KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 11th-ranked Tennessee women’s basketball team weathered a slow start in a 93-64 win against Florida A&M in its season opener on Tuesday night in the Food City Center.
The Lady Vols trailed by as many as five points in the first quarter, but a 10-4 run helped Tennessee regain the lead and the Lady Vols never looked back.
Tennessee guard Jewel Spear put on a stellar performance in her official Lady Vols debut. The Wake Forest transfer put up 15 points on five three-pointers in the first half alone, including a buzzer-beating triple to send the team into halftime. Spear finished the night tied for the game-high with 20 points along with three rebounds and two assists.
Lady Vol forward Karoline Striplin also posted 20 points in the win behind a very efficient eight-for-nine shooting night and seven rebounds.
UT forward Rickea Jackson (13 points) and guard Kaiya Wynn (12 points) were the other two Lady Vols in double figures.
The Lady Vols go on the road to Tallahassee for a top-20 matchup against No. 18 Florida State on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.
