19. Technical--Johnson. A--11,627.