Tennessee’s Athletic Director Danny White’s postgame comments highlight how good this team is
Brooklyn, NY. – With a late fourth quarter surge, the Lady Vols clinch its first ranked-win of the season after defeating No. 17 Iowa 78-68 in the Shark Beauty Women’s Championship Classic.
Three things to know following a massive win for the Lady Vols program.
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Lady Vols struggle offensively
Kim Caldwell noted that the Lady Vols wouldn’t win many games shooting worse than 29% from three. Saturday night, they probably would’ve taken that percentage as they weren’t anywhere close to that mark against the Hawkeyes.
Through the first two quarters, the Lady Vols were 2 of 16 from 3. Which for those of us that aren’t great at math, that’s a measly 12.5%.
Ruby Whitehorn and Samara Spencer were responsible for those two three-pointers. That was after the team started 0-11.
Tennessee had rhythm inside, Whitehorn was 6-of-14 from the field, however they kept attacking the perimeter shots.
With little to no return.
The Lady Vols started the game by connecting on five straight buckets from the field to jump out to a 10-2 lead.
Then would miss their next six attempts with five of them being three-point tries.
The Lady Vols were a little better with their shot selection in the second half. They connected on 5 of their 13 attempts (38.5%).
Talaysia Cooper’s 10-point fourth quarter helped to put the Lady Vols in front of Iowa late in the game.
During Caldwell’s postgame interview she highlighted Cooper’s impact, “She does it on both ends of the court… When she got back into the grove of things, we looked more like ourselves.”
Cooper finished with 23 points.
Sprinkle in back-to-back three-pointers by Tess Darby and the Lady Vols were able to put the game away in the final four minutes of the game.
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Lady Vols’ defense makes up the difference
Against a turnover prone Iowa team, the Lady Vols were primed to take advantage.
They did just that.
Through the first half, Iowa turned it over 18 times and Tennessee cashed in 23 points.
What helped with a quick 10-2 start; Tennessee capitalizing on Iowa’s turnovers. Three straight turnovers, three straight buckets.
Whitehorn intercepts a bad pass and connects with a fastbreak layup, 2-0.
Next, Alyssa Latham got the steal and assists to Cooper for the fast break jumper.
Not even a minute later, Whitehorn came up with Tennessee’s third steal and connects on the other end.
Down the stretch, being able to cash in on these opportunities proved crucial.
Caldwell after the game said, “They looked like a different team in the last two minutes.”
After a missed three-pointer by Iowa, Cooper gets a layup off the turnover. Then on the inbounds pass Cooper gets the steal and the quick layup.
This propelled an 11-1 run in the final minutes of the game to put the Lady Vols in front 75-68 with 00:37 remaining.
Iowa’s Lucy Olsen was close to breaking this game wide open in the fourth quarter. Following the timeout with 00:37 left in the game, Olsen was driving to the rack and Cooper straight up denied the layup with a crucial block.
After the game first-year Iowa coach, Jan Jensen was asked whether Tennessee’s press was a factor in wearing down her team.
“I don’t think physically it was, but it was mentally. Because the pressure will get you. The pressure, it weighs on the mind. (We) got tight,” said Jensen.
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Ranked Win
The 78-68 win over No. 17 Iowa, marked Tennessee’s first ranked win since Nov. 25, 2023 versus then-No. 22/20 Oklahoma with a 79-72 victory.
This win follows a strong 79-77 win over then 8-1 Florida State who was repping the National Player of the Week in Ta’Niya Latson.
This now begs the question, should the Lady Vols be ranked?
Following the Week 5, Dec. 2nd AP Top 25 release, Tennessee was still on the outside looking in.
However, they received 16 votes which is seven more than they received a week prior.
Three Big Ten women’s basketball teams that take the final three spots of the Top 25 take the court on Sunday and depending on how they perform could favor Tennessee.
Though, following back-to-back big time wins for the program there’s a strong case that they’re one of the best 25 teams in the country.
Though it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Tennessee was on the outside a little longer.
“It was good to get these two wins, but it was ugly and we need to get better,” said Caldwell.
