KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 20th-ranked Lady Vols came out swinging in the first half and built a 16-point lead early in the second half, only to let the advantage slip away against No. 18 Notre Dame on Wednesday night inside Food City Center.
Tennessee turned the ball over 11 times and shot just 9-of-26 in the second half as the Fighting Irish rallied from behind for a 74-69 decision against the Lady Vols.
The Lady Vols looked more than up to the task in the first half, even without star forward Rickea Jackson. Six Tennessee players scored five or more points going into halftime, and four Lady Vols finished the game in double-digits. UT guard Jasmine Powell led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
Notre Dame struggled mightily shooting the ball in the first half and went 10-of-36 from the floor along with zero made threes on four attempts. The Fighting Irish finished the game shooting 0-for-9 from long range despite pulling out the win. Tennessee out-rebounded Notre Dame 23-19 in the first half, but the Fighting Irish dominated the glass after the break and finished the game ahead 40-33 in rebounding.
The Lady Vols struggled to start the second half and turned the ball over five times in the third quarter, while Notre Dame shot 73 percent and cut into the Tennessee lead. Tennessee’s advantage dwindled to 58-50, but a Jasmine Powell and-one in the final seconds put the Lady Vols up five going into the final frame.
The Fighting Irish momentum shift paved the way for a back-and-forth fourth quarter with five lead changes. Notre Dame’s Anna DeWolfe sunk a shot with 4:25 remaining that gave the away team its first lead since it was a 9-8 ballgame.
Tennessee tried to battle back in the closing moments and Sara Puckett had a prime chance for a go-ahead corner three with 16 seconds to go, but her shot was off the mark and Notre Dame closed the game out with a 74-69 victory.
The Lady Vols will stay home for another tough matchup against No. 16 Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 3 for a 5 p.m. tip.
