Lady Vols basketball hosts Alabama: Live updates from Food City Center
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team hosted the Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday evening at the Food City Center, and it was a thrilling matchup between two of the top teams in the Southeastern Conference.
The Lady Vols, led by head coach Kellie Harper, came into the game looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Georgia on Sunday. They were facing an Alabama team that had been playing some of the best basketball in the conference, with a 7-2 record in SEC play.
The game got off to a fast start, with both teams trading baskets and playing tenacious defense. The Lady Vols’ Jordan Horston was a force to be reckoned with in the early going, scoring 8 points in the first quarter to help Tennessee take a 20-17 lead.
But Alabama was not to be underestimated, and they came storming back in the second quarter behind the hot shooting of guard Brittany Davis. Davis scored 12 points in the quarter, including three 3-pointers, to help the Crimson Tide take a 38-35 lead into halftime.
The second half was just as intense, with both teams battling for every rebound and loose ball. The Lady Vols’ Tamari Key was a dominant force in the paint, scoring 10 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in the third quarter to help Tennessee take a 58-55 lead into the final quarter.
But Alabama was not ready to give up yet, and they came storming back in the fourth quarter behind the play of forward Jasmine Walker. Walker scored 8 points in the quarter, including a pair of clutch free throws with just over a minute to play, to help the Crimson Tide tie the game at 73-73 and send it into overtime.
In the extra period, it was all Lady Vols. Horston scored 5 points, including a 3-pointer with just over a minute to play, to help Tennessee pull away and secure a hard-fought 83-76 victory.
The win was a big one for the Lady Vols, who improved to 8-3 in SEC play and moved into a tie for second place in the conference standings. It was also a testament to the team’s resilience and determination, as they battled back from a tough loss on Sunday to secure a big win on Thursday.
“I’m so proud of our team for the way they responded tonight,” said Harper. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but our players showed a lot of heart and determination. We’re excited to get back to work and prepare for our next game.”
The Lady Vols will be back in action on Sunday, when they host the Vanderbilt Commodores at the Food City Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
In the meantime, here are some key takeaways from Thursday’s game:
– Jordan Horston was a star for the Lady Vols, scoring 25 points and grabbing 7 rebounds.
– Tamari Key was a dominant force in the paint, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
– Brittany Davis was a bright spot for Alabama, scoring 22 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.
– The Lady Vols’ win was their eighth in SEC play, and it moved them into a tie for second place in the conference standings.
Overall, it was a thrilling matchup between two of the top teams in the SEC, and the Lady Vols’ win was a big one for their conference title hopes.
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