Softball Preview: Tennessee Classic

Softball Preview: Tennessee Classic

Posted on March 3, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 4/7 Tennessee softball team opens up its 2023 home campaign this weekend, playing Friday through Sunday as it welcomes Appalachian State, Jacksonville State and Belmont to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for the Tennessee Classic.
 
The schedule has already undergone changes due to inclement weather moving into Knoxville. The new schedule features the Lady Vols playing one game against App State on Friday, followed by two games against Jacksonville State on Saturday. The weekend wraps up with UT playing Belmont twice on Sunday.

A full weekend schedule can be found at this LINK.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Every Tennessee game this weekend will be available to stream on SECN+ through the Watch ESPN app. Live stats will also be available for each game throughout the weekend. Streaming and live stat links can be found by visiting the Tennessee softball schedule page on UTsports.com.
 
HONORING WEEKLY
Head coach Karen Weekly won her 1,000th game at the helm of the Lady Vols on Feb. 25, 2023, in a 12-0 win over UIC. She currently has 1,001 wins entering the weekend after defeating UIC again on Sunday.
 
Weekly is the second-winningest head coach in Tennessee Athletics history among coaches of head-to-head team sports. She is second to the legendary Pat Summitt who won 1,098 games during her tenure as head coach of the Lady Vols women’s basketball program.
 
Prior to UT’s first game this weekend against App State, Tennessee will pause to honor Weekly for reaching 1,000 wins on Rocky Top.
 
TENNESSEE KNOWS OFFENSE
Teams at the University of Tennessee have become very familiar with high-scoring outputs, and Lady Vol softball is no different. UT currently ranks third in the nation and second in the SEC in scoring, averaging 8.67 runs per game.
 
Tennessee has scored six or more runs in nine games this season – including a 21-1 victory over Howard on opening day. Through 12 games, UT is out-scoring its opponents 104-9.
 
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Tennessee is one of the top teams in the nation when it comes to roping doubles. The Lady Vols average 2.17 doubles per game through the season’s first three weekends. The mark leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally.
 
AHLIN IS ALL-IN
True freshman Amanda Ahlin is on a tear to begin her collegiate career with a team-leading .500 batting average. Ahlin has 18 plate appearances with nine hits, 13 runs scored and four RBIs.
 
At the USF Invitational, she went 5-for-9 (.556) with seven runs scored and one RBI. She also swiped four bases to bring her season stolen base total to six.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
App State
 
2023 Record: 9-3
 
Series Record: UT leads, 10-0
 
Last Meeting: April 16, 2013 (W, 9-0 (5))
 
Key Player/Stat: App State enters the weekend riding a six-game win streak. Its last win came against ETSU on Tuesday night, a 5-4 victory. Kayt Houston leads the team with a .400 average, while Kaley Coltrain provides the pop with a .719 slugging percentage, three home runs and a 1.242 OPS. Kaylie Northrop and Sejal Neas have three wins apiece in the circle, with Delani Buckner notching a pair of victories and holding a team-leading 0.64 ERA.
 
Jacksonville State
 
2023 Record: 10-4
 
Series Record: Tied 2-2
 
Last Meeting: March 4, 2017 (W, 3-2)
 
Key Player/Stat: The Gamecocks have won their last two games coming into the tournament, knocking off Western Kentucky and Central Michigan. Lindsey Richardson leads the offense with a .389 batting average, 1.140 OPS and a .611 slugging percentage. She has a pair of homers on the year and 14 RBIs. In the circle, Kat Carter and Jaliyah Holmes have each won four games for JSU.
 
Belmont
 
2023 Record: 9-3
 
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 15-0
 
Last Meeting: March 8, 2016 (W, 16-0 (5))
 
Key Player/Stat: The Bruins stand at 9-3 on the year after going 2-2 last weekend at the Mercer Bear Invitational. Kristen Green (.368) and Emily Cockrill (.361) are both hitting well for Belmont and hold slugging percentages at .500 or better this season. Maya Johnson leads the Bruins in the pitcher’s circle, holding a 2.20 ERA with six wins, three complete games and 56 strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
Tennessee continues its homestand as Tennessee Tech comes to Knoxville for a Wednesday night showdown at 6 p.m. ET. The Lady Vols then welcome Ole Miss to SPL March 10-12 for the first weekend of SEC play.

-UT Athletics

Kiki Milloy – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
Hoops Preview of SEC Tournament Quarterfinals: 3-seed Lady Vols vs. 14-seed Kentucky

Hoops Preview of SEC Tournament Quarterfinals: 3-seed Lady Vols vs. 14-seed Kentucky

Posted on March 3, 2023

Tennessee (21-10, 13-3 SEC) opens play in Game 10 of the 2023 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. in the quarterfinal round after earning a double bye as a top-four seed.

The No. 3 seed Lady Vols, who enter in that position for the fourth straight season, will face the winner of Thursday night’s contest between No. 6 seed Alabama (20-9, 9-7 SEC) and No. 14 Kentucky (11-18, 2-14 SEC) which was Kentucky.

UT is able to make its debut on day three of the tourney because it won its most league games (13) in a campaign since going 15-1 and claiming the SEC regular season crown in 2014-15.

The Big Orange comes to Greenville having won four of its past five games and 17 of its past 22, with the only losses during that span coming at No. 3 Stanford (77-70), vs. No. 4 UConn (84-67), at No. 5 LSU (76-68), at 19-8 Mississippi State (91-90 2OT) and vs. No. 1/1 South Carolina (73-60).

The Lady Vols have victories over both the Crimson Tide and Wildcats this season, winning one at home and one on the road.

UT and UA met in the second game of league action on Jan. 1, with the Lady Vols securing an 89-76 decision at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.

Tennessee’s final game of the regular season was in Lexington on Sunday afternoon, and the Big Orange raced to an 83-63 victory on UK’s Senior Day at Memorial Coliseum.

Broadcast Information

  • Friday night’s game will be televised by SEC Network, with Courtney Lyle (PxP), Carolyn Peck (Analyst) and Brooke Weisbrod (Reporter) on the call.
  • 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 on the call and Andy Brock serving as studio host. 
  • A link to the live audio stream can be found on the Hoops Central page or the schedule on UTSports.com.
  • For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on the Vol Network Affiliates tab.
  • Air-time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
  • The game also can be heard on SiriusXM channels 138 or 190 and via the SXM App at channel 961.

Tennessee In The SEC Tournament

  • Tennessee is seeking to capture its league-leading 18th SEC Tournament championship trophy. UT was victorious in 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
  • The Lady Vols have been runners-up on six occasions, including 1982, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2003 and 2015.
  • UT last advanced to the title game in 2014 and 2015, winning in 2014 as a #2 seed, 71-70, over #4 Kentucky and falling as a #2 seed to #1 South Carolina, 62-46, in 2015.
  • Tennessee enters Friday night’s game with an 82-26 (.759) all-time mark in the 44th year of the tourney. 
  • In all-time SEC Tournament play, the Big Orange women are 10-3 vs. Alabama and 7-3 vs. Kentucky.
  • UT opened SEC play last season in the quarterfinals vs. Alabama, defeating the Crimson Tide, 74-59, in Nashville.
  • Tennessee last played Kentucky in the tournament in the semifinal round in Nashville a year ago, with the No. 7 Wildcats toppling the No. 3 Lady Vols, 83-74, en route to winning a championship.
  • The Lady Vols are 38-5 all-time in their opening game of the SEC Tournament and are 26-12 in their second contest of the tourney.
  • They have made 35 berths all-time in the semifinals.
  • UT is 23-12 in SEC Semifinal games and 17-6 in SEC Championship games.
  • The Big Orange women are 27-10 in SEC Tournament play since 2007-08.
  • Tennessee has had 15 SEC Tournament MVPs through the years.
  • Isabelle Harrison (2014), Glory Johnson (2012), Shekinna Stricklen (2011) and Alyssia Brewer (2010) were the past four MVPs from Tennessee.
  • The Lady Vols won the very first SEC Tournament title in 1980, defeating Ole Miss, 85-71, at Stokely Athletics Center in Knoxville.

Harper In The League Tournament

  • Kellie Harper is 3-3 in SEC Tournament games as Tennessee’s head coach, including 2-2 in Greenville and 1-1 in Nashville.
  • The Lady Vols have been the No. 3 seed in each of her four seasons leading the program, earning a double bye and beginning play on Friday in the quarterfinal round on each occasion.
  • Kellie (Jolly) Harper had an 11-1 record at the SEC Tournament during her time as a student-athlete at UT with postseason tournament titles in 1996, 1998 and 1999. The only loss was in the 1997 semifinals.

SEC Tournament Experience

  • Tennessee has seven active players possessing experience in the SEC Tournament, including Tess Darby, Jordan Horston, Brooklynn Miles, Sara Puckett, Karoline Striplin, Jordan Walker and Kaiya Wynn.
  • Tamari Key and Jessie Rennie also have experience but are inactive.
  • This marks the first SEC Tournament for four Lady Vols, including Edie Darby, Jasmine Franklin, Justine Pissott and Jasmine Powell, though Franklin and Powell have league tourney experience from their time at Missouri State and Minnesota, respectively.
  • Two Lady Vols have been to the SEC Tournament with other teams, including Jillian Hollingshead with Georgia and Rickea Jackson with Mississippi State.
  • Jackson saw action in the SEC event in 2019-20 and 2020-21, while Hollingshead did not play in last year’s tourney in Nashville due to injury.
  • Jackson made the SEC All-Tournament Team as a freshman in 2019-20 at MSU.
  • Jordan Horston didn’t play in last year’s event due to injury, but she tallied 24 as a freshman vs. Kentucky in the semifinals and put up 12 and 11 vs. Ole Miss and South Carolina, respectively, as a sophomore at UT.
  • Lady Vol junior Tess Darby scored 12 points vs. Alabama in the 2022 quarterfinals, while Jordan Walker had 11 vs. South Carolina in the 2021 semifinals.

Back In Greenville

  • This marks the sixth time Greenville has played host to the SEC Tournament.
  • UT stands at 6-4 in games played in the city after beating Ole Miss (77-72) and falling to South Carolina (67-52) in the semifinals in 2021.
  • Kellie Harper is 2-2 as a head coach in SEC Tourney games played at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
  • No. 2 seed Tennessee defeated #1 seed LSU in the tourney title game, 67-56, on March 6, 2005, the first time the event was held in Greenville.
  • Shyra Ely was named the SEC Tournament MVP that year, while Shanna Zolman and Brittany Jackson joined her on the all-tournament team.
  • UT beat Auburn in the second round (64-54) and Vanderbilt in the semifinals (76-73) that year.

Sheila Frost Is UT’s ’23 Legend

  • The SEC announced its 2023 Class of Women’s Legends, and UT is represented by former basketball standout Sheila Frost, who played for the Lady Vols from 1985-89.
  • This year’s class is being honored at the 2023 SEC Women’s Tournament, March 1-5 in Greenville, S.C.
  • Frost, a 6-foot-4 center from Pulaski, Tenn., averaged double figures in points all four years of her career and was a three-time All-SEC First Team selection in 1987, 1988 and 1989. She also was a member of the 1989 NCAA All-Final Four and SEC All-Tournament Teams and a three-time NCAA All-Regional choice in 1986 (Mideast), 1987 (Mideast) and 1989 (East).
  • Frost remains No. 10 all-time in career points, with 1,790, and No. 5 in career rebounds with 1,043. She was the first of only six Lady Vols in history to hit 1,000 in each category.
  • In other career categories, Frost remains No. 3 in blocks (249), No. 4 in field goal percentage (59.1), No. 5 in field goals (754), No. 5 in career blocks average (1.80) and No. 9 in double-doubles (30) while representing her home state in 138 contests.

Looking Back At The UK Game

  • The Lady Vols cruised to an 83-63 victory over Kentucky to wrap up the regular season on Sunday in Memorial Coliseum.
  • Tennessee (21-10, 13-3 SEC), which picked up its first win in Lexington since 2017 and first victory at Memorial since 2015, finished with its highest conference win total since going 15-1 in 2014-15. The Big Orange closed the regular season winning four of their last five.
  • Senior Rickea Jackson was the top scorer for UT with 21 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Jillian Hollingshead had a strong outing with 15 points on 88-percent shooting from the floor, and sophomore Karoline Striplin and graduate Jordan Walker were also in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10, respectively. Senior Jasmine Powell led the team in assists, dishing out a season-high-tying eight.
  • Maddie Scherr turned in a game-high 27 points to lead UK (10-18, 2-14 SEC), while Robyn Benton managed 17, and Jada Walker posted 10 on the day.

Count On ‘Kea

  • With 21 points at Kentucky, Rickea Jackson logged her sixth straight game with 20+ points, 14th of the season and the 11th in SEC play.
  • She also notched her 27th double-digit effort of 2022-23, the 15th time against an SEC opponent.
  • She ties Sheila Collins and Tanya Haave at ninth all-time in career (14) and season (14) games of 20+ points.

Striplin Finding Her Stride

  • Karoline Striplin posted her second double-digit outing in as many contests, recording 12 points at Kentucky on Sunday and 11 points against South Carolina the previous Thursday.
  • It marks her fourth 10+ performance of the season and third in SEC play.

Everybody Dishing

  • Tennessee recorded a season-high-tying 26 assists against Kentucky with eight different Lady Vols contributing at least one.
  • UT produced 26 assists on two other occasions this season, first against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 26 and again against Alabama on Jan. 1.
  • The Big Orange has now tallied 20 or more assists eight times this season.

Horston Into Career Assists Top 10

  • With her first assist vs. Kentucky, Jordan Horston moved into the Lady Vol career assists top 10.
  • She finished the day with six dimes, moving her four-year tally to 434 and elevating her past Kristen “Ace” Clement (429) into the No. 10 spot on the list.  
  • Dena Head (439) and Michelle Marciniak (449) are next up the list at No. 9 and No. 8, respectively.

UT/UK Notes

  • Tennessee is 0-2 vs. Kentucky at neutral sites and 9-2 in postseason tournament games.
  • After winning on Sunday, UT is now 22-10 vs. Kentucky in Lexington, including 21-8 all-time at Memorial Coliseum and 1-2 in Rupp Arena.
  • UT picked up its first win in Lexington since 2017 and first victory at Memorial since 2015.
  • The Lady Vols own a 26-4 mark against UK in Knoxville and are 58-16 in all games.
  • UT is 3-1 in overtime games vs. Kentucky, including 3-0 in Lexington and 0-1 in Knoxville, with the last OT contest coming in 1994.
  • UT has faced only one other team as many times as the Wildcats – Vanderbilt in 88 meetings.
  • Kellie Harper is 3-4 all-time vs. Kentucky, but she is 3-2 head-to-head vs. Kyra Elzy.

A Look At The Wildcats

  • UK is led in scoring by Robyn Benton (16.8), Jada Walker (12.6) and Maddie Scherr (11.3).
  • The Wildcats have three players with 22 three-pointers or more, including Benton’s 42.
  • Kentucky forces 20.43 turnovers per contest to rank No. 17 nationally.

Last Time We Met Kentucky

  • The Lady Vols cruised to an 83-63 victory over Kentucky to wrap up the regular season on Sunday in Memorial Coliseum.
  • Tennessee (21-10, 13-3 SEC), which picked up its first win in Lexington since 2017 and first victory at Memorial since 2015, finished with its highest conference win total since going 15-1 in 2014-15. The Big Orange closed the regular season winning four of their last five.
  • Senior Rickea Jackson was the top scorer for UT with 21 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Jillian Hollingshead had a strong outing with 15 points on 88-percent shooting from the floor, and sophomore Karoline Striplin and graduate Jordan Walker were also in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10, respectively. Senior Jasmine Powell led the team in assists, dishing out a season-high-tying eight.
  • Maddie Scherr turned in a game-high 27 points to lead UK (10-18, 2-14 SEC), while Robyn Benton managed 17, and Jada Walker posted 10 on the day.

-UT Athletics

Lady Vols – SEC Tournament / Credit: UT Athletics
Hoops Preview of SEC Tournament Quarterfinals: 3-seed Lady Vols vs. 14-seed Kentucky

Hoops Preview of SEC Tournament Quarterfinals: 3-seed Lady Vols vs. 14-seed Kentucky

Posted on March 3, 2023

Tennessee (21-10, 13-3 SEC) opens play in Game 10 of the 2023 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. in the quarterfinal round after earning a double bye as a top-four seed.

The No. 3 seed Lady Vols, who enter in that position for the fourth straight season, will face the winner of Thursday night’s contest between No. 6 seed Alabama (20-9, 9-7 SEC) and No. 14 Kentucky (11-18, 2-14 SEC) which was Kentucky.

UT is able to make its debut on day three of the tourney because it won its most league games (13) in a campaign since going 15-1 and claiming the SEC regular season crown in 2014-15.

The Big Orange comes to Greenville having won four of its past five games and 17 of its past 22, with the only losses during that span coming at No. 3 Stanford (77-70), vs. No. 4 UConn (84-67), at No. 5 LSU (76-68), at 19-8 Mississippi State (91-90 2OT) and vs. No. 1/1 South Carolina (73-60).

The Lady Vols have victories over both the Crimson Tide and Wildcats this season, winning one at home and one on the road.

UT and UA met in the second game of league action on Jan. 1, with the Lady Vols securing an 89-76 decision at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.

Tennessee’s final game of the regular season was in Lexington on Sunday afternoon, and the Big Orange raced to an 83-63 victory on UK’s Senior Day at Memorial Coliseum.

Broadcast Information

  • Friday night’s game will be televised by SEC Network, with Courtney Lyle (PxP), Carolyn Peck (Analyst) and Brooke Weisbrod (Reporter) on the call.
  • 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 on the call and Andy Brock serving as studio host. 
  • A link to the live audio stream can be found on the Hoops Central page or the schedule on UTSports.com.
  • For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on the Vol Network Affiliates tab.
  • Air-time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
  • The game also can be heard on SiriusXM channels 138 or 190 and via the SXM App at channel 961.

Tennessee In The SEC Tournament

  • Tennessee is seeking to capture its league-leading 18th SEC Tournament championship trophy. UT was victorious in 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
  • The Lady Vols have been runners-up on six occasions, including 1982, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2003 and 2015.
  • UT last advanced to the title game in 2014 and 2015, winning in 2014 as a #2 seed, 71-70, over #4 Kentucky and falling as a #2 seed to #1 South Carolina, 62-46, in 2015.
  • Tennessee enters Friday night’s game with an 82-26 (.759) all-time mark in the 44th year of the tourney. 
  • In all-time SEC Tournament play, the Big Orange women are 10-3 vs. Alabama and 7-3 vs. Kentucky.
  • UT opened SEC play last season in the quarterfinals vs. Alabama, defeating the Crimson Tide, 74-59, in Nashville.
  • Tennessee last played Kentucky in the tournament in the semifinal round in Nashville a year ago, with the No. 7 Wildcats toppling the No. 3 Lady Vols, 83-74, en route to winning a championship.
  • The Lady Vols are 38-5 all-time in their opening game of the SEC Tournament and are 26-12 in their second contest of the tourney.
  • They have made 35 berths all-time in the semifinals.
  • UT is 23-12 in SEC Semifinal games and 17-6 in SEC Championship games.
  • The Big Orange women are 27-10 in SEC Tournament play since 2007-08.
  • Tennessee has had 15 SEC Tournament MVPs through the years.
  • Isabelle Harrison (2014), Glory Johnson (2012), Shekinna Stricklen (2011) and Alyssia Brewer (2010) were the past four MVPs from Tennessee.
  • The Lady Vols won the very first SEC Tournament title in 1980, defeating Ole Miss, 85-71, at Stokely Athletics Center in Knoxville.

Harper In The League Tournament

  • Kellie Harper is 3-3 in SEC Tournament games as Tennessee’s head coach, including 2-2 in Greenville and 1-1 in Nashville.
  • The Lady Vols have been the No. 3 seed in each of her four seasons leading the program, earning a double bye and beginning play on Friday in the quarterfinal round on each occasion.
  • Kellie (Jolly) Harper had an 11-1 record at the SEC Tournament during her time as a student-athlete at UT with postseason tournament titles in 1996, 1998 and 1999. The only loss was in the 1997 semifinals.

SEC Tournament Experience

  • Tennessee has seven active players possessing experience in the SEC Tournament, including Tess Darby, Jordan Horston, Brooklynn Miles, Sara Puckett, Karoline Striplin, Jordan Walker and Kaiya Wynn.
  • Tamari Key and Jessie Rennie also have experience but are inactive.
  • This marks the first SEC Tournament for four Lady Vols, including Edie Darby, Jasmine Franklin, Justine Pissott and Jasmine Powell, though Franklin and Powell have league tourney experience from their time at Missouri State and Minnesota, respectively.
  • Two Lady Vols have been to the SEC Tournament with other teams, including Jillian Hollingshead with Georgia and Rickea Jackson with Mississippi State.
  • Jackson saw action in the SEC event in 2019-20 and 2020-21, while Hollingshead did not play in last year’s tourney in Nashville due to injury.
  • Jackson made the SEC All-Tournament Team as a freshman in 2019-20 at MSU.
  • Jordan Horston didn’t play in last year’s event due to injury, but she tallied 24 as a freshman vs. Kentucky in the semifinals and put up 12 and 11 vs. Ole Miss and South Carolina, respectively, as a sophomore at UT.
  • Lady Vol junior Tess Darby scored 12 points vs. Alabama in the 2022 quarterfinals, while Jordan Walker had 11 vs. South Carolina in the 2021 semifinals.

Back In Greenville

  • This marks the sixth time Greenville has played host to the SEC Tournament.
  • UT stands at 6-4 in games played in the city after beating Ole Miss (77-72) and falling to South Carolina (67-52) in the semifinals in 2021.
  • Kellie Harper is 2-2 as a head coach in SEC Tourney games played at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
  • No. 2 seed Tennessee defeated #1 seed LSU in the tourney title game, 67-56, on March 6, 2005, the first time the event was held in Greenville.
  • Shyra Ely was named the SEC Tournament MVP that year, while Shanna Zolman and Brittany Jackson joined her on the all-tournament team.
  • UT beat Auburn in the second round (64-54) and Vanderbilt in the semifinals (76-73) that year.

Sheila Frost Is UT’s ’23 Legend

  • The SEC announced its 2023 Class of Women’s Legends, and UT is represented by former basketball standout Sheila Frost, who played for the Lady Vols from 1985-89.
  • This year’s class is being honored at the 2023 SEC Women’s Tournament, March 1-5 in Greenville, S.C.
  • Frost, a 6-foot-4 center from Pulaski, Tenn., averaged double figures in points all four years of her career and was a three-time All-SEC First Team selection in 1987, 1988 and 1989. She also was a member of the 1989 NCAA All-Final Four and SEC All-Tournament Teams and a three-time NCAA All-Regional choice in 1986 (Mideast), 1987 (Mideast) and 1989 (East).
  • Frost remains No. 10 all-time in career points, with 1,790, and No. 5 in career rebounds with 1,043. She was the first of only six Lady Vols in history to hit 1,000 in each category.
  • In other career categories, Frost remains No. 3 in blocks (249), No. 4 in field goal percentage (59.1), No. 5 in field goals (754), No. 5 in career blocks average (1.80) and No. 9 in double-doubles (30) while representing her home state in 138 contests.

Looking Back At The UK Game

  • The Lady Vols cruised to an 83-63 victory over Kentucky to wrap up the regular season on Sunday in Memorial Coliseum.
  • Tennessee (21-10, 13-3 SEC), which picked up its first win in Lexington since 2017 and first victory at Memorial since 2015, finished with its highest conference win total since going 15-1 in 2014-15. The Big Orange closed the regular season winning four of their last five.
  • Senior Rickea Jackson was the top scorer for UT with 21 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Jillian Hollingshead had a strong outing with 15 points on 88-percent shooting from the floor, and sophomore Karoline Striplin and graduate Jordan Walker were also in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10, respectively. Senior Jasmine Powell led the team in assists, dishing out a season-high-tying eight.
  • Maddie Scherr turned in a game-high 27 points to lead UK (10-18, 2-14 SEC), while Robyn Benton managed 17, and Jada Walker posted 10 on the day.

Count On ‘Kea

  • With 21 points at Kentucky, Rickea Jackson logged her sixth straight game with 20+ points, 14th of the season and the 11th in SEC play.
  • She also notched her 27th double-digit effort of 2022-23, the 15th time against an SEC opponent.
  • She ties Sheila Collins and Tanya Haave at ninth all-time in career (14) and season (14) games of 20+ points.

Striplin Finding Her Stride

  • Karoline Striplin posted her second double-digit outing in as many contests, recording 12 points at Kentucky on Sunday and 11 points against South Carolina the previous Thursday.
  • It marks her fourth 10+ performance of the season and third in SEC play.

Everybody Dishing

  • Tennessee recorded a season-high-tying 26 assists against Kentucky with eight different Lady Vols contributing at least one.
  • UT produced 26 assists on two other occasions this season, first against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 26 and again against Alabama on Jan. 1.
  • The Big Orange has now tallied 20 or more assists eight times this season.

Horston Into Career Assists Top 10

  • With her first assist vs. Kentucky, Jordan Horston moved into the Lady Vol career assists top 10.
  • She finished the day with six dimes, moving her four-year tally to 434 and elevating her past Kristen “Ace” Clement (429) into the No. 10 spot on the list.  
  • Dena Head (439) and Michelle Marciniak (449) are next up the list at No. 9 and No. 8, respectively.

UT/UK Notes

  • Tennessee is 0-2 vs. Kentucky at neutral sites and 9-2 in postseason tournament games.
  • After winning on Sunday, UT is now 22-10 vs. Kentucky in Lexington, including 21-8 all-time at Memorial Coliseum and 1-2 in Rupp Arena.
  • UT picked up its first win in Lexington since 2017 and first victory at Memorial since 2015.
  • The Lady Vols own a 26-4 mark against UK in Knoxville and are 58-16 in all games.
  • UT is 3-1 in overtime games vs. Kentucky, including 3-0 in Lexington and 0-1 in Knoxville, with the last OT contest coming in 1994.
  • UT has faced only one other team as many times as the Wildcats – Vanderbilt in 88 meetings.
  • Kellie Harper is 3-4 all-time vs. Kentucky, but she is 3-2 head-to-head vs. Kyra Elzy.

A Look At The Wildcats

  • UK is led in scoring by Robyn Benton (16.8), Jada Walker (12.6) and Maddie Scherr (11.3).
  • The Wildcats have three players with 22 three-pointers or more, including Benton’s 42.
  • Kentucky forces 20.43 turnovers per contest to rank No. 17 nationally.

Last Time We Met Kentucky

  • The Lady Vols cruised to an 83-63 victory over Kentucky to wrap up the regular season on Sunday in Memorial Coliseum.
  • Tennessee (21-10, 13-3 SEC), which picked up its first win in Lexington since 2017 and first victory at Memorial since 2015, finished with its highest conference win total since going 15-1 in 2014-15. The Big Orange closed the regular season winning four of their last five.
  • Senior Rickea Jackson was the top scorer for UT with 21 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Jillian Hollingshead had a strong outing with 15 points on 88-percent shooting from the floor, and sophomore Karoline Striplin and graduate Jordan Walker were also in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10, respectively. Senior Jasmine Powell led the team in assists, dishing out a season-high-tying eight.
  • Maddie Scherr turned in a game-high 27 points to lead UK (10-18, 2-14 SEC), while Robyn Benton managed 17, and Jada Walker posted 10 on the day.

-UT Athletics

Lady Vols – SEC Tournament / Credit: UT Athletics
Stats/Story: Burke Homers Again as Vols Down Charleston Southern, 8-2

Stats/Story: Burke Homers Again as Vols Down Charleston Southern, 8-2

Posted on March 2, 2023

PDF Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The bats continued to stay hot as the second-ranked Tennessee Volunteers defeated Charleston Southern, 8-2, Wednesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, completing a two-game midweek sweep of the Buccaneers. The Vols pushed their win-streak to eight games with the victory.

For the second game in a row, the UT (8-2) offense logged double-digit hits, with Blake Burke being the driving force in that effort yet again, smashing a home run for the third consecutive game. He also pushed across four of Tennessee’s eight runs while scoring a couple himself and finishing the night 2-for-3.

The offense started early for the Vols. After a scoreless top of the first from true freshman AJ Russell, who was making his first career start, the Big Orange rattled off four consecutive hits to start the bottom half of the inning and cashed in three runs. Tennessee started the second inning with a similar gusto, recording three-straight hits to open the frame. Christian Moore and Zane Denton did the job in the second, driving in Cal Stark and Jared Dickey.

Following the early offense, it was largely the Vols’ pitchers who shined. Jake Fitzgibbons relieved Russell and tossed two scoreless innings. He struck out two and conceded just one hit, earning his second victory of the young season. Andrew Lindsey, Zach Joyce, Bryce Jenkins and Hollis Fanning each kept Charleston Southern off the board in their outings. Lindsey struck out three batters while Joyce punched out two.

Tennessee added to its lead in the later innings as Burke mashed a homer over the wall in left center in the bottom of the sixth, tallying his sixth round tripper already this season. During this week’s two midweek contests against the Bucs, Burke totaled five hits, including a pair of home runs, and drove in nine of the team’s 14 runs.

Maui Ahuna, who made his much-anticipated UT debut on Tuesday, recorded his first RBI in the Orange and White with a single up the middle to score Christian Scott in the seventh inning.

As a team, 10 different Vols got in on the offensive outburst. The eight pitchers that threw also combined for 13 total strikeouts on the night.

UP NEXT: Tennessee looks to continue its perfect homestand as it welcomes Gonzaga to Rocky Top for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

-UT Athletics

Vols Baseball / Credit: UT Athletics
An Evacuation Ordered for Some Cocke County Residents Following Propane Spill from Overturned Truck

An Evacuation Ordered for Some Cocke County Residents Following Propane Spill from Overturned Truck

Posted on March 2, 2023

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says a one mile evacuation of some Cocke County residents is ordered following an overturned propane truck that is leaking propane. Residents who have nowhere to go, can go to Parrottsville Elementary School

It has closed State Route 340 at Allen Chapel Road.

A medical helicopter has been called to the scene. The driver of the truck was injured during the crash. The driver was responsive at the hospital.

Two deputies were taken to the hospital for inhaling propane fumes.

Officials say it will be a long term closure.

Metro Drug Coalition Hosting a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Youth Substance Misuse

Metro Drug Coalition Hosting a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Youth Substance Misuse

Posted on March 2, 2023

Metro Drug Coalition assembles panel of experts to answer community questions about youth substance misuse at a virtual town hall meeting.

On March 23, 2023, Metro Drug Coalition will host a virtual town hall meeting on youth substance misuse, and they are calling for questions surrounding the issue from Knox County community members. The panel, moderated by Star 102.1’s Kim Hansard, consists of professionals with diverse expertise and perspectives on substance misuse and how it impacts Knoxville’s youth. 

Town Hall Panelists

  • Karen Pershing, Executive Director of Metro Drug Coalition
  • Josh Shaffer, Police Officer with the Knoxville Police Department
  • Dr. Stephanie Shults, Pediatrician at Shults Pediatric
  • Dr. Emily Woodrum, Clinical Psychologist at Cherokee Health
  • Caro Douglas, Graduate Student at the University of Tennessee

Topics covered in the town hall will include vaping, underage drinking, prescription drug misuse, and overdoses. Data from the recently released 2022 Knox County Youth Behavior Risk Survey and the 2021 Drug Related Death Report reveal the pressing need to open a dialogue surrounding substance misuse in Knox County’s youth.

  • 18% of students used an electronic vapor product during the last 30 days.
  • More than one out of six students drank alcohol during the past 30 days.
  • One out of six students used some form of illicit drug (excluding alcohol or tobacco) during the past 30 days.
  • 9% have used a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their lifetimes.
  • One out of four students were offered, sold, or given illegal drugs on school property during the past 12 months.
  • The 2021 Drug-Related Death Report revealed a 46% increase in drug-related deaths among 15-24 year olds.

“Town halls are vital because they allow citizens the opportunity to have their voices heard, learn from a diverse group of community leaders, and leave feeling inspired to improve their communities,” said Sydney Ross, Metro Drug Coalition’s Youth Initiatives Coordinator. “This town hall will encourage open dialogue between members of the community and inspire collaboration to address the issue of substance misuse in Knox County youth.”

In order to include as many community voices as possible, the town hall will take place virtually over Zoom from 7 pm – 8 pm on March 23, 2023. Community members who would like to submit questions or register for this free event should visit metrodrug.org/townhall. 

A Bill Adding Firing Squad as Means of Execution in Tennessee Advancing but Not Without Controversy During Meeting

A Bill Adding Firing Squad as Means of Execution in Tennessee Advancing but Not Without Controversy During Meeting

Posted on March 2, 2023

A bill adding a firing squad as a means of execution for death row inmates in Tennessee passed the House Criminal Justice Committee and is now heading to the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

If the bill is passed, it would allow death row inmates to choose dying by a firing squad rather than lethal injection or electrocution.

Currently, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and South Carolina allow death row inmates to die by firing squad.

Following this bill being discussed, State Representative Paul Sherrell is now apologizing after comments he made Tuesday suggesting Tennessee’s death row inmates be executed by “hanging by a tree.”

Sherrell’s comments took place during the House Criminal Justice Committee meeting.

Gloria Sweet-Love, President of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP responded to Sherrell’s comment:

“While debating the firing squad as a method of execution in the House of Representatives’ Criminal Justice Committee, Representative Paul Sherrell stated: “I think it’s a very good idea, and I was just wondering about, could I put an amendment on that it would include hanging by a tree, also?” Representative Sherrell’s comment is beyond disgusting. He is celebrating a particular form of execution used against African Americans in Tennessee and across the nation, including innocent and wrongfully convicted persons. In many parts of the South, lynchings took place in nearly every county as it exemplified racialized and anti-Black violence. We know from numerous research studies that Blacks are also disproportionately executed, especially when the alleged victim is White. Sherrell’s comment–with reference to the most detested form of racialized violence–appears to be tinged race. It is a sad day in Tennessee politics when a lawmaker publicly announces that he wants to resurrect the lynching tree. We demand an apology from Representative Sherrill and ask the House leadership to condemn statements advocating racialized violence.”

On Wednesday, a statement released from Sherrell:

“I regret that I used very poor judgment in voicing my support of a colleague’s bill in the Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday. My exaggerated comments were intended to convey my belief that for the cruelest and most heinous crimes, a just society requires the death penalty in kind. Although a victim’s family cannot be restored when an execution is carried out, a lesser punishment undermines the value we place on protecting life. My intention was to express my support of families who often wait decades for justice. I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been hurt or offended.”

The amendment proposing execution by firing squad comes as the state is currently revising the protocol used by the Department of Correction to execute death row inmates. At this time, executions in Tennessee have been halted while investigations continue into previous methods not following protocol.

Story courtesy in part by WVLT

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Charges Dad with Son’s Overdose Death

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Charges Dad with Son’s Overdose Death

Posted on March 1, 2023

A Florida man indicted in Tennessee on murder charge in connection to the overdose death of his son.

The investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the White Pine Police Department began in September 2021, when they were looking into the death of then 39 year-old Jason Imler after he was found dead at a residence in the 1000 block of Rosella Drive.

His cause of death was determined to be an overdose caused by fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed that his father, 63 year-old Jeffrey Imler was responsible for giving him the drugs.

The Jefferson County Grand Jury returned indictments charging him with one count of Second Degree Murder and one count of Delivery of Schedule II – Fentanyl. He was arrested in Palm Beach County, Florida and brought back to Tennessee and booked into jail.

Knoxville Police Identify the Victims from a Fatal Interstate Accident

Knoxville Police Identify the Victims from a Fatal Interstate Accident

Posted on March 1, 2023

Knoxville Police have identified the victims from the fatal crash on I-40 West at Midway Road.

58 year-old Randall Ball and 56 year-old Latisha Beck of East Tennessee. The third victim, a 48-year-old man, remains hospitalized with critical injuries.

That crash happened Monday morning and the preliminary investigation says a pick-up crossed the median hitting an SUV with the two victims and a semi-truck, that driver not injured.

The crash is still under investigation.

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