
_Hoops Central: SEC Tournament: Lady Vols vs. Texas A&M_
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Lady Vols are set to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament on Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The Lady Vols, who are seeded third in the tournament, enter the game with a 23-7 overall record and a 13-3 mark in SEC play. They are led by senior forward Rickea Jackson, who averages 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, is seeded sixth in the tournament and boasts a 20-10 overall record and a 9-7 mark in SEC play. The Aggies are led by senior guard Kayla Wells, who averages 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
The Lady Vols and Aggies have a long and storied history, with Tennessee holding a 13-5 advantage in the all-time series. However, Texas A&M has won two of the last three meetings between the two teams, including a 61-59 victory in College Station earlier this season.
Despite the Aggies’ recent success against the Lady Vols, Tennessee is confident heading into the matchup. The Lady Vols have won 10 of their last 11 games, including a 77-72 victory over Auburn in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday.
“We’re feeling good right now,” said Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper. “We’ve been playing well, and we’re excited to face Texas A&M. We know it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re ready for the challenge.”
The Lady Vols will look to contain Wells and the Aggies’ high-powered offense, which averages 72.5 points per game. Tennessee’s defense has been stout this season, allowing just 58.5 points per game, and the Lady Vols will need to be at their best to slow down the Aggies.
On the other end of the court, the Lady Vols will look to exploit the Aggies’ defense, which has struggled at times this season. Tennessee averages 73.5 points per game, and the Lady Vols have a number of players who can score from both inside and outside.
“We need to be able to score against their zone defense,” said Harper. “We’ve been working on that in practice, and I’m confident that we can find ways to score.”
The winner of the game will advance to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament, where they will face the winner of the matchup between top-seeded South Carolina and eighth-seeded Arkansas.
Tipoff for the game is set for 2 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on ESPNU. Fans can also follow the action on the Lady Vols’ social media accounts, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
“We’re excited to play in front of a big crowd at Bridgestone Arena,” said Harper. “We know that our fans will be cheering us on, and we’re looking forward to putting on a show for them.”
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