St. John's, Lady Vols seeking faster starts after struggling early in opening-round victories

Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick answers questions during a news conference Sunday, March 23, 2014, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee is scheduled to play St. John's in an NCAA women's college basketball second-round tournament game Monday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (The Associated Press)

St. John's guard Briana Brown shoots the game-winning 3-point shot in the final seconds of an NCAA women's college basketball first-round tournament game against Southern California on Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Knoxville, Tenn. St. John's won 71-68. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (The Associated Press)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – St. John's and Tennessee have proved throughout the postseason that they can bounce back from slow starts, but they'd rather not have to make a habit of it.

Tennessee, the top seed in the Louisville Regional, erased double-digit deficits in each of its three Southeastern Conference tournament victories and was tied early in the second half of its 70-46 NCAA tournament first-round triumph over Northwestern State. St. John's (23-10) has trailed at halftime in each of its last three games.

Both teams know they must get off to a faster start Monday when they face off in a second-round matchup.

A fast start is particularly imperative for St. John's as it tries to beat the Lady Vols (28-5) on their home floor. Tennessee is 53-0 in NCAA tournament home games.