KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Women’s Basketball gave No. 1 South Carolina quite the fight but was unable to complete the upset in a 66-55 loss inside the Food City Center on Thursday night.
The Lady Vols fell behind 4-0, but with effort and defense, UT went on a 12-2 run to take a 12-6 lead. They forced the Gamecocks into five turnovers early. Tamari Key also had two early blocks.
However, South Carolina didn’t turn it over after the first media timeout and ended the quarter on a 9-2 run and took a one-point lead into the second quarter following a buzzer-beater three-pointer from MiLaysia Fulwiley. The Gamecocks led 15-14 after the first quarter.
Tennessee scored to open the second quarter on a layup from Jasmine Powell to take a 17-15 lead.
After UT went up 20-19, they weren’t able to score for 5:23. Luckily for them, South Carolina wasn’t able to take advantage and only led 22-20. Rickea Jackson tied the game at 22 with 3:06 left in the first half.
The Gamecocks got back up 23-22, but Jackson and Sara Puckett scored back-to-back buckets for a 26-23 lead. Jackson scored again on an and-one layup for the 28-23 lead with 29 seconds left in the half. They ended up leading 29-25 at halftime.
Despite only shooting 31% from the floor in the first half, the Lady Vols were up at the break. Jackson led the way with 13 points. UT held South Carolina to 34.5% shooting in the first half and the Gamecocks had nine turnovers.
Both teams turned the page in the third quarter and started making shots. The Gamecocks and Lady Vols traded the lead back and forth. Neither team was able to get up by much as UT’s largest lead of the third quarter was four and South Carolina’s was four.
The two teams were tied 48-48 heading into the fourth quarter. The Gamecocks were aided mightily by ten second-chance points off of six offensive rebounds in the third quarter. The Lady Vols made seven of eight free throws in the quarter, a six-point advantage to South Carolina.
The Gamecocks took a 52-48 lead to start the fourth quarter after a bucket from Watkins and two made free throws from Bree Hall.
With UT down 52-49, Jackson had a turnover and Watkins took the loose ball the other way for a layup to put South Carolina up 54-49. Shortly Hall splashed home a three-pointer to put UT up 57-49.
The Lady Vols scored on their ensuing possession as Sara Puckett scored on a layup to cut the deficit to 57-51. Kamilla Cardoso scored on an and-one layup for the Gamecocks with 3:35 to go to put them up 60-51. She scored again on the next possession to make it 62-51.
After two free throws from Jillian Hollingshead to get it back to single digits, Watkins scored on a layup that really put the game away. Tennessee scored only seven points on just over 22% shooting in the fourth quarter.
Jackson led the way with 19 points for the Lady Vols. Cardoso had 18 for South Carolina. Tennessee’s defense held the Gamecocks to just 40% shooting on the night. However, they only shot just over 32% from the field.
The Lady Vols play Vanderbilt on the road this Sunday at 2 p.m.
