KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Pat Summitt would rather count the number of players, assistants and friends she's had during her 31 years at Tennessee than all the victories.

Summitt tied former North Carolina men's coach Dean Smith for the most wins in NCAA history - 879 - as Tennessee beat Western Carolina 94-43 on Sunday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

"It's really not about a number," Summitt said. "It's about people - the people here at the university, the administration, all the great assistant coaches I've had, the loyal people who have stuck by me for years, the people I work with in the office and certainly all the players.

"When you think about women's basketball, we have a list of who's who - All-Americans, Olympians and people of impact in this game."

Summitt has a chance to surpass Smith when top-seeded Tennessee (27-4) faces Purdue in the second round Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to the regional semifinals in Philadelphia.

Summitt is 879-171, while Smith was 879-254 in 36 years with the Tar Heels.

Tennessee senior Shyra Ely said she was glad to be part of Summitt's victories.

"I just think it's huge not only for women's basketball, but college basketball," Ely said. "I think it's awesome that she's representing the entire basketball nation."

Coincidentally, Western Carolina's coach was around for a good chunk of Summitt's wins. Kellie Harper was the point guard on Tennessee's three straight national titles from 1996-98.

"Pat Summitt is huge for the women's basketball game," Harper said. "She's been a pioneer, a legacy, a legend - all of those adjectives. And now, her tying Dean Smith allows her legacy to move over to basketball, not just women's basketball, and I think a person like Pat Summitt needs to be a legend in the game of basketball."

Harper received a standing ovation when she walked onto the court, but couldn't do much to help her teams stay with the Lady Vols.

The 16th-seeded Catamounts (18-14) were undersized and outmatched from the beginning.

The Lady Vols increased the lead to 19-8 with 13:47 left before halftime, and had a 19-2 run that gave them a 29-point advantage with 41/2 minutes left in the first half. The margin hit 49 on Brittany Jackson's 3-pointer with 12:36 to go.

Shanna Zolman tied a career high with 28 points, while Ely had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Alexis Hornbuckle added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

And, in one of Summitt's favorite statistics, the Lady Vols outrebounded Western Carolina 57-36.

Chevon Keith and Monique Dawson each had nine points to lead the Catamounts, who won the Southern Conference tournament to earn the school's first NCAA bid.

Summitt, who tops all women's coaches with an 86-17 NCAA tournament record, began coaching at age 22 when teams didn't offer scholarships. She's been at the top of the women's game for years with six national titles and 15 Final Four appearances.

Fittingly, Summitt tied Smith on Tennessee's home court at Thompson-Boling Arena, where the Lady Vols are 252-14 since it opened in 1987. Tennessee has never lost an NCAA game in Knoxville, going 45-0 since the women's tournament began in 1982.