Tennessee, which is receiving votes in both the Associated Press Poll and USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, plays host to Middle Tennessee on Thursday night.
The Lady Vols (3-0) and Blue Raiders (1-1) will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Food City Center in women’s hoops’ Salute To Service game, presented by Standard Nuclear. The contest will be available for streaming on SECN+.
UT and MTSU will meet for the 26th time in history, with the Big Orange leading the series, 24-1, and claiming victory the past two times after dropping a neutral site contest in 2023-24.
Aaliyah Moore led four Lady Vols in double figures en route to an 83-40 victory over New Haven on Tuesday night in Knoxville, with UT improving to 3-0 for only the third time in the past seven seasons.
Middle Tennessee, meanwhile, fell to 1-1 on the campaign on Nov. 6, dropping a 47-38 decision at Memphis in which the Blue Raiders managed to score only 13 points in the second half and shoot 20.0 and 16.7 percent, respectively, over the final two quarters to finish at 26.9 for the game.
BROADCAST DETAILS
- Andy Brock (play-by-play), LVFL Niya Butts (analyst) and Sarah Detwiler (reporter) will be on the call for the SECN+ broadcast.
- All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
- The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network stations and by audio stream, with Brian Rice providing play-by-play and Jay Lifford serving as studio host.
- A link to the live audio stream can be found on the WBB Preview page or the schedule on UTSports.com.
- For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on the Vol Network Affiliates tab.
- Air-time generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
- The contest also will be available via Sirius XM channel 262 and SXM App. channel 972.
SALUTE TO SERVICE GAME, PRESENTED BY STANDARD NUCLEAR
- The MTSU contest will be UT’s Salute To Service contest, presented by Standard Nuclear, paying tribute to Tennessee’s ultimate Volunteers.
- Since the introduction of the Salute to Service recognition in 2018, Tennessee Athletics has welcomed thousands of military and veterans from across the southeast to numerous athletics events as part of overall efforts.
- During Salute to Service, current military members, veterans and first responders may present a military ID, DD 214, license certification, state-issued ID, badge or other employer-issued identification at ticket locations outside of Food City Center for complimentary admission to the designated women’s basketball game for them and their immediate family (limit of 4 to 6, based on availability).
- In addition to complimentary admission for active military and veterans, free parking and shuttle service is available for Vol and Lady Vol basketball games from UT’s Ag Campus.
GAME DAY PARKING/SHUTTLE INFORMATION
- Game day parking for all lots surrounding Food City Center are reserved for permit holders. If you have a parking permit, it has been loaded on to your AllVols account.
- Fans without parking permits are recommended to utilize free UT Ag Campus parking (lots CC1, S65/66 and CC4) with free shuttle services.
- G13 (11th St. garage) is free on game day, but there is no shuttle available from that location.
- Paid parking options on game day will operate on a first-come, first-served basis in the following parking areas: 9A, C15 and Circle Park. Consult a digital campus parking map to locate those lots.
- Paid parking also may be available in C1 and C22 lots, pending availability of space.
- All G10 permit holders can utilize the new entrance to the garage off of Neyland Drive via westbound lanes only as well as entering from Cumberland Avenue via Phillip Fulmer Way.
- Phillip Fulmer Way from Lake Loudoun Blvd to the G10 garage will be closed and entry that way is not permitted.
- Pregame shuttles will depart from the UT Ag Campus on Joe Johnson Drive & will unload at Food City Center.
- Postgame shuttles for fans will load at Gate 9 of Neyland Stadium, off of Phillip Fulmer Way and return to UT Ag Campus parking.
- Shuttle services will begin one hour and 30 minutes prior to tip-off. Return shuttles will also run postgame.
TALKIN’ TENNESSEE
- Tennessee will try to start a season at 4-0 for just the fourth time in the past eight years.
- UT is No. 1 nationally in three-pointers made per game (15.0) and No. 1 in threes attempted per contest (40.3) after a 15-for-40 showing (37.5 pct.) vs. New Haven.
- On the glass, the Big Orange women are seventh nationally in total rebounds per contest at 52.67 and No. 7 in offensive rebounds per game at 22.3.
- The Lady Vols rank No. 10 in the nation in scoring offense, putting up 96.7 points per contest through three games. They are 19th in scoring margin at 42.7.
- Tennessee comes into the contest ranked No. 20 in free throws made per game, averaging 20.33 swishes per outing, and is No. 17 in free-throw attempts per game (28.0).
- The Lady Vols are 19th in assist/turnover ratio at 1.68, averaging only 11.3 miscues.
- Tennessee ranks 17th in bench points per game, with Kim Caldwell‘s squad getting 39.7 points on average from its reserves.
- UT has tallied 30+ points in four different quarters this season. It had only one 30+ outburst in a period in 2025-26.
TRACKING THE LADY VOLS
- Kaylene Smikle (19.7 ppg.), Gabby Minus (12.7 ppg.) and Aaliyah Moore (12.0 ppg.) have scored in double figures in all three games for Tennessee.
- Smikle had 31 points vs. Duquesne in opener to card the second-most ever by a Lady Vol in her debut. Her season total of 59 points ranks her 37th nationally, while her 19.7 per game average is 58th.
- Kennedy Fauntleroy ranks No. 29th nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 5.50, with 11 assists and only two turnovers.
- Fauntleroy also has averaged 11.5 ppg. over her past two contests after an uncharacteristic scoreless night in the opener.
- In addition to ranking second on the team in scoring, Gabby Minus leads UT in free throws made (13) and steals (9).
- Fats Janneh (10.7 rpg.), Minus (8.3 rpg.) and Smikle (6.3) pace the Lady Vols in rebounding. Janneh ranks No. 34 nationally.
- Jada Eads has a team-leading 12 assists and 9-of-10 shooting (90%) at the free throw line, and she is second in threes made (6) and fourth in scoring (9.0 ppg.).
- Kaylene Smikle’s nine threes and 3.00 treys per game rank No. 37 and No. 46 nationally.
A LOOK BACK AT THE NEW HAVEN GAME
- Tennessee had four players score in double figures, and its defensive effort forced 26 turnovers and limited the University of New Haven to 27.6 percent shooting in an 83-40 victory on Tuesday night in front of a season-best crowd of 10,343 at Food City Center.
- Sixth-year forward Aaliyah Moore led the Lady Vols (3-0) in scoring with 14 points, followed by freshman guard/forward Gabby Minus with 13, fifth-year guard Kennedy Fauntleroy with 11 and fifth-year guard Kaylene Smikle with 10. Senior forward Fatmata Janneh paced the team in rebounds for the third straight game with nine vs. Chargers. Minus added a game-high six of UT’s 13 steals.
- Teaira Kelley was the leader for UNH (1-1), carding a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds in a match-up between Kim Caldwell‘s former rival in the Mountain East Conference when Caldwell was at Glenville State and Chargers coach Debbie Buff was at Wheeling.
POSTGAME NOTES VS. THE CHARGERS
- THE MENTOR AND THE MENTEE: Sixth-year forward Aaliyah Moore and freshman guard/forward Gabby Minus have been key contributors since the start of the year, with both tallying their third game in a row in double figures in points. Minus filled up the stat sheet vs. New Haven, notching 13 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Moore, meanwhile, led the team with 14 points and grabbed seven caroms.
- HITTING FROM DEEP: UT hit more than 10 treys for the third game in a row, finishing with 15 against the Chargers. Five different Lady Vols tied for the team lead of two treys each, including Gabby Minus, Kaylene Smikle, Jada Eads, Riley Makalusky and Nya Robertson. Makalusky has been extremely efficient from behind the arc, hitting five of seven from deep (71.4%) to rank first on the team among those with at least five attempts.
- WENT ON A LENGTHY JOG: Tennessee put together its biggest lead of the game after a season-best 21-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters. The scoring spree was the fifth 10+ point run in 2026-27 for the Big Orange, including an 11-0 burst spanning the second and third stanzas.
- TOUGH DEFENSE: The Lady Vols forced the Chargers into 26 miscues, marking their third game in a row forcing their opponents to commit 25+ turnovers. The miscues have been forced by a slew of steals each game, with UT going three-for-three in double-digit takeaways this season with 13 on Tuesday night.
LADY VOLS VS. IN-STATE FOES
- The Tennessee women are 270-65-1 all-time vs. four-year college teams from the Volunteer State through 2025-26.
- The Lady Vols, who were 4-1 last season vs. in-state foes, defeated East Tennessee State at home (Nov. 7 — W, 97-47), UT Martin on the road (Nov. 9 — W, 72-61), Belmont at home (Nov. 13 — W, 68-58) and Middle Tennessee (Nov. 20 — W, 85-41) on the road, and they lost to Vanderbilt (March 1 — 87-77).
- UT has won 42 of the last 47 over schools from within the state border, with the lone setbacks during that run being a 76-69 loss to Vanderbilt in Knoxville on Feb. 28, 2019, a 73-62 loss to Middle Tennessee in Huntsville, Ala., on Dec. 6, 2023, a 71-70 loss to Vandy in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2025, an 84-76 defeat by Vanderbilt on March 6, 2025, at the SEC Tournament, and an 87-77 defeat by Vandy in Knoxville on March 1, 2026.
UT/MTSU SERIES NOTES
- Tennessee enters Thursday night’s game with a 24-1 series record vs. Middle Tennessee.
- The Lady Vols are 13-0 at home, 6-0 on the road and 5-1 at neutral sites vs. MTSU.
- UT is 2-0 vs. the Blue Raiders in the NCAA Tournament, including 1-0 at home and 1-0 at neutral sites.
- The Lady Vols are 62-19 all-time vs. teams currently in Conference USA after defeating Middle Tennessee last season.
- Kim Caldwell stands 2-0 vs. MTSU after the Lady Vols defeated the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, 85-41, on Nov. 20, 2025.
A LOOK AT THE BLUE RAIDERS
- MTSU enters with a 1-1 record and is led in scoring and rebounding by 6-1 guard Blair Baugus, who averages 19.0 ppg. and 9.5 rpg.
- Also scoring in double figures is guard Mya Kone at 14.5 ppg.
- The Blue Raiders, averaging 64.50 points per game, have yet to find their shooting range, struggling to 29.7 percent from the field and 17.7 percent at the three-point arc.
ABOUT THE HEAD COACH
- Matt Insell, a 2007 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, is in his first year as head coach there after serving as an assistant and then associate head coach alongside his father, Rick Insell, from 2018-26.
- MTSU earned three NCAA bids in that time (’21, ’23, ’24).
- Insell has forged a 71-88 record in his sixth year overall as a head coach, including 1-1 at MTSU.
- Matt Insell previously served stints at Ole Miss as a head coach (2013-18) and at Kentucky as an assistant to Matthew Mitchell (2008-13).
MTSU’S LAST GAME
- Middle Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season on Nov. 6, falling 47-38 to Memphis on the road.
- After a back-and-forth, low-scoring first half that included eight lead changes, the Blue Raiders entered halftime tied at 25 with the Tigers. Memphis opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run, eventually outscoring MTSU 22-13 in the second half to secure the nine-point victory.
- Leading the charge for Middle Tennessee was guard Blair Baugus, who poured in a team-high 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor and seven rebounds.
LAST TIME WE MET
- No 15/13 Tennessee put together a pair of 16-0 first-half runs to build a 48-16 lead at the intermission and never looked back, blowing past Middle Tennessee, 85-41, on Nov. 20, 2025, at the Murphy Center.
- Janiah Barker led the Big Orange, turning in 20 points and 12 rebounds. Deniya Prawl produced a career-high 15 points, while Talaysia Cooper tallied 13 and Mya Pauldo tossed in 10.
- Savannah Davis paced MTSU, which was limited to 26.5-percent shooting and forced into 27 turnovers, with 18 points. Kirston Verhulst added 10.
LAST TIME THESE PROGRAMS PLAYED IN KNOXVILLE
- Tennessee narrowly missed a school record in draining 15 three-pointers to sink Middle Tennessee, 89-75, on Nov, 12, 2024, at Food City Center.
- Talaysia Cooper paced the Big Orange on the evening, recording her first-ever double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting. Joining her in double figures for points were Samara Spencer, with 17, followed by Tess Darby and Sara Puckett with 14 and 13, respectively.
- Middle Tennessee (2-1) was led by Courtney Blakely, who fired in a game-high 25 points. She was joined in double figures by Anastasiia Boldyreva, with 18, along Jalynn Gregory and Ta’Mia Scott, with 13 points apiece.
NEXT UP
- Tennessee is back in action on Tuesday, as it travels to Nashville take on Belmont in the Curb Event Center.
- The contest is slated to tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 ET), and it will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
- The game marks the first of three trips the Lady Vols will take to Music City, with a neutral site contest against Baylor at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 18 and a visit to Vanderbilt on Feb. 7 to follow.
- UT and BU will meet for the 13th time in series history. The series is tied at 6-6, with the Big Orange winning the last four clashes.
- Tennessee prevailed, 68-58, last season in Knoxville on Nov. 13, 2025.
