KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Kara Lawson wasn't out to set a school record. She just wanted to provide an offensive spark.

The freshman guard did both in No. 4 Tennessee's 78-52 Southeastern Conference victory over Vanderbilt on Friday night.

	Tennessee's Tamika Catchings finished with 11 points in only 20 minutes of action on Friday.

Lawson, who hit four 3-pointers, broke Nikki Caldwell's record for 3s in a season with her 52nd and scored 23 points to carry Tennessee (18-3, 6-1). Caldwell had 51 3-pointers in 1990-91.

"I wasn't paying attention to that," Lawson said. "I didn't know until the announcer said it. I just wanted to come out and have a good game. I was getting open looks and hitting them."

Lawson was 4-of-12 from 3-point range and 7-of-12 overall.

"I'm not surprised she broke the record," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "She takes 3-pointers like some people take layups. It's a big part of her game and she was in a rhythm. She's having a great impact."

Tennessee, which beat top-ranked Connecticut 72-71 on the road Wednesday night, improved to 18-3 overall and 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

Chantelle Anderson led Vanderbilt (14-8, 2-5) with 17 points.

Lawson's hot shooting and a solid Tennessee defense proved too much for Vanderbilt in the first half. Lawson's 19 first-half points tied the Commodores' output for the half.

Tennessee took a 17-6 lead in the first six minutes behind Lawson, who scored 11 points in the run.

Vanderbilt, hampered by 16 first-half turnovers, managed just three points in a seven-minute stretch midway through the half.

Meanwhile, Tamika Catchings and April McDivitt led another run that allowed Tennessee to take a 32-11 lead with 5:45 left in the first half. The Lady Vols then outscored Vanderbilt 15-6 to close out the half with a 47-19 lead.

"In the first half our defense was outstanding," Summitt said. "Our ball pressure and denial was solid. It created opportunities for us on offense."

Both teams struggled offensively early in the second half, but Tennessee took control with a 14-5 run, capped by Gwen Jackson's jumper with 11:42 left that made it 63-29.

Lawson's two free throws with 10 minutes left gave Tennessee its biggest lead at 36.

"This was an embarrassment," Vanderbilt coach Jim Foster said. "We will have an interesting practice tomorrow."