KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Women’s Basketball team secured a hard-fought 73-63 victory over the Florida Gators on Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Lady Vols, who improved to 22-5 overall and 11-3 in the Southeastern Conference, were led by senior guard Jordan Horston’s 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Junior forward Rickea Jackson added 19 points and 8 rebounds, while sophomore guard Sara Puckett chipped in with 12 points and 4 assists.
“I’m proud of our team for grinding out a tough win,” said Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper. “Florida is a talented team, and we knew it was going to be a battle. But our players showed a lot of heart and determination, and we were able to come out on top.”
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and playing tenacious defense. The Lady Vols took a 35-31 lead into halftime, but the Gators came out strong in the second half, using a 10-2 run to take a 45-43 lead with 14:30 remaining.
However, the Lady Vols responded with a 12-2 run of their own, fueled by Horston’s 8 points and Jackson’s 4 points. The Lady Vols never trailed again, using their stifling defense to hold the Gators to just 10 points over the final 5:30.
“Defense was the key for us tonight,” said Harper. “We were able to disrupt Florida’s offense and create some turnovers, which was big for us. And our players did a great job of executing our game plan and making big plays when it mattered most.”
The win marked the Lady Vols’ 11th consecutive victory over the Gators, and improved their overall record against Florida to 54-15.
The Lady Vols will look to keep their momentum going on Sunday, when they host the Vanderbilt Commodores at Thompson-Boling Arena. The game is scheduled to tip off at 2:00 p.m. ET.
_Tennessee Lady Vols’ Statistics:_
– Jordan Horston: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
– Rickea Jackson: 19 points, 8 rebounds
– Sara Puckett: 12 points, 4 assists
– Tamari Key: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks
_Florida Gators’ Statistics:_
– Leilani Correa: 20 points, 5 rebounds
– Nina Rickards: 18 points, 7 rebounds
– Tatyana Wyche: 12 points, 4 assists
_Tennessee Lady Vols’ Remaining Schedule:_
– Feb. 25: vs. Vanderbilt
– Feb. 28: at Arkansas
– March 2: vs. Kentucky
– March 5: at Mississippi State
_Tennessee Lady Vols’ Postseason Outlook:_
– Currently ranked 12th in the country
– Projected to be a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament
– Have won 11 consecutive games against Florida
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