Senior forward Janiah Barker was announced as out for the top-20 meeting against Kentucky the night before tipoff, meaning it was a chance for the rest of the Lady Vols to make their mark.
In place of Barker, Lady Vols head coach Kim Caldwell needed an extra push from everyone in order to keep the game in check.
With a sizeable hole in production, the freshmen took a giant step forward as Mia Pauldo, Deniya Prawl and Jaida Civil all made their presence felt amidst the 60-58 win for the Lady Vols (14-3, 6-0).
“It all starts with your teammates and coaches trusting you,” Pauldo said. “Also believing in your potential. Honestly, coach Kim put the ball in my hands and told me to do me.”
By the time the clock struck zero on the night, Pauldo had done exactly what the team needed in order to grab the win. She dropped a team-high 21 points, and, while her shooting was not the most efficient, she still delivered when the team needed it.
In the fourth quarter, Pauldo was involved in 15 of the team’s 19 points, while scoring nine en route to the team’s sixth conference win of the season.
The growth of this freshman class has become one of the more intriguing storylines of the season, and the win over Kentucky (17-4, 4-3) only adds to the dialogue — especially the growth of Pauldo.
“I still don’t really have to worry about her when she has the ball in her hands,” Caldwell said. “I know she’s going to make the right play, and she’s continued to be spectacular, and I don’t have to overcoach her. I just know that she’s going to go out there, and I just have to put her in space and let her play free. And I think she’s such a humble player and comes in here, and then she, for the majority of the time, practices the hardest every single day.”
Joining Pauldo on Thursday were Prawl and Civil. The two finished with nine and eight points respectively, but it wasn’t just the scoring that was creating an impact. Prowl finished the night with four rebounds, four steals and no turnovers, while she made all three shots she attempted.
Civil was impactful with her six rebounds and three assists, as well as her defense.
“(Deniya) and Jaida have taken big steps defensively, which helps them be on the floor more,” Caldwell said. “You can see more offense out of them, and it’s all kind of connected.”
In a game such as Thursday’s against Kentucky, where the veterans are lacking in production — junior Talaysia Cooper finished her night with just seven points on 3-for-15 shooting, the freshman’s performances became more and more dire if the team wanted to win a gritty matchup.
“It’s kind of like the last game,” Caldwell said. “I’m not out there saying, ‘Oh, we have three freshmen on the floor.’ Because I see them every day. They’re not freshmen to me. They’re players on our team, and I know what they can do, and you just want the best body. So I don’t really think about age at this point. I know who they are, I know their body of work, and I trust them.”
Despite the game’s unnatural showing from both teams, where each side shot under 40% from the field, the Lady Vols found a way to win, marking their best win yet of the season.
Now the page turns over to Jan. 26, as the Lady Vols travel to Oxford, Mississippi, for a meeting against the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels.
