MEMPHIS, Tenn. — No. 18 ranked Tennessee women's basketball squared off against Memphis to begin a three-game road stretch. The Lady Vols beat the Tigers, 90-75
Tennessee's starting lineup was different, as always. Against the Tigers, Ruby Whitehorn, Zee Spearman, Tess Darby, Talaysia Copper and Samara Spencer got the start. Tennessee has had nine starters, with not one player starting in every game this season.
Memphis was off to a strong start inside FedExForum, taking a 7-3 lead four minutes in. Sara Puckett cut the lead to 7-5 with a put-back bucket.
With 50 seconds left in the first quarter, Cooper got a steal, and Jewel Spear finished with an and-one layup. Spear hit a free throw to tie it up 19-19, and Whitehorn knocked down a three to take Tennessee's second lead of the night before the start of the second quarter.
Memphis went on an 11-0 run in the second half and scored off several Tennessee turnovers to give the Tigers a 34-27 lead with about 5:45 remaining in the half.
However, Spear knocked down two triples to help the Lady Vols take the lead by one point at halftime, 42-41. After missing the last two games, she led the team with 14 points off the bench heading into the break.
Tennessee came out hot in the second half. The team went on a 7-0 run capped off by a Whitehorn triple to make it an eight-point game in the Lady Vol's favor.
Spencer took a tumble and went into the tunnel after trying to defend a Memphis layup, but she returned to the game.
The Lady Vols were up by 10 with 5:45 left in the game, 77-66, and kept the lead until the end. Spear and Spearman led in points with 18 each. Five other Lady Vols scored in double-figures to keep Tennessee perfect on the year. LSU is the only other women's basketball team in the nation who remains undefeated.
The Lady Vols will play in the West Palm Beach Classic, a two-game tournament. Tennessee's first matchup is against Richmond on Friday, Dec. 20, at 2:15 p.m. in Florida.
