Grant Williams Named SEC Player of the Week

Grant Williams Named SEC Player of the Week

UT F Grant Williams / Credit: UT Athletics

The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee men’s basketball player Grant Williams was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 23.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while powering the 24th-ranked Volunteers to a pair of wins.

It is the first SEC Player of the Week honor for the sophomore forward. He was named the SEC co-Freshman of the Week last season on Feb. 13, 2017.

The Charlotte, North Carolina, native had a historic scoring effort during UT’s win at Vanderbilt last Tuesday, dropping a career-high 37 points on 12-of-20 shooting in 33 minutes.

Williams’ 37 points against the Commodores were:

  • The most by any SEC player in a league game this season.
  • The most in a game by a Vol since 2003 SEC Player of the Year Ron Slay scored 38 vs. New Mexico on Jan. 4, 2003.
  • The most by a Vol in a road game since All-American guard Allan Houston scored 37 at Oregon State on Dec. 22, 1990.
  • The most by a Vol without making a 3-pointer since All-American guard Tony White scored 49 at Florida State on Dec. 30, 1986.

Williams leads the Vols in scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) this season. In SEC play, his 19.6 points per game lead the league.

-UT Athletics

 

Jimmy’s blog: UT’s Barnes has high praise for Cuonzo Martin

Jimmy’s blog: UT’s Barnes has high praise for Cuonzo Martin

By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said he doesn’t know Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin all that well.

But that didn’t stop Barnes from heaping praise on the former Tennessee head coach (2011-14).

“I think he did a great job here, I really do,’’ Barnes said at his Monday morning press conference. “I like to think people appreciated the job he did here because I think he did a terrific job.’’

Martin was 63-41 and took his last UT team to the Sweet 16, winning three NCAA tournament games as it played in the “First Four’’ in Dayton, O.

His first UT team was picked 11th in 12-team league and placed 2nd.

“I’m not sure how he was embraced,’’ Barnes said. “If he wasn’t truly embraced, people should be ashamed because the guy is a heckuva person, he’s a heckuva basketball coach. … I think anybody that knows him well will tell you he’s a really class guy.’’

Martin took the Vols to the Sweet 16 and barely missed out on the Elite Eight after losing to No. 2 seed Michigan, 73-71.

After that season, Martin said he was offered a job at Marquette but turned it down to stay at Tennessee. It was announced by UT in a press release.

However, a few weeks later, Martin left for California. He told some in the media that the reduced buyout in his contract offered by then-athletic director Dave Hart was setting him up to be fired.

So he bolted for California, where he coached three years before taking the Missouri job.

In truth, many UT fans didn’t embrace Martin because they were upset Bruce Pearl had been fired after committing a minor NCAA violation, then lying to the NCAA during a probe. Pearl a highly successful six-year run at Tennessee.

This season, Missouri is 12-5, 2-2 SEC. It hosts Tennessee Wednesday at 9 p.m.


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Ice Cream Bars and Frozen Biscuits Recalled for Listeria

Ice Cream Bars and Frozen Biscuits Recalled for Listeria

If you’re a Kroger shopper and love their Ice Cream Bars, you might want to check your package.

A number of items are being recalled for fear of listeria. It includes the Arctic Blasters Ice Cream Bars and Mary B’s Frozen Biscuits.

The ice cream bars include the original and no sugar added varieties.

The second recall is for a variety of Mary B’s frozen biscuits. They all have a plant designation of “M” following the use-by date of anytime before Sept. 23, 2018.

Consumers can contact Hom/Ade Foods, Inc. with any questions about the biscuits, 1-855-562-7773.

Both items can be returned to Kroger for a full refund. Listeria can cause severe illness for people who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. More details on the recalls can be found on Kroger’s website.

Russell’s double-double leads #6 UT to 86-70 win at #9 SC

Russell’s double-double leads #6 UT to 86-70 win at #9 SC

Mercedes Russell – Lady Vols C / Credit: UT Athletics

Columbia, S.C. — Senior Mercedes Russell recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double to lead No. 6/6 Tennessee to an 86-70 victory over No. 9/8 South Carolina on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena.

Jaime Nared added 19 points as the Lady Vols (16-1, 4-1 SEC) bounced back from their first loss of the season with a win over the defending national champions and their second consecutive victory in Columbia. UT was fueled by a balanced attack, with five different players reaching double figures.

Tyasha Harris put on an offensive display for South Carolina (14-3, 3-2 SEC) with a game-high 28 points and four assists. The Gamecocks were able to cut the deficit to four with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but Tennessee relied on strong defense and timely scoring to end the game on a 16-4 run.

UT’s freshman trio of Evina WestbrookRennia Davis, and Anastasia Hayes had a strong showing in the second half, combining for 29 points over the final 20 minutes. Westbrook finished with 16 points, including 2-for-2 shooting from behind the arc, as well as a game-high five assists, while Davis and Hayes netted 11 points apiece.

Both teams were ready from the tip, with four players on each roster getting on the board in the first quarter. After going through a scoring drought for more than three minutes, UT finished the quarter on a 14-4 run that was sparked by five consecutive free throws from Nared. The 6-foot-2 senior forward led the way offensively with seven points and Meme Jackson added a pair of 3-pointers as Tennessee took a 21-14 lead into the second period.

The Gamecocks’ offense started to click in the second quarter, led by nine points from Harris. With 2:42 left in the half, Doniyah Cliney worked through the lane and converted on a layup to cut the Lady Vol lead to three. As momentum began to swing back to the home team, Holly Warlick turned to the bench for an answer and subbed in Kortney Dunbar for the first time of the game. The senior forward did not wait long to make an impact, knocking down two 3-pointers just 26 seconds apart to give UT a 43-35 advantage at the intermission. Russell finished the half with 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting to lead the Big Orange.

Tennessee continued to rely on a balanced effort in the early stages of the second half, with three players reaching the 10-point mark by the end of the period. South Carolina was able to keep pace early, but a Davis jumper with 8:37 remaining in the quarter put UT ahead by double digits for the first time of the afternoon. Westbrook stepped up offensively with seven points, as the Lady Vols went into the game’s final stanza holding an 11-point edge.

The fourth quarter proved to be the up-and-down affair that many expected in this top-10 matchup. South Carolina upped the pressure quickly, and went on a 7-0 run highlighted by an Alexis Jennings and-one put-back to bring USC back to within four. However, it would prove to be the closest the Gamecocks could get to the Lady Vols, who were able to close out the final five six minutes with a 16-4 run. Westbrook continued her strong play through the late stages of the fourth quarter, scoring nine points during the run.

Jennings finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for the Gamecocks, while LeLe Grissett added 10 points with eight boards.

Next Up: The Lady Vols travel to #2 Notre Dame on Thursday for their final leg of a three-game road swing. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

Three For The Money: Tennessee went 6-of-12 to shoot 50% from behind the arc against South Carolina. Evina Westbrook and Kortney Dunbar were a perfect 2-of-2 from three, while Meme Jackson contributed another two on the day. Dunbar hit two key treys during a 3:00 appearance just before halftime.

Sharp Shooting: The Lady Vols posted a sizzling .564 field goal percentage at South Carolina, their second-best of the season. Tennessee came into the game averaging .471 on the year.

Who You Gonna Guard?: Tennessee had five players in double figures and eight of the nine Lady Vols that saw action scored at least six points. This marks the fourth time this season Tennessee has had five players in double digits and keeps its streak of having at least three players score 10+ points perfect thus far this season.

-UT Athletics

 

Career night for Alexander helps UT defeat Texas A&M 75-62

Career night for Alexander helps UT defeat Texas A&M 75-62

Kyle Alexander – UT F / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Kyle Alexander scored a career-high 14 points and No. 24 Tennessee held off Texas A&M on Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena, 75-62.

The Vols (12-4, 3-2 SEC) forced 17 Texas A&M turnovers, the second-most of the season for the Aggies, on their way to a third-straight SEC win. The win was also Tennessee’s first over Texas A&M in Knoxville since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, and the first time the Vols had strung together three straight SEC wins since January 21-31, 2017 (Mississippi State, Kentucky, Kansas State).

Tennessee led by as many as 14 at 65-51 with 6:27 remaining, but Texas A&M (11-6, 0-5 SEC) put together a quick 8-0 run to cut the lead to six with 3:41 to go. From there, the Vols finished strong, ending the game on a 10-3 run.

In addition to Alexander’s performance, Jordan Bowden turned in a stellar outing, leading Tennessee in scoring with 15 points and grabbing six rebounds. Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone also scored in double figures, with 12 and 10 points respectively.

Admon Gilder paced Texas A&M with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while DJ Hogg added 13. The Vols held Tyler Davis, the Aggies’ leading scorer who came in averaging 14.6 points per game, to just nine points.

Trailing 12-11 midway through the first half, Tennessee used a 13-3 run to take a 24-17 lead with 8:02 before halftime, a lead it would never relinquish.

The Vols battled their way to a 36-28 halftime advantage, with seven different Vols scoring in the opening period. The lead at the break came thanks in part to Texas A&M’s 13 turnovers, which Tennessee converted into 15 points.

Despite their turnovers, the Aggies managed to stay in the game in the first half due to their 3-point shooting, as they connected on five of eight treys in the opening 20 minutes. Texas A&M finished the game with eight made 3-pointers.

UP NEXT: The Vols will hit the road as they head to Missouri for a 9 p.m. ET tip against the Tigers and former Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Then with will head to Columbia, S.C., to face last year’s Final Four participant South Carolina Saturday, Jan. 20 for a 6 p.m. ET tip.

FIRST HALF DOMINANCE: Tennessee has scored 25 or more points in the first half of each game this season, scoring 36 in the first half tonight.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: The Vols made it their 11th game this season with 15 or more points off turnovers, scoring 22 points off the Aggies’ 17 turnovers.

TAKEAWAYS: The Vols set a season-high in steals with 10 tonight against Texas A&M.

1000 FOR BARNES: Rick Barnes coached his 1000th career game as a Division I head coach tonight in a win over Texas A&M.

-UT Athletics

 

Hoops Preview: #6 Lady Vols vs. #9 South Carolina

Hoops Preview: #6 Lady Vols vs. #9 South Carolina

Anastasia Hayes – Lady Vols G / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 6/6 Tennessee (15-1, 3-1 SEC) continues its arduous three-game road swing with a stop in Columbia, S.C., to take on No. 9/8 South Carolina (14-2, 3-1 SEC) in a contest slated to tip at 1:02 p.m. ET on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena.

This marks the 55th meeting between these schools in women’s basketball, and the Lady Vols and Gamecocks will face off again on Feb. 25 in UT’s Senior Day game in Knoxville.

The Lady Vols’ match-up with South Carolina is the second of four straight UT contests vs. teams ranked in the AP Top 20. This marks the second run of four straight ranked opponents during the Holly Warlick era. UT beat #22/NR North Carolina and #18/20 Texas, then lost to #3/3 Baylor and #1/1 Stanford in 2012-13 (her first year). This set of foes is the highest ranked quartet Tennessee has played consecutively since UT swept #15/19 Notre Dame, #8/9 Texas A&M, #6/5 LSU and #4/4 Stanford in the 2008 Regional Final and Final Four en route to the Lady Vols’ eighth NCAA title.

The Lady Vols are coming off their first defeat of the 2017-18 season, falling in overtime to #17/16 Texas A&M in College Station, 79-76, on Thursday night.

South Carolina, meanwhile, bounced back from a  road loss at Missouri on Jan. 7 by holding off Auburn, 71-63, in Columbia on Thursday night. USC star A’ja Wilson suffered an ankle injury late in that contest, and her status for Sunday is questionable.

UT is 3-3 vs. USC during the Warlick era, with Dawn Staley’s squad entering as the higher ranked team in five of those encounters. Last season, #RV/25 Tennessee topped #4/4 South Carolina in Columbia, 76-74, to snap a three-game series skid to the Gamecocks and end the home team’s 30-game win streak in SEC games.

Broadcast Information

  • Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Debbie Antonelli (analyst) and Steffi Sorensen (reporter) will describe the action for the Tennessee-South Carolina TV broadcast on ESPN2.
  • Mickey Dearstone is handling the call for IMG College/Lady Vol Network radio/online broadcasts for the 19th season. A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
  • Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

Coming Up On The Schedule

  • Tennessee is in the midst of a grueling stretch featuring four ranked opponents in the span of 11 days.
  • After the South Carolina match-up the Lady Vols face two more ranked teams (both of them in the top five).
  • At #2/2 Notre Dame (Jan. 18, 7 p.m. ET)
  • Home vs. #4/3 Mississippi St. (Jan. 21, 3 p.m. ET)

Battle of the Bigs

  • Sunday’s game could showcase two of the SEC’s best bigs, UT’s Mercedes Russell and USC’s A’ja Wilson, if the latter returns from an ankle injury.
  • Russell averages 17.3 ppg., 8.6 rpg., 1.8 bpg. and 1.1 spg. while shooting 63 percent from the field to rank second among SEC players.
  • In SEC play, Russell is averaging 20.0 ppg., 7.8 rpg. and 3.0 bpg., while shooting 62 percent from the floor.
  • Wilson is averaging 23.2 ppg. and 11.1 rpg. and is shooting 57 percent from the field for the season but is at 19.3, 11.8 and 54% vs. league foes.
  • The standouts rank one-two among active SEC players for career double-doubles, with Wilson leading the way with 42 and Russell next at 37.

Bouncing Back After A Loss

  • Tennessee is 32-9 following a loss during the Holly Warlick era.
  • The Lady Vols have lost back to back games during her six years nine times, with seven of those occasions coming during the past two seasons.
  • In Warlick’s first three seasons at UT, the program suffered consecutive setbacks only twice, with one coming in her first year (2012-13) and the other occurring in her third season.
  • While it may seem improbable, the incomparable Pat Summitt suffered back-to-back losses several times in her stellar career as well, with the most recent occasions occurring in 2011-12 (unranked Virginia, followed by #1/1 Baylor), 2008-09 (#7/10 Duke, followed by unranked Kentucky), 2005-06 (No. 2/2 Duke, followed by unranked Kentucky).

The Latest On Tennessee

  • UT was one of only four remaining unbeaten teams in women’s basketball until Texas A&M knocked off the Lady Vols on Thursday night.
  • That 15-0 start was the fourth best in school history, behind 39-0 (1997-98), 18-0 (2005-06) and 16-0 (1994-95) season-opening streaks.
  • It also was the Lady Vols’ longest winning streak since reeling off 25 in a row from Dec. 18, 2010, to March 28, 2011.
  • The last time UT stood 15-1 through 16 games was in 2009-10, a year in which UT finished 32-3 and won the SEC with a 15-1 mark.
  • Mercedes Russell has scored in double figures in 46 of her last 48 games, including all 16 this season.
  • Russell’s last two outings were a career-high 33 points vs. Vanderbilt and 21 vs. Texas A&M.
  • The Big Orange women have won 13 of 16 games by double-digit margins.
  • UT has led every game this season at the half,  except for a tie vs. Auburn (30-30), and has owned a double-digit advantage at the intermission in 10 of 16 contests.
  • The Lady Vols have allowed only four opponents to score more than 71 points (Marquette – 99, Texas – 75, Vandy – 73, A&M 79) and have allowed only two teams to shoot better than 40 percent from the field (Vanderbilt, .491 & Marquette, .437).
  • Holly Warlick has started the same five players every game thus far. That quintet includes Jaime Nared and Rennia Davis at the forward positions, Mercedes Russell at center and Evina Westbrook and Meme Jackson at guard.
  • It’s the longest Tennessee has opened a season with the same starting five since at least the 1977-78 season. Box scores that season and prior do not indicate who started.
  • In Lady Vol history, the most recent long streak for the same starting five reached 11 games in 2007-08, when Pat Summitt chose the same lineup of Candace Parker, Angie Bjorklund, Nicky Anosike, Shannon Bobbitt and Alexis Hornbuckle to report for the opening tip. UT went 10-1 in that span and went on to win the NCAA title with a 34-3 record and the SEC title with a 14-0 mark. In game 12, in the team’s visit to Chicago, Parker missed curfew and didn’t get the starting nod vs. DePaul on Jan. 2, 2008.
  • UT has four players averaging double figures in scoring, including seniors Jaime Nared (17.4) and Mercedes Russell(17.3), and freshmen Rennia Davis (11.1) and Anastasia Hayes (10.3). Evina Westbrook (9.8) is right behind them, knocking on the door.
  • Russell (7) and Nared (6) have led UT in scoring the most times, followed by Hayes (2), and Davis, Meme Jacksonand Westbrook (1).
  • Russell has scored in double figures 16 times, followed by Nared (14), Hayes (10), Davis (8), Westbrook (7), Jackson (4), Green (4) and Dunbar (1).
  • The Lady Vols have dished out 24 and 20 assists vs. Vanderbilt and Texas A&M, respectively, marking the first time UT has had back-to-back 20+ assist games vs. SEC foes since doing so vs. Alabama (22) and Arkansas (20) in 2015-16.
  • Tennessee has outscored its opponents in the points-in-the-paint category in 13 of 16 games, averaging a 43.0 to 29.9 difference.
  • The Lady Vols bested their foes in second chance points 12 times and tied another time. UT averages 15.7 second chance points, while its opponents tally 10.4 after Texas A&M got an opponent-season-high 18 on Thursday night.
  • Tennessee shot its best field goal percentage of the season (48.6) vs. Vanderbilt, but surrendered its  highest percentage (49.1) as well vs. the ‘Dores.

Tennessee In SEC Play

  • UT is 380-65 in SEC regular-season games through the Texas A&M game, winning 18 championships and capturing 17 SEC tourney titles through the years.
  • During the Holly Warlick era, Tennessee is 63-21 in league games, making Warlick the top-ranked active SEC coach in terms of winning percentage in league play at .750 among coaches with at least one season at a school.
  • South Carolina’s Dawn Staley is the next coach behind Warlick at .685 (100-46), followed by UK’s Matthew Mitchell at .640 (103-58).
  • In only her sixth year as a head coach, Warlick already ranks fourth in total league wins among active SEC coaches and has won regular season titles in 2013 and 2015, and a tourney crown in 2014.
  • Warlick’s record stands 80-26 in non-conference games.

What Have You Done For Me Lately?

  • Mercedes Russell is averaging 20.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game in SEC play, shooting 63 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free throw line.
  • Russell has led UT in scoring and rebounding the past two games with 33/8 and 21/10 workloads vs. Vanderbilt and Texas A&M, respectively.
  • Cheridene Green is hitting 70 percent of her shots during SEC play, averaging 8.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game off the bench.
  • The last seven games, Evina Westbrook has averaged 13.1 ppg. The first nine, she put up 7.2 per contest.
  • Tennessee is averaging 20.0 assists per game in SEC play, up over 18.0 apg. overall.
  • The Lady Vols have improved their free throw percentage to 78.4 percent, which is better than their 72.2 season average.

Tennessee Notes vs. South Carolina

  • UT enters Sunday’s contest with a 48-6 advantage in the series, including 20-2 in Columbia, 21-2 in Knoxville and 7-2 at neutral sites.
  • South Carolina had won the last three meetings, including twice in 2014-15, before unranked UT pulled the upset in Columbia last season.
  • Tennessee is 5-2 vs. USC during the postseason and is 1-0 in overtime, taking a 79-73 extra-frame decision over the Gamecocks in the Palmetto State on Feb. 15, 1996.
  • For the first time in six games, Tennessee will enter as the higher ranked team.
  • Since 2010, UT and USC each have won four SEC regular-season titles, with UT winning or sharing in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and USC doing so in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
  • Holly Warlick is 3-3 vs. the Gamecocks since taking over as head coach at UT prior to the 2012-13 season.
  • Warlick suffered her first loss to Dawn Staley and company on Feb. 23, 2015, when USC prevailed, 71-66, in Columbia.
  • Three seasons ago, #10/9 Tennessee and #4/5 South Carolina met in the regular season finale in Knoxville, and the Lady Vols rolled to a 73-61 win on Senior Day for Meighan Simmons.
  • After defeating South Carolina, the regular season SEC champs at 14-2, the 13-3 Lady Vols went on to claim the 2014 SEC Tournament title in Duluth, Ga.
  • Warlick picked up the first SEC victory of her head coaching career in Columbia on Jan. 3, 2013, as her #12/13 Lady Vols went into Colonial Life Arena and took down #18/15 USC, 73-53.
  • The Lady Vols went 1-1 vs. South Carolina in 2011-12, suffering their first loss to the Gamecocks since Jan. 23, 1980 (56-52 in Columbia), when UT head coach Holly Warlick was a senior point guard for the Big Orange.
  • Warlick’s 1979-80 UT squad bounced back to win two follow-up games vs. USC that season, and she finished her playing career 4-1 vs. the team from the Palmetto State.
  • Tennessee lost to South Carolina, 64-60, on Feb. 2, 2012, in Knoxville, but rebounded to defeat USC in the 2012 SEC Tournament semifinals in Nashville, 74-58, en route to its 16th SEC postseason championship.
  • Until the 2011-12 setback, Tennessee had won 40-straight in the series.

Last Meeting Between UT and USC

  • Despite a late three-pointer to tie the game by No. 4 South Carolina, junior Jaime Nared‘s clutch free throws in the final seconds stunned the Gamecocks for a huge road victory in Colonial Life Arena, 76-74.
  • Nared, who was 11 of 12 from the free throw line in the second half, drew a foul with five seconds remaining in the game and converted on both attempts to ice the game for the Lady Vols.
  • Tennessee (14-7, 5-3 SEC) picked up its third Top-10 win of the season and its first Top-5 win on the road since 2007 against UConn. South Carolina (18-2, 8-1 SEC) lost its first conference game of the season and saw its 30-game SEC home winning streak come to an end.
  • Nared finished with a career-high 27 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Redshirt junior Diamond DeShields accounted for 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals. It was the third consecutive outing in which DeShields had scored at least 20. Mercedes Russell posted her 12th double-double of the season and 23rd of her career, carding 16 points and 10 rebounds.
  • South Carolina had four players reach double-digit scoring. Bianca Cuevas-Moore led the Gamecocks with 18 points, including the game-tying 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in the contest.

South Carolina Reset

  • Tennessee has some ties to UT via a member of the coaching staff and one of its players.
  • USC assistant Jolette Law spent the past five years on Holly Warlick‘s staff before joining the Gamecocks this summer. Law is a South Carolina native from Florence.
  • Former Lady Vol Te’a Cooper transferred to South Carolina after last season. She sat out the 2016-17 campaign at Tennessee while rehabbing a knee injury suffered between her freshmen and would-be sophomore seasons.
  • The Gamecocks feature four players scoring in double figures, led by A’ja Wilson (23.2). She is joined by Alexis Jennings (11.8), Lindsey Spann (11.4) and Tyasha Harris (10.5).
  • UT faced Spann last season when she was at Penn State, with the former Nittany Lion scoring five points in the PSU win in University Park.
  • South Carolina’s two losses are to #6/6 Notre Dame (92-85) on Nov. 26 and to #15/15 Missouri (83-74) on Jan. 7.
  • The Gamecocks have big wins over #15/13 Maryland, #14/16 Duke and #22/21 Texas A&M. The win over the Aggies was by two points in Columbia.
  • Defending NCAA champion South Carolina is coached by Dawn Staley, who is 235-78 in her 10th year at the school. She is 407-162 in her 18th season overall as a head coach.
  • USC has won or shared a piece of the last four SEC titles and has claimed the last three tourney crowns.

USC Last Time Out (USC 71, AU 63)

  • A’ja Wilson had 19 points and 11 rebounds before leaving with a right ankle injury with 16 seconds left in No. 9 South Carolina’s 71-63 win over Auburn on Thursday night.
  • Wilson was a force with her 12th double-double this season and, in the first quarter, became just the third player in program history to reach 2,000 career points. But she came down hard under her own basket in the final seconds and hobbled over to the corner of the court. Team trainers helped her off and she went right to the locker room.
  • Wilson and the defending national champion Gamecocks (14-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) rebounded from their first SEC loss of the season Sunday at Missouri to win their eighth straight over the Tigers (10-6, 1-3). Not that it was easy.
  • Auburn whittled a 22-point second-quarter deficit to 62-56 on Janiah McKay’s jumper with 5:36 to play. But South Carolina point guard Tyasha Harris responded with five straight points to rebuild the double-digit edge.
  • Harris was the only other South Carolina player in double figures with 12 points. McKay led Auburn with 27 points and Daisa Alexander had 16.

Tennessee Last Time Out (A&M 79, UT 76 OT)

  • Danni Williams made three free throws with 7.8 seconds remaining in overtime to put No. 17/16 Texas A&M ahead and help hand No. 6/6 Tennessee its first loss of the season, 79-76, on Thursday night at Reed Arena.
  • Mercedes Russell recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lady Vols (15-1, 3-1 SEC). The loss marks the first time Tennessee has dropped a game since being eliminated from last year’s NCAA tournament on March 20.
  • Khaalia Hillsman led the Aggies (14-4, 3-1 SEC) with 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor and added 11 boards. Williams chipped in 22 of her own while going 3-for-7 from 3-point range. Texas A&M has now won its past two match-ups with the Lady Vols and the last two meetings in College Station, both in overtime.
  • Jaime Nared added 18 points for the Lady Vols, including four 3-pointers. Rennia Davis and Cheridene Green netted 12 each, and Evina Westbrook put up nine points while dishing out seven assists.

-UT Athletics

 

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