The Lady Vols couldn’t have been more dominant.
Tennessee easily took care of Columbus State, winning 148-48 at Food City Center on Wednesday evening. Four players scored 18 points, while three more scored in the double-digits. Senior forward Janiah Barker looked sharp in her first game with the Lady Vols, grabbing six steals in the win.
While Tennessee scored 27 points in the first quarter, the highlight of the opening 10 minutes was its defense. The Lady Vols allowed 14 points, forcing the Cougars into 11 turnovers. Barker and redshirt junior Talaysia Cooper led the effort, both recording two steals. Tennessee capitalized on those extra possessions, scoring 23 points off turnovers in the opening period.
The Lady Vols also cashed in on second-chance opportunities on offense. They pulled down 10 offensive rebounds, scoring 12 second-chance points. Senior guard Ruby Whitehorn and senior forward Zee Spearman both grabbed three rebounds in the opening quarter.
With a 37-14 lead, Tennessee’s offense settled down beyond the arc in the second quarter. After firing 15 three-point attempts in the first quarter, the Lady Vols attempted just a trio in the second period. Senior guard Nya Robertson shot 1-for-2 from distance, and freshman guard Mia Pauldo connected on her only attempt beyond the arc.
“Her and Mia are our best, most consistent three-point shooters,” head coach Kim Caldwell said. “We’re going to need them to really step up and take good shots and not be afraid to let it fly, knowing that their teammates are going to go get their rebound if they do miss.”
Tennessee scored 28 points in the second quarter, taking a 65-25 lead into halftime. Pauldo led the team in scoring, shooting 3-for-5 from deep and adding two free throws for 11 first-half points. The Lady Vols forced 10 more turnovers in the second period, reaching 40 points off turnovers by the end of the first half.
Tennessee continued its full-court press after halftime, allowing just 12 points in the third period and forcing 14 giveaways. Barker recorded three more steals, bringing her total to six in the game. The Lady Vols rebounded well, pulling down 17 missed shots to Columbus State’s five in the quarter.
Heading into the final stanza, Tennessee held a 109-37 lead over the Cougars. However, that wouldn’t stop Tennessee’s press as they continued to play hard through the final whistle. It outscored the Cougars 39-11, bringing the score to a program exhibition record 148 points. The Lady Vols forced 45 turnovers, finishing the game with 71 points off those opportunities.
Whitehorn had an efficient game, shooting 8-for-9 from the field for 18 points. She also added seven rebounds and an assist for the Lady Vols in the win.
“Ruby’s just really a great leader,” Barker said. “She leads with her voice, but she really leaves by the way she goes out there and just gives effort. I think that’s why she does so well in the system, because you have to play hard to do well in it. I think she does that, and she does it very well, but it’s been really nice to have her energy and have her voice.”
With the win, Tennessee’s first regular-season game is around the corner. The Lady Vols will travel to Greensboro, North Carolina, on Nov. 4 to face North Carolina State for their first regular-season game of the year.
