Baseball Preview: #16 Vols Set to Take On Tennessee Tech & UNC Asheville in Midweek Action

Baseball Preview: #16 Vols Set to Take On Tennessee Tech & UNC Asheville in Midweek Action

Posted on February 21, 2022

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee is off to another great start this year following a season-opening sweep over Georgia Southern and will look to keep things rolling with a pair of midweek contests on Tuesday and Wednesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Jorel Ortega – Vols INF / Credit: UT Athletics

The 16th-ranked Vols will host in-state foe Tennessee Tech on Tuesday before a clash with UNC Asheville on Wednesday. First pitch for both games is slated for 4:30 p.m. with online only broadcasts on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

For the most updated gameday information related to Tennessee baseball, please visit our Gameday Central page by clicking HERE. The baseball Gameday Central page contains info in regard to tickets, parking, stadium policies and more.

NEW TO LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM

With a palpable excitement surrounding the program, Lindsey Nelson Stadium has added some new and improved seating areas and fan amenities to increase capacity and provide a better fan experience this season.

One of the first things fans will see upon arriving is an additional deck of porches behind the left-field wall as well as new chair-back bleacher seating down the left-field line.

All porches for the 2022 season are sold out, however, the left-field bleachers will be sold as general admission seating. Additional food and beverage options will be located next to the new bleachers throughout the year. For SEC games, a VolShop location and food trucks will be located in that area, as well.

UT has removed the playground down the right-field line and re-branded the area as “The Deck”, which will feature a standing room only area for UT’s students while also providing additional concessions options to help negate congestion throughout the main concourse. In order to enhance the gameday experience, a Petro’s Chili & Chips, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Gameday Sausage kiosk and a new beer kiosk have been added to the deck area.

Vol fans can look for Coca-Cola, popcorn and beer at kiosks on the Plaza located down the first-base line. The VolShop will have hats and merchandise available on the Plaza, as well. The Fan Experience Hub, your one-stop shop for game programs, posters, schedule cards, contest info and more, will also be located in the Plaza area.

Tennessee’s MVP season-ticket holders will also be greeted with a brand new, completely renovated MVP Room this season.

Friday SEC Fan Fest
Starting with the SEC opener on March 18 against South Carolina, an exciting new area will be in place for fans this season. “Friday SEC Fan Fest” will take place for ticketed fans on Pat Head Summitt Street for every Friday SEC contest. 

Friday Fan Fests will feature music, giveaways, food/beverage options, VolShop sales locations and Vol Network Sponsor activations. Additionally, VFL Sterl the Pearl will join various SEC weekend games to add to the electricity in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

TICKET INFORMATION

Season tickets for this season are SOLD OUT. However, single-game tickets for the first 15 home games are still available at AllVols.com or by calling the Tennessee Athletic ticket office at 865-656-1200.

Single-game tickets for SEC games and the remaining midweek contests will go on sale in early March.

In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to either transfer your tickets to someone else (Instructions HERE).

BROADCAST INFO

Tuesday and Wednesday’s games with both be streamed live on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app with Andy Brock calling the action. The online broadcast can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.

Fans can also listen to the live audio call by John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara on UTSports.com or the UT Gameday App.

SERIES HISTORY

Tennessee Tech
Overall: Tennessee leads, 72-30-1
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 47-12
In Cookeville: Tennessee leads, 25-18-1
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: W, 10-8 (May 11, 2021)

UNC Asheville
Overall: Tennessee leads, 29-7
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 25-7
In Asheville: Tennessee leads, 4-0
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: W, 12-1 (Feb. 26, 2020)

NOTABLE

Another Season-Opening Sweep
Tennessee recorded its fourth straight season-opening sweep with three dominant wins over Georgia Southern last weekend. The Vols outscored the Eagles, 33-3, and posted a pair of shutouts. In their consecutive four season-opening series sweeps (12 games), the Big Orange have outscored their opponents 106-16.
 
Pitching Staff Off to Hot Start
The Vols pitching was dominant against Georgia Southern, holding the Eagles to just three runs on 13 hits over the weekend while posting a pair of shutouts. UT held GSU’s hitters to a .144 batting average and allowed just three hits in each of the two shutouts. Tennessee’s pitching staff has recorded at least two shutouts in their opening series in three of the past four years.
 
Newcomers Making an Early Impact
Tennessee received contributions from a handful of newcomers over the weekend. In total, 11 players made their UT debuts.
 
Highly touted freshman pitcher Chase Burns started on Opening Day and threw five shutout innings to earn his first-career victory. Sophomore transfer Chase Dollander was equally as impressive in his start on Saturday, striking out 11 batters in just five innings against his former team. Freshman Drew Beam got the start on Sunday and tossed three shutout innings, as well.
 
Junior college transfer Seth Stephenson made his presence felt at the plate and on the base paths, hitting .500 with team highs in runs scored (five) and stolen bases (three). He also had a pair of doubles, a home run and three RBIs for the series.

Preseason Honors
Tennessee has racked up the preseason accolades with five players earning preseason honors heading into the 2022 campaign.
 
Three players have garnered preseason All-America recognition:
– RHP Blade Tidwell: Baseball America (1st Team), NCBWA (1st Team), Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (1st Team), Perfect Game (2nd Team)
– OF Jordan Beck: NCBWA (2nd Team), Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (2nd Team), Baseball America (3rd Team)
– C Evan Russell: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (3rd Team)
 
Beck and fellow junior outfielder Drew Gilbert were also named to the Preseason All-SEC second team. Super senior LHP Redmond Walsh was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List for the third straight year.

OPPONENT SCOUT

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

  • Record: 3-0 (0-0 OVC)
  • 2021 OVC Finish: 6th
  • 2022 OVC Preseason Poll: 8th
  • Preseason Honors: N/A
  • Stat Leaders:
    • Batting Avg: Ed Johnson (.500)
    • Runs: Ed Johnson (7)
    • Hits: Ed Johnson (7)
    • Home Runs: Ed Johnson (2)
    • RBI: Ed Johnson/John Dyer (4)
    • Stolen Bases: Jackson Green (1)
    • Wins: Three players tied (1)
    • Saves: Jackson Berry (1)
    • ERA: Six players tied (0.00)
    • Innings Pitched: Brock Myers (5.1)
    • Strikeouts: Connor Adams/Matt Gelorme (4)


UNC Asheville Bulldogs

  • Record: 0-3 (0-0 Big South)
  • 2021 Big South Finish: 8th
  • 2022 Big South Preseason Poll: 9th
  • Preseason Honors: N/A
  • Stat Leaders:
    • Batting Avg: Corbin Lanowitz (.375)
    • Runs: Eight players tied (1)
    • Hits: Corbin Lanowitz (3)
    • Home Runs: N/A
    • RBI: Dominic Freeberger (4)
    • Stolen Bases: N/A
    • Wins: N/A
    • Saves: N/A
    • ERA: Seven players tied (0.00)
    • Innings Pitched: Jacob Edwards (5.0)
    • Strikeouts: Jacob Edwards (8)

GAME PROMOTIONS

Gameday promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.

Fans are encouraged to download the My All App for their phones and devices this season. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and will allow fans to participate in in-game trivia, the custom filter selfie cam and more throughout the year.

ON DECK

The Vols continue their nine-game homestand to begin the season this weekend with three games against Iona. Friday’s series opener is slated to start at 4:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: Vols Roll to Series Sweep with 14-0 Victory Over Georgia Southern; Record attendance weekend

Posted on February 20, 2022

Box Score (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 16 Tennessee scored early and often en route to a 14-0 thrashing of Georgia Southern to complete the series sweep in front of 4,580 fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Vols have now opened each of the past four seasons with a series sweep and have outscored their opponents 106-16 over those 12 games. The Big Orange racked up 16 hits on Sunday, including eight for extra bases.

UT had contributors throughout the lineup, as 12 different players recorded a hit and 10 Vols drove in a run. Preseason All-American Jordan Beck led the way, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs.

Vols OFs Drew Gilbert and Jordan Beck / Credit: UT Athletics

Newcomer Seth Stephenson also had a big day at the plate with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. The Texas native batted .500 for the weekend with a homer, three RBIs and three stolen bases.

True freshman right hander Drew Beam got the start in his collegiate debut and gave the Vols three solid innings, allowing just one hit. Camden Sewell pitched two shutout innings in relief to earn his first win of the year.

Kirby Connell, Ben Joyce, Will Mabrey and Jake Fitzgibbons combined to pitch the final four innings to keep the shutout intact.

Parker Biederer, Noah Ledford and Noah Searcy each had a hit for the Eagles, who were held to just three knocks in the game.

The Vols are back in action with five home games next week, starting with a pair of midweek games on Tuesday against Tennessee Tech and Wednesday against UNC Asheville, tickets for both contests are on sale at AllVols.com. Both games will be streamed on the ESPN app and feature audio broadcasts on UTSports.com.

NOTABLE

Season-Opening Sweeps: Tennessee has now recorded a series sweep to open the season in four straight years. In those four sweeps (12 games), UT has outscored its opponents 106-16 after a 33-3 margin in this weekend’s series against the Eagles.

You Get Nothing and Like It: The Vols held Georgia Southern to just three hits on Sunday to secure their second shutout of the weekend. It took Tennessee 59 games to record two shutouts last season despite having one of the top team ERA’s in the country.

Series Attendance Record: Tennessee shattered its previous attendance record for a three-game series. The Vols total attendance for the weekend was 13,566, besting the previous mark of 11,280 vs. Florida in 1994.

Game 1: 4,335
Game 2: 4,651
Game 3: 4,580
Series Total: 13,566

-UT Athetics

Highlights/Photos/Stats/Story: No. 12/8 Tennessee Fights, Falls At No. 1/1 South Carolina, 67-53

Highlights/Photos/Stats/Story: No. 12/8 Tennessee Fights, Falls At No. 1/1 South Carolina, 67-53

Posted on February 20, 2022

Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior Tamari Key turned in a double-double with 10 points and 10 blocks and two other Lady Vols scored in double figures against No. 1/1 South Carolina, but despite a gutsy effort No. 12/8 Tennessee fell in Colonial Life Arena on Sunday, 67-53.  
 
Senior Rae Burrell was the high scorer for UT (21-6, 10-4 SEC) with 14, and graduate Jordan Walker was also in double figures with 11 points.
 
South Carolina (25-1, 13-1 SEC) was led by Aliyah Boston with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Destanni Henderson and Brea Beal also added double-digit efforts with 12 and 11, respectively. 

Lady Vols G Jordan Walker / Credit: UT Athletics

The Gamecocks jumped out to a 4-0 lead two minutes into play off a pair of layups, but Alexus Dye got inside for UT’s first points, and Walker followed it up with a jumper on the next possession to tie the game at four by the 5:55 mark. Each team added another bucket before the media timeout, and following the break, Burrell nailed a three to give UT the lead at 9-6. The Lady Vols maintained an advantage until the 1:22 mark when Boston hit a layup to tie the game at 11-all. Zia Cooke added a layup on the next trip down the court to give the Gamecocks a two-point advantage, but Miles drove in for the layup to tie it up once again with 46 seconds to go in the first. South Carolina went back ahead in the closing seconds, adding a layup and a pair of free throws to make the score 17-13 at the end of the opening stanza.
 
Cooke opened the second period with a 3-pointer to stretch the Gamecocks’ lead to seven, but a layup by Burrell shrunk it back to five 30 seconds later. That margin would hold as the teams traded buckets until USC scored seven straight points to go up 30-19 with 4:30 to go in the half.
 
Tennessee responded by scoring four points on one possession with Key getting fouled on a made layup and Dye getting the rebound on a missed free throw and turning it into two made free throws of her own, whittling the deficit down to seven a minute later. Both teams struggled to score in the final three minutes, with the only points coming in the form of a pair of South Carolina free throws, settling the halftime score at 32-23.
 
USC was first to score in the second half, going up by 12. Tess Darby then hit a layup 45 seconds into play to set off a 7-0 Tennessee run that was capped off by an old-fashioned three-point play by Key to pull UT within five at 35-30. Six quick points by the Gamecocks had USC up by 11 at the 6:49 mark, but Walker and Burrell combined to fuel a 6-3 run that pulled the Lady Vols within eight by the media timeout. Both teams were hot offensively following the timeout, scoring on every possession to move the score to 48-38 by the 2:46 mark. USC rallied, closing out the quarter with an 11-2 run to take a 57-40 lead into the final stanza.
 
Henderson knocked down a three to stretch South Carolina’s lead to 19 at the start of the fourth, but Tennessee scrapped back to cut it to 14 with 5:34 left in the game off buckets by Kaiya Wynn and Darby.  The final five minutes were a back-and-forth affair, with Tennessee’s bench getting some playing time and the 14-point deficit holding for a final score of 67-53.
 
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols return home to host Mississippi State in a 6:30 p.m. ET contest on Thursday. The game will be streamed on SECN+.
 
KEY MAKING MOVES: Tamari Key blocked 10 shots against the Gamecocks, moving her career total to 257 and season total to 99. She passes Sheila Frost to rank second all-time in career blocks at Tennessee, trailing Candace Parker by 18. She also moves into a tie for second place in the single-season records with Candace Parker (99) and creeps within 14 of No. 1 Kellie Cain. Key’s block total marked the seventh time during her career she has had seven or more.
 
DYE PICKING UP THE SLACK: In the absence of UT’s leading rebounder, Jordan Horston, Alexus Dye pulled down a team-high 11 boards against USC, leading UT in rebounding for the fifth time this season and setting a new personal SEC high. 

-UT Athletics

Jimmy’s blog: Refs take ‘charge’ as Vols fall at Arkansas

Jimmy’s blog: Refs take ‘charge’ as Vols fall at Arkansas

Posted on February 20, 2022

By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said he hopes when he watches tape that he will agree with all the charges called against his players Saturday at Arkansas.

“I hope they (officials) got them all right,’’ Barnes said after Tennessee suffered a 58-48 road loss. “I hope I feel differently after watching the tape because I know how I feel right now.’’

He won’t feel differently.

In a blatant display of incompetence, the crew of three alleged officials made a mockery of the block-charge call.

Arkansas big man Jaylin Williams drew five or six charges against Tennessee, bringing his total to 42 this year. He was moving on three or four against UT.

Barnes noticed. UT fans noticed. The media noticed.

Barnes had warned his team about Arkansas’ tactics before the game. It didn’t matter.

“From the referee standpoint,’’ Barnes said, “it’s one of the hardest calls. But that’s the one they’ve got to study, study, study. When a guy leaves his feet, he has to have a chance to come down.

“We told our guys (before the game) they (Hogs) do step in late. Floaters are going to be difficult. It’s tough when they come over and say, `Coach, I was in the air.’

“Does it affect them? Absolutely.’’

It affected Kennedy Chandler, who was called for four charges, and Santiago Vescovi, whose fourth foul was a charge, and Josiah-Jordan James, who fouled out. Chandler and Vescovi had four each and missed valuable minutes on the bench due to poor charging calls against them.

“You’ve got to protect a guy that leaves his feet,’’ Barnes said. “If a guy goes up, you’ve got to give him room to land. … A guy gets up in the air, you can’t slide under him at the very end.’’

But that’s exactly what Williams and some of his teammates did.

Yes, the block-charge call is tough. But if you have a trained eye and you know one team is known for sliding under players, you shouldn’t miss as many as the crew did Saturday.

“Did some frustration set it with our guys with some of those calls, absolutely they did,’’ Barnes said. “They felt like they were airborne and weren’t allowed to finish with guys sliding in.

“I hope I’m wrong. I hope they (refs) got them right. We did tell the guys that this is not a real shot-blocking team. They are going to try and slide in and take charges.

“It changed the entire game from our end. That is pretty much what got us in foul trouble and took points off and allowed them to get buckets.’’

Barnes’ post-game frustration was obvious.

“It’s a tough job,’’ Barnes said of officiating, “But at this time of year, we all have to be at our best. I have to be at my best coaching. Referees have to be at their best. Players have to be at their best. … The heat is on.’’

The block-charge calls weren’t the only misses. At one point in the first half, an Arkansas player took three steps out of bounds, then ricocheted the ball of James. The refs gave Arkansas the ball. Once the Arkansas player touched the ball while out of bounds, the ball goes to the other team. The ref that missed the call was standing within feet of the player out of bounds.

It’s hard to imagine how anyone could blow that call.    

This isn’t to say Tennessee would have beaten Arkansas.

The Vols had a miserable day shooting: 27.1% from the field and 4-for-24 from 3-point range (16.7%). UT had a season-low five assists; it was averaging an SEC-best 16.1 in league play.

Arkansas wasn’t much better: 30.5% from the field and 5-for-22 on 3s (22.7%).

Tennessee had 15 turnovers, but at least a third were on charge calls.

While both teams played good defense, both teams also missed bunnies at the rim and wide open 3s.

The shooting was as miserable as the officiating.

While on the topic of shooting, I made the point recently that if UT has a poor night from beyond the arc, they don’t shoot well enough on two-pointers to overcome 3-point inaccuracy.

That proved true against Arkansas.

The Vols were 12-for-35 on 2-point tries. If you make six more twos, you likely beat the Hogs.

Tennessee got little from its four big men: nine points.

“We’ve got to get (an inside) presence,’’ Barnes said.

The loss kept the Vols from climbing within one game of Auburn in the SEC standings.

UT is now 10-4 in SEC play, same as Arkansas, which has won 11 of 12. Auburn is 12-2, Kentucky is 11-3.

Tennessee has games remaining against Arkansas and Auburn. A sweep is a must if the Vols want to win the SEC regular season.

While that is unlikely, the Vols should finish in the top four, thus ensuring a double-bye in the SEC Tournament.

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all

Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: 27% shooting, foul trouble too much to overcome as #16 Vols lose at #23 Arkansas, 58-48

Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: 27% shooting, foul trouble too much to overcome as #16 Vols lose at #23 Arkansas, 58-48

Posted on February 19, 2022

PDF BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | VIDEO: BARNES POSTGAME | VIDEO: JAMES POSTGAME

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Tennessee strung together a standout defensive performance but fell to No. 23 Arkansas on the road Saturday, 58-48.
 
The Vols (19-7, 10-4 SEC) held Arkansas to 31 percent shooting for the game but shot just 27 percent themselves.
 
SEC Sixth Man of the Year candidate Zakai Zeigler led the Vols with 12 points, while Kennedy Chandler had 11. Santiago Vescovi had seven points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
 
JD Notae and Jaylin Williams led Arkansas with 13 points apiece.

Vols Basketball Team / Credit: UT Athletics

Neither team led by more than four points until the 6:25 mark of the second half, when Arkansas’ Davonte Davis kicked off a 7-0 Razorback run that put the Hogs in front by nine with 5:17 remaining at 51-42.
 
Tennessee responded by holding Arkansas scoreless for the next four and a half minutes, but the Vols were unable to come up with enough production on the offensive end. The Big Orange never drew closer than five points the rest of the way.
 
Spanning from the 8:19 mark of the second half to the 0:28 mark, Tennessee made just one field goal—going 1-for-10 from the floor during that stretch.
 
The first half was a low-scoring, back-and-forth affair, as the Razorbacks took a 24-23 lead into the locker room. Both teams shot below 30 percent from the field during the period, with the lead changing hands six times.
 
The Vols and Razorbacks made a combined 15 field goals in the first half, also posting a combined 14 turnovers.
 
Chandler led all scorers with nine first-half points, but also picked up three fouls.
 
UP NEXT: Tennessee plays its second consecutive road game—traveling to Columbia, Missouri, to take on the Missouri Tigers on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: Vols Turn It On Late to Clinch Series with 10-3 Victory over Georgia Southern

Stats/Story: Vols Turn It On Late to Clinch Series with 10-3 Victory over Georgia Southern

Posted on February 19, 2022

Box Score (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the sixth, No.16 Tennessee scored 10 runs over the next three frames to rally for a 10-3 victory and clinch its season-opening series against Georgia Southern on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Sophomore pitcher Chase Dollander got the start and was impressive in his debut in Orange and White, striking out 11 batters in five innings of work against his former team. The Evans, Georgia, native allowed just one hit through his first five innings pitched before running into trouble in the top of the sixth, failing to record an out in the inning.

Vols C Evan Russell / Credit: UT Athletics

Eagles’ starter Jaylen Paden matched Dollander pitch-for-pitch, allowing just one hit in 4.2 shutout innings. Paden did issue five walks but was able to work around them each time.

The Vols’ bats finally came alive in the bottom of the sixth as they quickly responded to Georgia Southern’s three runs in the top of the inning with three of their own to tie the game.

Kyle Booker drove in UT’s first run with an RBI groundout before Evan Russell came up with a clutch two-run single with two outs to tie the game at three.

After an incredible play by Jordan Beck to throw out the go-ahead run at home plate to end the top of the seventh, Tennessee scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take its first lead. Luc Lipcius doubled to right center to score Seth Stephenson before Booker drove in his second run of the game when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Big Orange put the game away with a pair of homers in the eighth. Jorel Ortega led things off with a solo shot over the porches in left field before Drew Gilbert put an exclamation mark on the game by hitting a grand slam later in the inning.

Newcomer Ethan Smith earned his first victory as a Vol by tossing one scoreless inning of relief in the seventh before Redmond Walsh and Zander Sechrist finished the game with back-to-back shutout frames.

The Vols will go for the series sweep tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

NOTABLE

Gilbert Grand Slams: Junior outfielder Drew Gilbert’s grand slam in the eighth inning was the third of his Tennessee career after hitting two last season.

Dollander’s Debut: Transfer pitcher Chase Dollander was nearly unhittable over the first five innings of his Tennessee debut, racking up 11 strikeouts – two shy of his career high – while holding his former team in check. The sophomore right-hander retired 10 straight batters before allowing a single to lead off the sixth inning.

Packed House: Tennessee had its first sellout of the year with 4,651 fans in attendance on Saturday afternoon, the largest crowd since Tony Vitello took over as head coach.

-UT Athletics

Quotes: Kellie Harper updates Horston’s status, previews tall task at #1 South Carolina

Quotes: Kellie Harper updates Horston’s status, previews tall task at #1 South Carolina

Posted on February 19, 2022

Kellie Harper met with the media via Zoom on Saturday afternoon in advance of Sunday’s game between the No. 12/8 Tennessee (21-5/10-3 SEC) and No. 1/1 South Carolina (24-1/12-1 SEC). The Lady Vols and Gamecocks will meet at 1 p.m. ET at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

On Jordan Horston’s status… 

“With the update on Jordan, it’s a fractured dislocation of the elbow (left), and she will be out a few weeks for sure. And I don’t know how many weeks that will be, because the most important thing for us right now is to make sure that her injury has time to heal. And unfortunately, you can’t put a timeline on that. You know, we’ll have to see the progress, and we will monitor it frequently in the next month, but at this point, I think you’re really pushing it with the season winding down, but I suppose at this point the door would still be open (to return).”  

Lady Vols Basketball / Credit: UT Athletics

On dealing with injuries and seeing this season through… 

“I think it’s a competitive group. They love playing basketball, and you know, obviously, this is a lot of adversity, because you’re trying to replace more than just a leading scorer. She’s our best defender, best rebounder, best ball handler, passer – she did everything for us. But I think our team, I think what you have to do here, is you’ve got to love playing and you’ve got to love competing, and you have to look at this as this is our opportunity. No one wants to do it without Jordan (Horston), but that’s the hand we’re dealt at this point.” 

On the increased importance of getting the ball into the posts… 

“Well, I think what Jordan (Horston) did is she was able to create a lot of opportunities, whether that was within our offense or off of broken plays as well. So, you know, we always talk about wanting to utilize our post game. I think it’s important that we continue to do that. We’re going to have to look at some tweaks to give our team a little bit more to work with on the court. But obviously, in terms of the importance, honestly, it’s not changed. It’s been important; it’s going to remain important that we’re able to get the ball inside.” 

On the challenges presented by South Carolina… 

“It’s a huge challenge, obviously. I think that’s an understatement. First, you talk about what they do offensively. They play their parts. They know their roles, and they play their roles. They do a great job of doing what they do well, whether that’s getting the ball inside, putting the ball on the floor, taking open shots. They know how to have patience and find what they’re looking for. And then, if they miss, they are amazing on the offensive boards. They just really get to the glass, consistently, relentlessly, and really get a lot of their points and a lot of their production by crashing the boards. Then you go to the defensive end, they don’t give up anything. They just don’t give up anything. You’re going to face size, you’re going to face athleticism and physicality, and it also feels pretty relentless. I didn’t even mention their transition game, their transition offense. They’re pretty well known for their transition game. They’re playing well right now and playing with great confidence. We know it’s a challenge. Obviously, we get that. Like you said, anytime you play South Carolina it’s going to be a challenge.”

On who she’s looking to on the bench to provide a spark… 

“Oh, we’re going to have dig a little deeper. I think Kaiya (Wynn) is going to have some opportunities to come in and help us at the guard spot. You know, you’ve got Karoline Striplin and Emily Saunders that could come in, and we could slide some folks around. And you know, Jessie (Rennie) has been tough, and she’s a veteran, so at this point, it’s all hands on deck.” 

On the importance of sticking to the game plan against South Carolina… 

“I think you’ve got to be able to play through adversity. I think you’ve got to be able to make next plays. So, if something goes wrong, you can’t let that snowball into three wrongs. You’ve got to correct it, and you’ve got to make a play. I think that is going to be as important as anything, early on just hanging in there and finding some positive plays. Because then, if you do that, you can settle down, and I think that’s going to be really important early on.” 

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: #15 Lady Vols Round Out SPC Elite Invite, Defeat #24 UCF 6-2

Stats/Story: #15 Lady Vols Round Out SPC Elite Invite, Defeat #24 UCF 6-2

Posted on February 19, 2022

Box Score | Updated Season Stats

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The No. 15/18 Tennessee Lady Vol softball team rounded out the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational with a win on Saturday, taking down No. 24/24 UCF 2-0 on Field 1 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
 
Sophomore pitcher Bailey McCachren came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth and was tabbed with the win, throwing the final 2.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts and no runs allowed. The win went down as her first of the season and her first over a top-25 opponent.
 
Super senior infielders Ashley Morgan and Ivy Davis each notched solo home runs in the win, improving their season totals to three and four, respectively. Right fielder Amanda Ayala and catcher Kelcy Leach paced the Tennessee offense with two base hits each.

Lady Vols Softball / Credit: UT Athletics

The scoring opened in the top of the first when junior center fielder Kiki Milloy came home on a wild pitch. The Lady Vol All-American walked to lead off the game, stole second and advanced to third before she scored to put Tennessee ahead 1-0 early on.
 
UT doubled its lead with a towering shot from super senior Ashley Morgan in the top of the third. The left-handed batter launched her third home run of the season and first of the weekend deep to right center to put the Lady Vols up 2-0 on the Knights.
 
The shutout was broken up in the bottom of the fifth when UCF scored a pair of runs to tie the game. Justene Molina scored on an RBI groundout from Johneisha Rowe before Kennedy Searcy’s double to right center brought home shortstop Micaela Macario.
 
Super senior right fielder Amanda Ayala provided the go-ahead score in the top of the sixth, lining a two-out single to left that scored freshman Lair Beautae from second base. In the bottom half of the frame with two Knights on base, super senior shortstop Ivy
 
Tennessee tacked on three more in the seventh to put the game out of reach and secure its first ranked victory of the 2022 campaign. Davis gave the Lady Vols one run of insurance with an opposite field solo blast to right center, Leach scored on a two-out wild pitch, and Beautae drove in the game’s final run with an RBI double to left center.
 
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols head to the West Coast for their third consecutive weekend tournament, traveling to Cathedral City, California, for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Tennessee opens the event with a neutral site doubleheader, facing BYU and UC Davis on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET, respectively.

-UT Athletics

Burns Spins Gem While Vols Blast Four Homers in 9-0 Win on Opening Day

Burns Spins Gem While Vols Blast Four Homers in 9-0 Win on Opening Day

Posted on February 18, 2022

Box Score (PDF) 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 16 Tennessee rode dominant pitching and some red-hot bats on a chilly Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, blanking Georgia Southern, 9-0, to start the 2022 season.

The Vols’ bats were on fire despite the low temperatures as four different players went yard for the Big Orange. Eight of UT’s nine runs came via the long ball.

Vols RHP Chase Burns / Credit: UT Athletics

Freshman pitcher Chase Burns was as good as advertised in his collegiate debut, tossing five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five batters to earn his first-career victory. Tennessee posted a shutout to open the season for the third time in the past four seasons.

After three scoreless innings to start the game, Trey Lipscomb got the scoring started with a monster two-run homer over the porches in left field. The senior third baseman had a huge night, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

Newcomer Seth Stephenson followed suit with a two-run blast of his own in the fifth and Jorel Ortega blew the game wide open with a three-run shot in the sixth to spot the Vols a 7-0 lead. Senior outfielder Christian Scott added a pinch-hit home run in the seventh, the first of his career, and drove in another run with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to round out the scoring.

UT’s bullpen was just as dominant as Burns, allowing just one baserunner over the final four innings. Camden Sewell took over for Burns and set down all six batters he faced before Kirby Connell finished things off with two shutout innings of his own.

Austin Thompson paced the Eagles with a pair of base hits. Georgia Southern starting pitcher Ty Fisher was credited with the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in five innings.

The Vols and Eagles will be back at it tomorrow for Game 2 of the series, which is slatted to begin at 1 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

NOTABLE
Career Highs on Opening Day: The infield duo of Trey Lipscomb and Jorel Ortega was extremely impressive for the Big Orange. Lipscomb tied career highs hits (three) and runs scored (two). Ortega reached base in all four of his at-bats, going 3-for-3 with a walk while setting career highs in hits and RBIs (three). He also tied his career high in runs scored with two.

Feel the Burns: True freshman pitcher and highly-touted signee Chase Burns lived up to the preseason hype on Friday night, putting forth a dominant performance in his collegiate debut. The Gallatin, Tennessee, native is the first UT freshman to throw five shutout innings in his first-career start since Camden Sewell went six scoreless in a win over Middle Tennessee on Feb. 27, 2019.

Tennessee Debuts: The Vols had five players make their Tennessee debuts: Burns, Stephenson, Logan Chambers, Blake Burke and Charlie Taylor. Burns, Stephenson and Chambers all started for UT.

-UT Athletics

Hoops Preview: #12/8 Lady Vols at No. 1/1 South Carolina

Hoops Preview: #12/8 Lady Vols at No. 1/1 South Carolina

Posted on February 18, 2022

It’s been 11 years since ESPN College GameDay has been on site for a women’s basketball game, but that will be the case on Sunday as No. 12/8 Tennessee (21-5/10-3 SEC) and No. 1/1 South Carolina (24-1/12-1 SEC) meet in Columbia.

Tip-off is scheduled for 1:03 p.m. ET at Colonial Life Arena, but the festivities will begin at noon at the venue, as ESPN broadcasts its pregame show live.

This will mark the third-ever edition of College GameDay prior to a women’s game and UT’s second involvement, with UConn hosting in 2010, the Lady Vols in 2011 and now South Carolina while facing the Big Orange in 2022. The visit to Knoxville in 2011 was a Tennessee men’s (noon) and women’s (8 p.m.) doubleheader vs. Vanderbilt at Thompson-Boling Arena. College GameDay is slated to be hosted by Elle Duncan with Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, Holly Rowe and former Lady Vols standout Andraya Carter joining her.

Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee enters the game having won two of its last three contests, but it is 3-4 since losing graduate forward/center Keyen Green to a season-ending knee injury late in the win at Georgia on Jan. 23. UT is 13-1 at home this season, winning its last eight, and started out 6-0 on the road before Green’s injury coincided with the Lady Vols dropping their past four road games to Auburn, Florida, UConn and Alabama.

The Big Orange trailed 16-14 after the opening quarter before Alabama unleashed a 7-for-11 shooting spree from long range over the second and third periods to take a 20-point lead. UT whittled that deficit down to 10 in the final frame but could not get over the hump in falling 74-64 to the Crimson Tide on a stormy Thursday night in Tuscaloosa. To make matters worse, UT’s leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals, Jordan Horston, was helped from the court with 1:45 remaining in the game with a left arm injury that required an air cast to be used. UT’s Kellie Harper will provide an update on Horston during Saturday’s UT media availability.

The Gamecocks, meanwhile, are 13-0 at home in 2021-22 and have won 12 straight since stumbling at Missouri in their SEC opener, 70-69 in overtime, on Dec. 30. South Carolina is coming off a resounding 75-38 home victory over Auburn on Thursday evening in which the Gamecocks out-rebounded the Tigers, 62-25, with a whopping 24 offensive boards and 21 second-chance points. 

This will mark the 62nd meeting between these programs, with Tennessee holding a 51-10 all-time series record and standing an even 4-4 over the last eight games but USC claiming four of the past five tilts. The contest includes two of the 15 late season watch list candidates for the Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year in Tennessee’s Kellie Harper and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Carolyn Peck (analyst) and Holly Rowe (reporter) will have the call for the ABC television broadcast.
  • All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
  • The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone. He will be joined by studio host Bobby Rader.
  • 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.
  • 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 Vol Network Affiliates.
  • Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

WHERE WE STAND NATIONALLY

  • After opening the year ranked No. 15/12, the Lady Vols climbed to No. 4 in the Jan. 24 AP Poll and hit a best of No. 5 in the Jan. 25 USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll. This week, they stand at No. 12 in the AP Poll and No. 8 in the Coaches Poll.
  • In his Bracketology update on Feb. 18, ESPN’s Charlie Creme has Tennessee as a No. 4 seed in the Spokane Region. The Lady Vols are shown hosting No. 13 Drexel in the first round, with the winner facing No. 5 Virginia Tech or No. 12 Stephen F. Austin in the second.
  • ESPN has the Big Orange at No. 12 in its Feb. 13 Women’s College Basketball Power Rankings.
  • The NCAA NET Rankings show UT ranked No. 19 through Feb. 17, while the NCAA Toughest Schedule report had the Lady Vols at No. 11 (cumulative opposition).
  • RealTimeRPI.com has UT at No. 4 in RPI as of Feb. 17 with a calculation of .6683 and No. 6 in strength of schedule.

ABOUT THE LADY VOLS

  • Tennessee has dealt with way more than its fair share of injuries in 2021-22. While the Lady Vols were able to overcome some of their misfortunes, they are in the process of trying to move past yet another setback.
  • The most recent misfortune occurred with 1:45 remaining in UT’s contest at Alabama on Feb. 17, when national awards candidate Jordan Horston suffered a left arm injury while diving for a loose ball. Kellie Harper will update her status on Saturday during a regular-scheduled Zoom media availability.
  • Less than a month earlier on Jan. 23 at Georgia, reserve forward/center and team leader Keyen Green (7.0 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) was lost for the year due to a knee injury.
  • While UT was able to hold on and defeat the Bulldogs in that game, they subsequently dropped three out of their next four games by substantial margins, revealing just how vital Green was to the team. UT was able to finally get back on the winning track vs. Missouri and Vanderbilt before suffering another defeat at Alabama.
  • Marta Suárez, a 6-2 guard/forward (4.1 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), another glue-type player for this program, already was sitting out the year due to an injury, so Green’s loss even more severely affected Tennessee’s depth.
  • UT’s top returnee, preseason All-SEC pick Rae Burrell, suffered a knee injury in game one and missed 12 games before gradually working her way back into the lineup. Her 10.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg. stat line is well shy of last season’s 16.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg. productivity, but she is showing some signs of finding a groove.
  • All of that said, the Lady Vols still stand at 21-5 overall and 10-3 in SEC play as they prepare to close out the regular season with their final three contests.
  • Tennessee picked up its fifth victory over a ranked team this season on Jan. 23, as the Lady Vols came from nine down to defeat No. 13/13 Georgia in Athens, 63-55. UT recorded four wins over ranked foes the entire 2020-21 campaign and had only one ranked win in 2019-20.
  • The Big Orange women also have victories over No. 23/22 South Florida (52-49), No. 12/21 Texas (74-70 OT), No. 25/23 Texas A&M (73-45) and No. 19/20 Kentucky (84-58) to their credit and beat RV/RV Virginia Tech (64-58) and RV/RV Ole Miss (70-58) on the road this season.
  • Tennessee is led statistically by Jordan Horston, a dynamic 6-2 junior guard, who paces the team in scoring (16.2 ppg.), rebounding (9.4), assists (4.0 apg.) and steals (1.4) in a breakout season for the five-star player who came out of high school ranked No. 2 overall and the No. 1 guard in the 2019 espnW HoopGurlz 100.
  • Horston, who has made the top 10 list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award and watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award, leads the Lady Vols with 12 double-doubles and has topped UT in scoring 15 times. She has seven games of 20 or more points, including four of the past seven contests.
  • Senior All-SEC First Team preseason pick Rae Burrell (10.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg.) has seen action the past 13 games after missing the previous 12 contests due to a leg injury suffered in the opener vs. Southern Illinois. She has hit double figures in eight of the past 10 games, hitting 10+ for the first time since Nov. 10 with 11 at Vanderbilt on Jan. 13 and carding a season-high 21 vs. Arkansas on Jan. 31. Over her last three games, Burrell is producing 13.0 ppg. and 3.7 rpg. while hitting 90 percent on free throws.
  • Tamari Key, a 6-6 junior center, is putting up 10.0 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. to go along with 3.4 bpg. She had a triple-double of 10 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks in UT’s 74-70 OT victory over No. 12/21 Texas.
  • Key, rated No. 47 as a prep by espnW, is second on the team with eight double-doubles thus far and has scored in double figures in 13 games for the Lady Vols. She leads the nation in blocked shots (89) and is second in bpg. (3.42), sitting in UT’s single-season top 10 for the third time at No. 5 with 89 swats in 26 contests. The member of the Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 also ranks sixth (86, 2019-20, 31 games) and ninth (72, 2020-21, 25 games) on that list.
  • Alexus Dye, a 6-0 forward, is fourth among UT players in scoring at 8.8 ppg. She is third in rebounding at 7.0 rpg and has three double-doubles, including a 13/10 effort vs. Arkansas. The graduate transfer from Troy, who is among the Katrina McClain Award Top 10, has scored in double figures 11 times, including an 11-point effort vs. Missouri.
  • Graduate guard Jordan Walker, who had 17 points vs. Auburn, is Tennessee’s fifth-highest scorer, putting up 7.5 ppg., while tallying 4.0 rpg. and 2.9 apg. to rank fourth and second for UT in those categories. Walker is fourth on the team at 9.1 ppg. in SEC games and grabs 4.2 rpg.
  • Freshman guard/forward Sara Puckett is UT’s sixth-leading scorer. The No. 43 espnW prospect coming out of high school is putting up 7.0 ppg. and is shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent on threes and 76.2 percent on free throws and has scored in double figures six times, including a critical 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in the win over Arkansas on Jan. 31.
  • Sophomore Tess Darby has emerged this season as Tennessee’s leading long-distance threat, connecting on 37 of 100 attempts (37 pct.). Sara Puckett (33.3) and Jordan Walker (29.9) have hit 21 and 20 treys, respectively.
  • Darby has turned the ball over only five times in nine road games played this season.
  • Tennessee hasn’t been a great shooting team on the road, but it still hits at a higher percentage from the field than opponents, 39.5 to 36.4 percent.
  • The Lady Vols have nearly a double-digit rebound margin on the road, pulling down 44.1 per contest to their opponents’ 34.5 (+9.6).
  • Tamari Key has hit 58.6 percent from the field, and Sara Puckett has made 50.0 percent of her makes in UT’s road games.
  • Key, who averages 4.3 blocks per game at home is averaging only 2.4 on the road but plays more minutes away (27.5) than she does at home (24.9).
  • Jordan Walker is eight of 20 on threes (40.0) on the road to lead the Lady Vols.
  • Jordan Horston is UT’s only double-figure scorer in road games at 15.4 ppg.

IT’S NOT EASY BEING (WITHOUT) GREEN

  • Tennessee’s loss of Keyen Green has had a ripple effect for the Lady Vols. Her absence is reflected in details even more valuable than the 7.0 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 55.3-percent field goal shooting she provided off the bench. Her presence made her team stronger and everyone around her better.
  • UT was 18-1 in games played before it was announced she was lost for the season and is 3-4 since then.
  • The Lady Vols were +17.1 (71.5-54.5) in scoring margin with her and are -4.7 (66.9-71.6) without her.
  • The Big Orange had given up 70 only twice (70-Texas, 74-Stanford) before she was lost and has surrendered 70 five times in the last seven games (including +80 twice). UT is 20-0 when it holds teams to 70 points or fewer this season.
  • UT was +16.1 (50.4 to 34.3) in rebound margin before her injury and is +10.6 (44.7 to 34.1) after.
  • Tennessee was shooting 42.4 percent with her and is hitting 38.9 percent with her sidelined.

TENNESSEE NOTES DURING SEC PLAY

  • Kellie Harper‘s squad is tied for second place in the SEC standings with Florida and LSU, trailing No. 1/1 South Carolina (12-1) by two games at 10-3.
    Tennessee is scoring 69.15 ppg. (5th) and allowing 61.54 ppg. (3rd), while shooting 41.4 percent (7th) from the field and holding opponents to only 35.1 percent (2nd) on field goals in SEC contests.
    Tennessee is out-rebounding SEC teams 47.8 (1st) to 35.0 (2nd) for a +12.85 margin (2nd).
    The Lady Vols have limited SEC foes to shooting only 25.2 percent (2nd) from the three-point arc, including games vs. noted three-ball teams Arkansas (twice), Texas A&M, Missouri and Florida.
    Guard Jordan Horston (16.3 ppg., 9.5 rpg., 4.1 apg., 1.4 spg.) leads the team statistically against league competition, followed by guard/forward Rae Burrell (10.7 ppg., 3.3 rpg.), center Tamari Key (10.1 ppg., 7.6 rpg., 3.5 bpg., 58.9 FG percentage), guard Jordan Walker (9.1 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 2.7 apg.) and forward Alexus Dye (8.1 ppg., 6.2 rpg.).
    Horston is the third-leading rebounder in league play (9.50), is number six in assists per game (4.08) and No. 11 in scoring (16.25).
    Key is shooting 58.9 percent from the floor vs. SEC foes (not enough attempts to qualify for rankings) and has blocked 45 shots already for a 3.46 blocks per game average to lead the SEC.
    Also worth noting, Tess Darby (5.6 ppg.) is 21 of 46 on threes (45.7) during league play, while Jordan Horston is 12 of 34 (35.3), Rae Burrell is 12 of 37 (32.4) and Jordan Walker is nine of 30 (30.0).
    Alexus Dye (76.5) and Jordan Walker (75.0) have been much improved at the charity stripe during league play.
    UT is 9-0 in SEC games this season in which it holds opponents to 70 points or fewer.

TENNESSEE NOTES DURING SEC PLAY

  • Kellie Harper‘s squad holds down second place in the SEC standings, trailing No. 1/1 South Carolina (11-1) by a game at 10-2 and possessing a one-game lead over Florida and LSU (both 9-3 in league play).
  • Tennessee is scoring 69.6 ppg. (5th) and allowing 60.5 ppg. (2nd), while shooting 41.6 percent (7th) from the field and holding opponents to only 34.4 percent (2nd) on field goals in SEC contests.
  • Tennessee is out-rebounding SEC teams 48.5 (1st) to 35.3 (3rd) for a +13.2 margin (2nd).
  • The Lady Vols have limited SEC foes to shooting only 23.9 percent (1st) from the three-point arc, including games vs. noted three-ball teams Arkansas (twice), Texas A&M, Missouri and Florida.
  • UT has worked to elevate its free-throw shooting. It shot 59.2 vs. non-conference foes and has raised it to 67.9 percent in 12 SEC games to rank ninth.
  • Jordan Horston (16.6 ppg., 10.0 rpg. and 4.0 apg.) leads the team statistically against league competition, followed by Rae Burrell (10.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg.), Jordan Walker (9.3 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 2.8 apg.), Tamari Key (9.3 ppg., 7.2 rpg.) and Alexus Dye (8.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.).
  • Horston is the third-leading rebounder in league play, is number six in assists per game and No. 10 in scoring.
  • Key is shooting 57.1 percent from the floor vs. SEC foes and has blocked 44 shots already for a 3.7 blocks per game average to lead the SEC.
  • Also worth noting, Tess Darby (5.8 ppg.) is 20 of 44 on threes (45.5) during league play, while Jordan Horston is 12 of 33 (36.4), Rae Burrell is 10 of 31 (32.3) and Jordan Walker is nine of 28 (32.1).
  • Jordan Walker (80.0) and Alexus Dye (76.9) have been much improved at the charity stripe during league play.
  • UT is 9-0 in SEC games this season in which it holds opponents to 70 points or fewer.

RECAPPING THE LAST GAME

  • No. 12/8 Tennessee ran into a hot-handed Alabama team on Thursday, falling 74-64 to a Crimson Tide squad that hit 10 threes and shot 45.5 percent on the night.
  • Junior Tamari Key led UT (21-5, 10-3 SEC) with a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Rae Burrell and junior Jordan Horston were also in double digits with 13 and 12, respectively.
  • Megan Abrams was the high scorer for UA (12-12, 4-9 SEC) with 27, and Brittany Davis turned in 23.

NOTABLES FROM OUR LAST CONTEST

  • RAE CROSSES 1K: Senior Rae Burrell entered Thursday’s contest needing just one point to hit 1,000 career points. With 13 against the Crimson Tide, she became just the 47th Lady Vol to reach the 1K milestone.
    TK BACK ON TOP: Tamari Key turned in a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds at Alabama, leading Tennessee in scoring for the first time since dropping 17 on Arkansas on Jan 2. It also marked her eighth double-double of the season and first since the SEC opener against Alabama on Dec. 30.  

UT-USC SERIES NOTES

  • UT enters Sunday’s contest with a 51-10 advantage in the series, including 21-3 in Columbia, 23-3 in Knoxville and 7-4 at neutral sites.
  • Tennessee is 5-4 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. UT is 3-3 vs. USC in the SEC Tourney.
  • South Carolina has won four of the past five meetings after a three-game run by Tennessee during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
  • Tennessee captured the regular-season meeting a year ago, coming from 16-down and erasing a 15-point third-quarter deficit en route to toppling the No. 2/3 Gamecocks in Knoxville, 75-67, on Feb. 18.
  • Kellie Harper has a 2-5 record vs. South Carolina as a head coach. She stands 1-2 while at UT, winning at home in the regular season and falling in the SEC Tournament in 2021.
  • She was 0-1 while at Western Carolina, and 1-2 while at NC State, beating the Gamecocks, 55-53, in Raleigh on Dec. 4, 2011.
  • In the other two contests, both on the road, NC State suffered a 74-71 setback on Dec. 13, 2009, and a 77-63 loss on Dec. 12, 2010.
  • Harper was 5-0 vs. USC as a player, participating in the only overtime game between these schools in 1996.
  • Since 2010, USC has won five and UT four SEC regular-season titles, with UT winning or sharing in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and USC doing so in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020.
  • 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.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA

  • The Gamecocks are led by Aliyah Boston (16.8 ppg., 11.9 rpg.), Zia Cooke (11.8 ppg.) and Destanni Henderson (11.0 ppg.).
  • South Carolina is winning games by a +20.4 margin, including +19.8 vs. SEC opponents.
  • USC is the NCAA leader in rebound margin (+14.6), blocked shots (148) and blocks per game (5.7).

ABOUT THE HEAD COACH

  • USC is directed by Dawn Staley, who is 355-104 in her 14th season in Columbia and 527-184 overall in her 22nd year as a head coach.
  • She led the Gamecocks to the 2017 NCAA title and has taken USC to three NCAA Final Fours in the last six tournaments (2015, 2017, 2021).
  • Staley guided the USA Women’s National Team to Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

LAST TIME THE GAMECOCKS PLAYED

  • Aliyah Boston had 10 points and 12 rebounds for her 18th straight double-double, Zia Cooke scored 20 points and No. 1 South Carolina won its 12th straight with a 75-37 victory over Auburn on Thursday night.
  • Boston moved within a game of the Southeastern Conference mark of 19 straight games with double-figure points and rebounds that was set in 2006 by LSU great Sylvia Fowles.
  • South Carolina (24-1, 12-1 SEC) took a 10-point lead in the first eight minutes, and Auburn (9-15, 1-12) could not catch up. The Gamecocks won their 12th straight in the series.

WHEN UT AND USC LAST MET

  • No. #14/16 Tennessee, the No. 3 seed, outscored second-seeded #7/7 South Carolina 13-8 in the fourth quarter, but it couldn’t overcome a 29-point first quarter by the No. 2 seed Gamecocks in falling 67-52 in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 6, 2021.
  • Redshirt-junior Jordan Walker and sophomore Jordan Horston were the high scorers for UT (16-7), each finishing with 11 points. Senior Rennia Davis and sophomore Tamari Key were the top rebounders for the Big Orange, grabbing six apiece.
  • South Carolina (21-4) was paced by Zia Cooke, who had a game-high 17 points and four rebounds. Aliyah Boston was close behind, posting a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Destanni Henderson put up 13 points.

UP NEXT: TWO AT HOME TO CLOSE OUT REGULAR SEASON

  • UT will play its final two contests of the regular season at Thompson-Boling Arena next week.
  • The Lady Vols will play host to Mississippi State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET (SECN+).
  • Tennessee then welcomes LSU to town for a Senior Day matinee at 2 p.m. ET next Sunday (ESPN2/NetFlex).

-UT Athletics

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