Lady Vols basketball got back in the win column on Friday night, defeating ETSU 97-47 at the Food City Center. The No. 8 Lady Vols (1-1) have a quick turnaround, hitting the road to face UT Martin for their third game of the week on Sunday afternoon.
Senior forward Zee Spearman bounced back from her 1-for-8 shooting performance against NC State earlier this week, scoring 24 points against the Buccaneers. She shot 11-for-15 from the free-throw line and pulled down six rebounds in the win.
“We practice our free throws every day,” Spearman said. “Getting to the line is part of our offense.”
Tennessee’s offense got off to a shaky start in its home opener. The Lady Vols shot 3-for-7 in the first 5:34, leading 11-2 but going 3:18 without a field goal. Following a media timeout, Tennessee found its rhythm and ripped off a 17-2 run. Redshirt junior guard Talaysia Cooper knocked down three 3-pointers from the left wing, and two other players contributed a make from deep.
The Lady Vols closed the first quarter leading 27-5, forcing the Buccaneers into six turnovers while allowing them to shoot just 2-for-14 from the field and 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
While the Lady Vols’ offense had momentum heading into the second quarter, they couldn’t replicate their first-quarter success. While they outscored ETSU 22-9, Tennessee couldn’t find consistency from beyond the arc. After shooting 6-for-8 from 3-point range in the first quarter, the Lady Vols shot 2-for-12 in the second quarter with only Cooper and Spearman connecting from deep.
While Tennessee’s offense struggled to stay consistent, its defense remained stifling. Eight different players recorded a steal, bringing ETSU’s turnover count to 17 at halftime. Senior guard Nya Robertson led the effort, recording three steals in the first half.
Heading into halftime, the Lady Vols led 49-14. Cooper and Spearman both tallied 12 points, leading Tennessee in scoring. Spearman also pulled down three rebounds, tying for second on the team.
The third quarter saw ETSU’s best scoring output of the night. The Buccaneers were able to put up 17 points, more than their point total at halftime. However, the Lady Vols were able to score 13 points off seven turnovers as they outscored the Buccaneers by 10.
“I was not happy with our overall offense,” head coach Kim Caldwell said. “I think our best offense is from our defense and that is probably going to be what this team is. Our defense is going to have to spark our offense when we’re in a slump and having a hard time scoring. We’re going to have to tell someone to go get a steal, make something happen so we can get a layup.”
Freshman guard Mia Pauldo tied with Cooper in scoring during the third quarter, connecting on both of her 3-pointer attempts. The second of which was a deep shot as the quarter expired, giving Tennessee a 75-61 advantage heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was the closest of the night. Tennessee outscored ETSU 23-16 but shot 7-for-17 from the field and 2-for-9 from the 3-point line. Spearman dominated the fourth quarter, scoring nine points in just four minutes. Tennessee went on to win 97-47, extending its series lead to 26-2-1 over the Buccaneers.
Following the win, the Lady Vols will turn their sights toward the UT Martin Skyhawks. The two teams will match up in the Pat Summitt Heritage Classic in Martin, Tennessee, this weekend. Tennessee leads the all-time series 15-2 and has won 15 straight against the Skyhawks. The game will tip off on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 3 p.m. ET.
“I think this game is important,” Caldwell said. “Pat did so much for the state and us. To get back there and to create a buzz for the state, to create a buzz for what she’s done for the Pat Summitt foundation, I think this is a good opportunity to do that.”
