Lady Vols basketball vs Ole Miss final score: Jewel Spear leads Tennessee to key win
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team picked up a crucial win on Thursday night, defeating Ole Miss 73-65 at Thompson-Boling Arena. The win was led by a dominant performance from junior guard, Jewel Spear, who scored a game-high 28 points.
The Lady Vols (18-8, 7-5 SEC) needed a big win to stay in the hunt for a top-four seed in the SEC Tournament, and they got it thanks to Spear’s impressive performance. The junior guard shot 10-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, and she also added five rebounds and three assists to her stat line.
“Jewel was incredible tonight,” said Tennessee head coach, Kellie Harper. “She’s been playing well all season, but tonight she took it to another level. She was aggressive, she was confident, and she made big plays when we needed them.”
The Lady Vols got off to a slow start, trailing Ole Miss (17-7, 6-5 SEC) by as many as seven points in the first quarter. But Spear sparked a 12-2 run with a pair of three-pointers, and Tennessee took a 12-9 lead.
The Lady Vols extended their lead to as many as 11 points in the second quarter, but Ole Miss cut the deficit to 37-30 at halftime.
The Rebels came out strong in the third quarter, scoring the first six points to cut Tennessee’s lead to 37-36. But Spear responded with a pair of three-pointers to push the Lady Vols’ lead back to 43-36.
Tennessee extended its lead to as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, and the Lady Vols were able to hold off Ole Miss’s late surge to secure the 73-65 win.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Harper. “Ole Miss is a great team, and they’ve been playing well all season. But our players were focused and determined, and they made the plays when it mattered most.”
The win was a big one for the Lady Vols, who are fighting for a top-four seed in the SEC Tournament. Tennessee is now tied for fourth place in the SEC standings with Georgia, and the Lady Vols have a crucial game against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
“This was a big win for us,” said Spear. “We knew we needed to come out and play well, and we did that. We’re feeling confident right now, and we’re looking forward to our next game against Georgia.”
The Lady Vols will host Georgia on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
“We’re excited for the challenge,” said Harper. “Georgia is a great team, and they’ve been playing well all season. But we’re confident in our abilities, and we’re looking forward to going out and competing.”
The win over Ole Miss was a big one for the Lady Vols, and it marked the fifth time this season that Tennessee has beaten a team that is ranked in the top 25.
“We’re feeling good about where we are right now,” said Harper. “We’ve been playing well, and we’re getting contributions from everyone on our roster. We’re excited for the rest of the season, and we’re looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish.”
The Lady Vols’ win over Ole Miss was a testament to the team’s depth and resilience. Tennessee has been plagued by injuries all season, but the Lady Vols have continued to find ways to win.
“We’ve been through a lot this season,” said Harper. “We’ve had injuries, we’ve had ups and downs, but our players have always responded. They’re a resilient group, and they’re a group that’s committed to winning.”
The Lady Vols will look to carry their momentum into their next game against Georgia, and they’ll be looking to secure a crucial win in the SEC standings.
“We’re excited for the challenge,” said Spear. “We know Georgia is a great team, but we’re confident in our abilities. We’re going to go out and compete, and we’re going to see what happens.”
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