Kane Brown stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (Feb. 12) to perform on the show’s outdoor stage in front of a live audience.
Kane treated the crowd to a number of his tunes, including recent No. 1 hit, “What Ifs,” and his new single, “Heaven,” which is currently No. 25 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
Watch Kane perform “What Ifs” and “Heaven” below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvQ1CwtHslI
photo courtesy of AFF-USA.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2018 Monday night on ESPN2 during the telecast of the Louisville versus Connecticut game, and two contributors to the incredible legacy of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball are among the seven-person class.
Four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw and former assistant coach Mickie DeMoss, now at LSU, will become the 11th and 12th women with UT ties going into the hall. They will join Ceal Barry (coach), Rose Marie Battaglia (veteran, contributor), Chris Dailey (contributor – assistant coach), Katie Smith (player) and Tina Thompson (player).
The 2018 Induction will mark the 20th anniversary of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which held its grand opening and inaugural induction in 1999. The Class of 2018 will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame receiving their coveted Eastman Trophy and Baron Championship Induction Ring on June 9, 2018, in Knoxville. With the induction of the Class of 2018, the Hall of Fame has honored 164 inductees.
In addition to inducting the Class of 2018, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame will recognize the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL) for their contributions to the game with a display at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame entitled “Trailblazers of the Game”. The WBL will join eight other teams and organizations that have been recognized as “Trailblazers of the Game.” The WBL was the first professional women’s basketball league in the United States, playing three seasons from 1978 to 1981. Any former WBL players, coaches, and administrators are requested to contact the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to receive information to participate in this celebration of the WBL ([email protected]).
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors serves as the selection committee in determining which individuals will be inducted each year and which groups will be honored as “Trailblazers of the Game.” Voting is based on minimum candidate requirements, which include record of performance, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women’s basketball.
For more information on the 2018 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Weekend, please visit www.wbhof.com.
The mission of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future” of women’s basketball.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame – Class of 2018
NOTE: The following bio capsules highlight a few major accomplishments, but not the comprehensive contributions these individuals have made to women’s basketball.
CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW (U.S. Player)
MICKIE DEMOSS (Contributor – Assistant Coach)
CEAL BARRY (Coach)
ROSE MARIE BATTAGLIA (Veteran – Contributor)
CHRIS DAILEY (Contributor – Assistant Coach)
KATIE SMITH (U.S. Player)
TINA THOMPSON (U.S. Player)
WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE – WBL (Trailblazers)
Many notable Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees participated in the WBL including Carol Blazejowski, Cindy Brogdon, Nancy Dunkle, Peggie Gillom-Granderson, Lusia Harris Stewart, Tara Heiss, Nancy Lieberman, Muffet McGraw, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Pearl Moore, Inge Nissen, Patricia Roberts, Rosie Walker, and Holly Warlick. Brogdon, Roberts and Warlick starred for Tennessee, and Warlick, of course, is in her sixth season as Tennessee’s head coach.
-UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Coming off its worst loss of the season, No. 18 Tennessee will look to bounce back on Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena in a matchup with the South Carolina Gamecocks. The game tips at 9 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPNU and streamed online via WatchESPN.
The Vols (18-6, 8-4 SEC) were on the losing end for just the second time in over a month on Saturday, falling on the road at Alabama, 78-50. UT shot a season-low 28 percent (16-of-58) from the floor and made only one basket in the final 10 minutes of play. Tuesday night offers a chance to bounce back as the Vols prepare to close out strong during the final stretch of the regular season. In the first meeting with South Carolina, UT came out on top in Columbia, 70-63, behind Lamonté Turner’s 25 points off the bench.
The Gamecocks (13-12, 4-8 SEC) have lost five straight games and six of their last seven entering Tuesday night’s showdown. On the season, Chris Silva leads the Gamecocks in scoring (14.3 ppg) and ranks fourth in the SEC in rebounding (7.6 rpg). Graduate transfer guard Frank Booker is the team’s other double-digit scorer, tallying 11.3 ppg to go along with 3.1 rpg, 1.1 spg and 1.0 apg in 25 minutes of action per game.
After Tuesday’s matchup, the Vols prepare for a 6 p.m. tip at Georgia on Feb. 17, the first of two meetings in the final five games of the regular season. UT then returns home for a crucial game against the Florida Gators, who Tennessee is currently tied with for second in the SEC standings, on Feb. 21 at 9 p.m.
THE SERIES
• Overall: UT leads, 43-27
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 25-9
• In Columbia: SC leads, 16-15
• Neutral Sites: UT leads, 3-2
• Current Streak: UT has won one
• Last Meeting: UT won, 70-63, in Columbia, 1/20/18
• Rick Barnes vs. South Carolina: 7-3
• Rick Barnes vs. Frank Martin : Martin leads, 7-5
RIGHT NOW
• Tennessee ranks eighth nationally in average home attendance, having drawn 15,981 fans through 12 home games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Despite Saturday’s 28-point loss, the Vols still have the SEC’s second-best scoring margin in league play (+4.8).
• The Vols are rated No. 13 in the NCAA RPI and own five “quadrant 1” wins.
A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s home win streak to six games.
• Complete the regular-season, 6-0 sweep over “permanent” SEC opponents Vanderbilt, Kentucky and South Carolina.
• Give Tennessee nine SEC victories for the first time since 2013-14, when the Vols finished with 11 league wins.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
• Since defeating Kentucky before hosting the Vols on Jan. 20, Frank Martin and the Gamecocks (13-12, 4-8 SEC) have struggled to get a win.
• Following the close 70-63 loss against UT, South Carolina went on the road and upset Florida, 77-72. USC then returned home for its matchup against top-10 ranked Texas Tech in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Despite Caroline holding a two-possession lead with less than four minutes to play, the Red Raiders used a 13-2 run to close out the game and get the win.
• Entering Tuesday’s contest, the Gamecocks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven.
• On the season, Chris Silva leads the Gamecocks in scoring (14.3 ppg) and ranks fourth in the SEC in rebounding (7.6 rpg). Graduate transfer guard Frank Booker is the team’s other double-digit scorer, tallying 11.3 ppg to go along with 3.1 rpg, 1.1 spg and 1.0 apg in 25 minutes of action per game.
• In its most recent outing, South Carolina fell to Florida at home, 65-41. Booker scored a game-high 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. The Gamecocks shot just 28 percent (15-of-54) from the field in the loss.
LAST MEETING WITH SOUTH CAROLINA
• No. 21 Tennessee went on the road for a hard-fought, 70-63 victory against South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 20, 2018.
• The Vols held the lead for nearly 37 minutes. South Carolina stayed within striking distance with its 3-point shooting, draining six of 10 in the second half. UT was able to counter that with a strong presence down low, scoring 39 points in the paint.
• During the final stretch of play, Tennessee held South Carolina to just 1-of-11 shooting from the field to spur an 11-3 run, during which UT was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line to seal the victory.
• Lamonté Turner posted another strong performance off the bench, dropping 25 points, six boards and a pair of assists in 32 minutes of action. Grant Williams added 14 points and a pair of blocks.
• Admiral Schofield chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, while true freshman Derrick Walker scored a career-high 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting to help the Vols shoot 57 percent (23-of-40) from the floor in the game.
• Tennessee put together a solid first half on offense, converting on 58 percent (11-of-19) of its shots from the floor.
• Despite UT hitting seven of its final 10 attempts in the period, the Vols were held without a basket during the final 3:52 of the half. But their defense stepped up, holding the Gamecocks to just two points during the last four minutes of the frame.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA
• On Dec. 6, 1969, unranked Tennessee strolled into Columbia and upset the No. 1-ranked Gamecocks, 55-54, thanks to 20 points from Jimmy England, and double-doubles by Don Johnson (18 pts, 12 rebs) and Bobby Croft (12 pts, 13 rebs).
• A two-overtime thriller in Columbia saw South Carolina pull out a 111-107 win on Feb. 10, 1993, despite 20-point efforts from Allan Houston (29), Lang Wiseman (26) and Corey Allen (22).
• Wayne Chism scored 23 points, JaJuan Smith added 19 and Tyler Smith had 13, but it was Chris Lofton’s 25-footer with 12.0 seconds remaining that lifted the Vols to an 89-87 win over South Carolina in the 2008 SEC Tournament in Atlanta on March 14, 2008.
• 2011 first-team All-SEC guard Scotty Hopson had a bright career against South Carolina, owning a sterling 6-0 record against the Gamecocks. Hopson threw down a posterizing dunk in the 2011 Knoxville win that placed fourth in the CBS Dunk of the Year Contest.
CURRENT VOLS’ CAREER STATS VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
• In three career games against South Carolina, Grant Williams averages 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds (3.0 offensive rebounds per game). He is also 17-of-21 from the free-throw line (.810).
• In three career games against South Carolina, Lamonté Turner averages 14.7 points and is 22-of-24 from the foul line (.917).
• Admiral Schofield averages 7.6 points in five career meetings against the Gamecocks.
• Kyle Alexander averages 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games against South Carolina.
FORMER BIG 12 RIVALS BARNES, MARTIN NOW UNDER SEC BANNER
• Tennessee coach Rick Barnes and South Carolina headman Frank Martin meet for the 13th time as conference rivals Saturday, but just the sixth time under the SEC banner.
• The two squared off seven times as coaches in the Big 12 Conference, when Barnes was with Texas and Martin was at the helm at Kansas State.
• Martin owns a 7-5 edge in head-to-head meetings.
• The 51-year-old Martin went 117-54 in five seasons at Kansas State, taking his 2009-10 squad to the Elite Eight and winning the Big 12 Coach of the Year award that same season. Barnes was one of the top coaches in the Big 12 during his 17-year tenure at Texas, winning four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.
• Martin accepted the head coaching position at South Carolina in 2012 and owns a 109-86 record with the Gamecocks.
TENNESSEE HAS PLAYED FOUR OF NCAA COMMITTEE’S TOP-16 SEEDS
• The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee announced its current top-16 seeds Sunday on CBS. Tennessee has played five of those teams—six if you count the Vols’ preseason charity exhibition at Clemson.
• Tennessee has faced two projected No. 1 seeds (Villanova and Purdue), one No. 2 seed (Auburn) and one No. 3 seed (UNC).
TRENDING NOW
• In SEC play, Tennessee leads the league in assists per game (15.4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4) while ranking second in scoring margin (+4.8) and rebounding defense (33.4 rapg).
• Sophomore point guard Jordan Bone leads the SEC with a 3.7 assist/turnover ratio during SEC play. He has a positive or even assist/turnover ratio in 10 of 11 conference games.
• Sophomore guard Lamonté Turner has made 10 3-pointers over UT’s last three games.
• Turner leads the SEC with a .929 (39-of-42) free-throw percentage during league play.
• Jordan Bone and James Daniel III share the team lead with 83 assists this season. Bone’s assist/turnover ratio is 2.59, and Daniel’s is 2.52 to rank fourth and fifth in the SEC, respectively.
UT Athletics
Lindsay Ell will join Keith Urban’s Graffiti U World Tour for eight dates this summer and fall.
Keith’s 58-city tour will kick off on June 15 in St. Louis and will make stops in Nashville, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas and more, as well as 10 dates in Canada.
Lindsay, who was born in Canada, will open seven shows in September in her native country as well as the gig in Rogers, Ark., on Aug. 15.
Kelsea Ballerini will serve as the opener for the remaining 50 dates.
“It’s not very often you get to share the stage with an artist you’ve looked up to since the beginning of your career,” said Lindsay. “I am so excited to be touring with Keith Urban and can’t wait to play for fans in the venues I grew up in!”
Graffiti U World Tour (Lindsay dates in bold)
June 15
St. Louis, MO
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 16
Indianapolis, IN
Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
June 22
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 23
Pittsburgh, PA
KeyBank Pavilion
June 27
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 29
Toronto, ON
Budweiser Stage
June 30
Toronto, ON
Budweiser Stage
July 5
Gilford, NH
Bank of NH Pavilion
July 8
Canandaigua, NY
CMAC
July 13
Salt Lake City, UT
USANA Amphitheatre
July 14
Denver, CO
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
July 15
Albuquerque, NM
Isleta Amphitheater
July 20
Mountain View, CA
Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 21
Lake Tahoe, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
July 22
Lake Tahoe, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
July 27
Raleigh, NC
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
July 28
Charlotte, NC
PNC Music Pavilion
July 29
Alpharetta, GA
Verizon Amphitheatre
Aug. 3
Philadelphia, PA
BB&T Pavilion
Aug. 4
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center
Aug. 5
Bangor, ME
Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Aug. 10
Cleveland, OH
Blossom Music Center
Aug. 11
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live
Aug. 12
Virginia Beach, VA
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Aug. 15
Rogers, AR
Walmart AMP*
Aug. 17
Kansas City, MO
Sprint Center
Aug. 18
Chicago, IL
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 19
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center
Aug. 24
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena
Aug. 25
Orange Beach, AL
The Wharf Amphitheater
Aug. 26
Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
Sept. 7
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena
Sept. 8
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena
Sept. 14
Ottawa, ON
Canadian Tire Centre*
Sept. 15
London, ON
Budweiser Gardens*
Sept. 19
Winnipeg, MB
Bell MTS Place*
Sept. 21
Saskatoon, SK
SaskTel Centre*
Sept. 22
Edmonton, AB
Rogers Place*
Sept. 23
Calgary, AB
ScotiaBank Saddledome*
Sept. 25
Vancouver, BC
Rogers Arena*
Sept. 27
Eugene, OR
Matthew Knight Arena
Sept. 28
Boise, ID
Taco Bell Arena
Sept. 29
Missoula, MT
Adams Center
Oct. 4
Phoenix, AZ
Ak-Chin Pavilion
Oct. 5
Laughlin, NV
Laughlin Event Center
Oct. 12
Peoria, IL
Peoria Civic Center
Oct. 13
Minneapolis, MN
Target Center
Oct. 14
Grand Forks, ND
Ralph Engelstad Arena
Oct. 18
Toledo, OH
Huntington Center
Oct. 19
Grand Rapids, MI
Van Andel Arena
Oct. 20
Louisville, KY
KFC Yum! Center
Oct. 24
Youngstown, OH
Covelli Centre
Oct. 25
Hershey, PA
Giant Center
Oct. 27
Brooklyn, NY
Barclays Center
Oct. 28
Charlottesville, VA
John Paul Jones Arena
Nov. 1
Little Rock, AR
Verizon Arena
Nov. 2
New Orleans, LA
Smoothie King Center
Nov. 3
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
* with Lindsay Ell
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA
After news broke that Daryle Singletary died early Monday morning (Feb. 12), many of his country music peers shared their condolences and remembrances of Daryle via social media.
My heart is broken this morning for my buddy Daryle Singletary and his family! I have no words and I’m stunned. You will be so missed my friend! One of the greatest voices in the history of country music!!
— Gary Levox (@GaryLevox) February 12, 2018
Just heard the news about the passing of Daryle Singletary. My heart goes out to his beautiful family. pic.twitter.com/Uhe7bWB3Hv
— Lee Brice (@leebrice) February 12, 2018
.@Darylesing was the single greatest country voice of our generation… what a huge loss today. This one hurts. Rest In Peace Daryle
— Luke Combs (@lukecombs) February 12, 2018
Daryle… You will be missed, my friend. pic.twitter.com/TevoSairOe
— Tyler Farr (@tylerfarr) February 12, 2018
Shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of one of the greatest country singers of our… https://t.co/nkmvc6h9CU
— Terri Clark (@TerriClarkMusic) February 12, 2018
Please say prayers for Daryle Singletary and his family. Such tragic news and I’m just devastated! @Darylesing
— Steve Wariner (@stevewariner) February 12, 2018
Sad day…the greatest country voice of my time is now singing in Heaven’s band. Gonna miss you @Darylesing ! Now show them how a good ol country shuffle is supposed to sound! #darylesingletary pic.twitter.com/3mBhbdONIx
— Craig Campbell (@craigcampbelltv) February 12, 2018
Just got word that Daryle Singletary has passed away.
Rest in peace Buddy, you sang country like country should be sung.— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) February 12, 2018
My good friend and one of the best pure country singers if not the best, Daryle Singletary passed away this morning. God’s choir just got a lead singer!!!
— Neal McCoy (@NealMcCoy) February 12, 2018
Sorry to hear that a great country voice has passed away. God bless you Daryle Singletary. RIP
— SammyKershaw (@SammyKershaw) February 12, 2018
Rest In Peace, Daryle Singletary, pic.twitter.com/fecbQauiAM
— Bellamy Brothers (@BellamyBrothers) February 12, 2018
Rough morning for me. One of my favorite singers, Daryle Singletary, has passed away this morning unexpectedly. He’s the one who convinced me to move to Nashville. Praying hard for his family✝️Love you Daryle
— Josh Turner (@joshturnermusic) February 12, 2018
Heartbroken💔Sad Day…
We lost our Brother, Daryle Singletary @darylesing . One of the Greatest… https://t.co/HPbow5urrt— LOCASH (@LOCASHmusic) February 12, 2018
.@Darylesing was not only one of the best voices in country music but also a dear friend. He was a great person and someone who loved his family so much. He will be missed.
— Easton Corbin (@eastoncorbin) February 12, 2018
Sending my love and prayers to @Darylesing’s family. Daryle, your legacy in country music will shine on. RIP #thetrueVoice pic.twitter.com/2r5jSQQz1x
— Craig Wayne Boyd (@CWBYall) February 12, 2018
I’m shocked and saddened to hear that Daryle Singletary has passed away. He was a true country voice and his talent will be sorely missed. Praying for Daryle’s friends and family. https://t.co/ETYofzufCC
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) February 12, 2018
Wow… so sad to hear about @Darylesing passing… I’ve always loved his voice and his music. He will be greatly missed
— ChrisYoungMusic (@ChrisYoungMusic) February 12, 2018
So sad that we have lost Daryl Singletary today … He was just 46… Rest Easy Brother #ABrandNewStar https://t.co/bcIBVw0zaQ
— The Oak Ridge Boys (@oakridgeboys) February 12, 2018
Today we lost a good one. RIP to Daryle Singletary, sending all my thoughts and prayers to his wife Holly and their family. pic.twitter.com/XLUfZ47sWe
— Clay Walker (@ClayWalker) February 12, 2018
photo courtesy of Absolute Publicity
Daryle Singletary died early Monday morning (Feb. 12) at his home in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was 46 years old. The cause of death is still pending.
Daryle had a string of Top 10 hits in the mid-1990s with “I Let Her Lie,” “Too Much Fun” and “Amen Kind of Love.”
Daryle recently teamed up with Rhonda Vincent for a duets album, American Grandstand, which was released in 2017.
Daryle is survived by his wife, Holly, two sons, Jonah and Mercer, two daughters, Nora and Charlotte, parents, Roger and Anita Singletary, brother, Kevin Singletary, sister-in-law, Melinda Singletary, mother and father-in-law, Terry and Sandy Mercer, and brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Kristy Rowland.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
Daryle Bruce Singletary was born on March 10, 1971, in Cairo, Georgia. He earned notoriety for his authentic country style with such hits as “I Let Her Lie,” “Too Much Fun,” “Amen Kind of Love” and “The Note.” On past albums, some of the greatest talents of country music lined up to sing with him including, the late George Jones and Johnny Paycheck, Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Ricky Skaggs, John Anderson, and Rhonda Vincent. His musical integrity led him through years of celebrating the traditional country music style that he loved so much.
photo by Jim Casey
![Jason Aldean Releases Innovative Three-Part Music Video for New Single, “You Make It Easy” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/02/12083437/Jason-Aldean.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
If you’ve got 15 minutes to spare today, check out Jason Aldean’s innovative three-part music video for his current single, “You Make It Easy.”
The tune is the fist single from Jason’s upcoming eighth studio album, Rearview Town, which will drop on April 13. The bluesy ballad was co-penned by Morgan Wallen, Jordan Schmidt and Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.
Directed by longtime collaborator Shaun Silva and filmed outside of Nashville, the three-part music video explores a couple’s love in the face of adversity.
“The first time I heard this song, I was riding around in my truck,” said Jason. “I immediately needed to cut it and always felt like it could be the first single. I told Shaun that I wanted the videos to capture the love story that this song tells, and I think one of the things he’s really good at is taking our ideas and running with them in a cool way.”
Watch the three-part music video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcwjBtGrgMk&list=PLl5Lr6OGa-y1L7UOIDSFGjZj_VY5d1MCx&index=3
photo by Jason Simanek
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Mercedes Russell collected the 1,000th rebound of her fantastic career, leading No. 11/11 Tennessee to a 62-46 victory over No. 18/18 Georgia on Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The 6-foot-6 senior center became the sixth Lady Vol to reach the 1,000-rebound mark, joining all-time greats Chamique Holdsclaw (1,295), Glory Johnson (1,218), Bashaara Graves (1,044), Sheila Frost (1,043) and Tamika Catchings (1,004). The redshirt senior finished with 13 points and a game-high 15 boards to help UT (21-4, 9-3 SEC) move into a tie for second place in the SEC standings.
The Lady Vols put on a stellar defensive performance in holding Georgia to a season-low 46 points and 29.5 percent shooting (18-of-61) from the field. UT dominated on the glass throughout the game, finishing with a 50-30 rebounding advantage, and forced UGA into 20 turnovers.
Senior forward Jaime Nared contributed 15 points for the Lady Vols, while Meme Jackson and Rennia Davis added 11 apiece. Taja Cole and Mackenzie Engram scored 12 each to lead the Lady Bulldogs (21-4, 9-3 SEC) in the annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game, which brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer.
After Georgia grabbed a 9-6 edge five minutes into the game, the Lady Vols answered with an 8-2 run capped off by a Nared 3-pointer to put themselves in front by three. UT shot efficiently throughout the first quarter, including going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. A Davis triple from the wing with eight seconds remaining in the quarter gave the Big Orange a 17-13 lead at the end of the frame.
Tennessee’s defense shut the Lady Bulldogs down for the majority of the second stanza, as UGA was held without a point until the 4:01 mark. UT continued to produce offensively during that drought, scoring 13 straight points to increase the lead to double digits for the first time of the afternoon. Nared led the way offensively with 12 points in the half on 3-of-5 shooting.
With Tennessee ahead by 21 in the final minute of the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs were able to rattle off four quick points, including a Mackenzie Engram jumper as time in the half expired to cut the UT lead to 36-19 going into the intermission. Georgia’s six points were the fewest Tennessee has allowed in a second quarter this season.
Russell’s 1,000th-career rebound came as her eighth of the game with 1:24 left in the first half.
Also appearing in the first half for UT was Kasiyahna Kushkituah. The freshman from Atlanta, Ga., scored three points, including her first since Dec. 6 against Troy, and finished the game with five rebounds in 10 minutes of action.
The two teams traded baskets through the third quarter. Cole scored eight points in the frame for UGA, while Russell led the Lady Vols with seven points and four boards as UT held an 18-point edge with the game heading into the final period.
The defensive intensity continued into the fourth quarter for Tennessee, as Georgia was held to 2-for-13 shooting during the frame and committed six turnovers. The Lady Bulldogs also went 0-for-8 from the floor during a scoring drought that lasted four minutes and 43 seconds. UT was also stagnant on the offensive end during the period, going 1-for-8 on field goal attempts and recording seven points, its lowest total in a fourth quarter this season.
Next Up: The Lady Vols will host Alabama at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
Second Quarter Lockdown: UT held Georgia scoreless for the first 5:59 minutes of the second quarter and without a field goal until the final 34 seconds of the half. Tennessee limited the Lady Bulldogs to six points in the quarter, the fewest they’ve allowed an SEC opponent in any quarter this season.
Big On The Boards: Tennessee out-rebounded Georgia 50-30, marking the 20th time this season the Lady Vols have pulled down more boards than an opponent. On the season UT is averaging 45.2 rebounds per game while holding opponents to 35.7.
Balanced Offense: The Lady Vols had four players scoring in double digits and eight of the 10 players who saw action for Tennessee scored. This was the 15th game this season UT has had four or more players in double figures.
With The Win: Tennessee moves to 51-16 all time in the series with Georgia and 22-4 vs. the Lady Bulldogs in Knoxville. Today’s win was UT’s 14th straight win over UGA in Knoxville. On the season, the Lady Vols are 6-3 against ranked opponents.
-UT Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 15 Tennessee struggled to find any rhythm on offense Saturday night, and its six-game winning streak was snapped by Alabama in a 78-50 loss at Coleman Coliseum.
The 28-point game was UT’s worst loss of the season, as the Vols (18-6, 8-4 SEC) shot a season-low 28 percent (16-of-58) from the floor. In the final 10 minutes of the game, Tennessee made only one basket.
Alabama (16-9, 7-5 SEC) started the second half on a 15-7 run to help extend its lead to 18 points, converting on four straight trips down the floor. The Crimson Tide had the hot hand and would never look back in the game, knocking down nine of its 12 shots before the under-16 media timeout.
Grant Williams led the way for Tennessee with 16 points and four boards. Admiral Schofield finished with seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Alabama forward Donta Hall finished with a double-double, posting 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Tide owned the paint with a 50-18 scoring advantage over UT.
The Vols began the game with a cold hand, shooting 2-of-11 from the floor compared to Alabama’s 7-of-10 shooting. During the stretch, the Tide jumped out to a 17-6 lead.
UT struggled to guard the paint in the opening frame, being outscored 26-8 by the Tide. Hall dominated down low in the first half, tallying 10 points, eights boards and two blocks to give Alabama a 37-27 lead at the break.
Heading into intermission, UT was shooting 31 percent (9-of-29) from the field, while the Tide converted on 55 percent (16-of-29) of its shots. Admiral Schofield led UT with six points and four rebounds during the period.
UP NEXT: The Vols return home for their second meeting with the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Tennessee won the first meeting in Columbia, 70-63, led by 25 points from Lamonte Turner. After that game, Tennessee will prepare for a 6 p.m. ET tip at Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 17, the first of two meetings with UGA in the final five games of the regular season.
-UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Head Coach Holly Warlick met with members of the media before practice on Saturday in Thompson-Boling Arena. The No. 11 Lady Vols (19-4, 7-3 SEC) are preparing to host No. 18 Georgia (21-3, 9-2 SEC) on Sunday for the annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game.
Answering questions from the media, Warlick talked about Rennia Davis‘ breakout performance at Arkansas and how hard Mercedes Russell has worked over the years to be closing in on 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.
The Live Pink, Bleed Orange game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET and be televised on the SEC Network.
On Think Pink, Bleed Orange…
“Obviously the pink game is something close to me. Nikki Caldwell and I started our Champions For A Cause Foundation to show support for breast cancer, and we just continue to try to raise money and send it to UT Cancer Center. We obviously want it to go to research and to give men and women a chance to be able to use their mobile unit to get tested if they can’t come in (to the clinic). And more importantly, we had a chance to go over to the center where they get their chemo, and it’s a powerful thing. It’s just a powerful thing. To see these people… there’s not one person in there who didn’t have hope.Their attitudes are just incredible. They all, in their minds, are going to beat cancer, and rightfully so. That was something we did last week that was powerful for me, and every time we go over there it just amazes me at people’s attitudes. I’m worried about a basketball game, and they’re worried about life. They put my life all in perspective.”
On Georgia’s freshmen…
“They play hard. They’re great defenders. They play within her system. They’re getting great minutes, and they’ve moved Georgia to where… Last year Georgia was good; (their freshman) have accelerated them and given them confidence to be a great basketball team.”
On if Tennessee’s freshmen have exceeded her expectations…
“They’ve probably exceeded (my expectations). They’ve been put in roles and put in game situations where we need them to produce. I knew that they were talented, but what do you do when you’re playing in a hostile environment? What do you do when the game is on the line? How do they produce (then)? I think overall they’ve just done an outstanding job. We’ve needed them and have relied on them to win basketball games.”
On Tennessee having 42 consecutive 20-win seasons…
“We almost created a monster here, but we strive to win every game. I didn’t even think about the 20 wins (after Arkansas). We were still kind of thinking about the losses we had. But it comes down… Look, you have to have great players, and I have a staff that gets us prepared. And these kids have to focus; they’ve got to stick with the game plan, and we as coaches have to put them in an opportunity to win. Twenty wins this early on… Last year we struggled a little bit, but this year every win has been a solid win for us, and we’ve taken it one game at a time, and that’s been huge for us.”
On if she encouraged Rennia Davis to look for her shot more against Arkansas…
“I did. We had a good discussion. I didn’t want her to just sit back and let everyone else do their thing. Rennia is an incredible athlete, and I think when she has the confidence… And she’s been in the gym, she’s watched a ton of film, her defense has gotten better. So I told her look, it’s not your offense that’s holding you back, it’s your defense, and she really took that to heart. She had a breakout game, and we need her to continue to do that. I don’t want her to hold back. I don’t want her to just watch Jaime and Mercedes perform. I want her to be at that level as well.”
On Tennessee’s defense…
“It’s got to get more consistent. It’s got to get more consistent, and we’re capable of doing it. We’ve done it, but we can be on a little bit of a roller coaster. We’ve got to make a commitment to it. Yesterday, again, all we did was defense and rebounding. We just have to continue to understand that defense and rebounding will win you games; they’ll win you games. And you see the games we played well in, we played great defense and we controlled the boards.”
On what she’s learned about her players in close games…
“We’re never out of a game. We seem to be able, when we need to, to pick up our defense and pick up what we need to do, and that’s a positive. I would rather us do that the whole game, but we have a knack for when we get down and our backs are against a wall, we really fight. And that’s great, I just want them to do it all the time.”
On Mercedes Russell approaching 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds…
“Mercedes came into this program with a lot of expectations. Her foot injuries were really bad, and I’ll say this, Mercedes every year she’s gotten better and better. This summer she got in the gym; she got in the weight room. She’s stronger, she’s more active with her shot, and she’s our anchor inside. I’m really proud of her because it doesn’t just happen because you come in and you’re a highly ranked freshman. You’ve got to work at your game, and she has worked at her game. She’s drawing triple and double teams, and she’s handled them, and I can’t say enough about Mercedes and her success here and what she means to this program.”
On Georgia’s defense…
“They’ve very good. They’ll be aggressive on the ball. They’ll deny us. They’re physical. They’re quick, so taking care of the ball, for us, is going to be key. We can’t have any passes that we just throw out of bounds, because they’re going to bring the pressure on us, and we’re going to have to handle it.”
On currently being in a three-way tie for third in the SEC…
“This is a huge game for us, and these ladies know it. It’s a huge game for us. We’ve talked about it; we’ve put it out there (that it’s a) big game for us. Right now this is a standing game, and we need to get the job done.”
-UT Athletics
