KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The new era of Tennessee women's basketball officially started under head coach Kim Caldwell when the Lady Vols held an exhibition matchup against Carson-Newman on Thursday night inside Food City Center.
Jewel Spear, Sara Puckett, Samara Spencer, Talaysia Cooper, and Ruby Whitehorn started for the Lady Vols in the dominant 135-49 win. The last two seasons against Carson-Newman, the Lady Vols have scored 81 and 86 points through three quarters, respectively. Tennessee scored 41 points in the third quarter alone.
The Lady Vols shot 52.1 percent from the field, and it was a complete game where each player had a role.
Caldwell alternated lineup changes throughout, and with about five minutes left in the first half, 11-13 active players had already seen the court. By the end of the game, every player saw minutes in the win.
Ruby Whitehorn lit up for the Lady Vols in the first half. In the first seven minutes, the Clemson transfer had 11 points; by the end of the first half, she had doubled that, totaling 22.
At halftime, Tennessee led 64-23, and from then on, it was all gas, no breaks.
Whitehorn led in scoring with 29 points. Five other Lady Vols scored in double figures, including Jewel Spear, Sara Puckett, Talaysia Cooper, Kaniya Boyd, and Zee Spearman.
Tennessee also notched thirty steals, 47 rebounds, and three blocks to develop an aggressive defensive effort throughout all four quarters. Cooper had eight steals herself and recorded back-to-back steals and scores in the second quarter.
Tennessee's full-court press was a huge part of Thursday night's win, which was a major change Caldwell wanted her team to implement this season.
The Lady Vols will kick off their regular season against Samford on Tuesday, Nov. 5, inside Food City Center. Tip-off is set for 6:30 pm.
