Lady Vols take down No.18 Alabama behind dominant third quarter
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team took down the No. 18 Alabama Crimson Tide 88-62 on Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena, behind a dominant third quarter performance.
The Lady Vols, who improved to 19-5 overall and 10-3 in the Southeastern Conference, were led by senior forward Kim Caldwell, who scored a team-high 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
“I’m really proud of our team for the way we played tonight,” said Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper. “We knew Alabama was a talented team, and we had to be ready to play. Our defense was really good in the third quarter, and that’s what sparked our big run.”
The Lady Vols got off to a strong start, building a 25-15 lead after the first quarter. Alabama fought back in the second quarter, but Tennessee’s offense continued to roll, as the Lady Vols took a 46-38 lead into halftime.
However, it was the third quarter where the Lady Vols really took control of the game. Tennessee outscored Alabama 23-10 in the quarter, behind a stifling defensive effort that held the Crimson Tide to just 3-of-15 shooting.
“We knew we had to come out strong in the third quarter and set the tone for the rest of the game,” said Caldwell. “Our defense was really good, and we were able to get some easy baskets in transition. It was a big quarter for us, and it really helped us pull away.”
The Lady Vols’ dominant third quarter performance was keyed by Caldwell, who scored 9 points in the quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers. Junior guard Jordan Horston also had a big quarter, scoring 7 points and dishing out 3 assists.
Alabama, meanwhile, struggled to find its rhythm in the third quarter, committing 5 turnovers and shooting just 20% from the field.
“We knew Tennessee was a talented team, and they played a really good game tonight,” said Alabama head coach Kristy Curry. “We had some opportunities to make some plays, but we just couldn’t capitalize. We’ll learn from this and move on to our next game.”
The Lady Vols’ victory was their fifth consecutive win, and it improved their record in the SEC to 10-3. Tennessee is now tied for second place in the SEC standings, just one game behind league-leading South Carolina.
Alabama, meanwhile, fell to 17-7 overall and 6-6 in the SEC. The Crimson Tide were led by senior guard Brittany Davis, who scored 20 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
The Lady Vols will be back in action on Sunday, when they travel to face the Arkansas Razorbacks. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
In the meantime, here are some key takeaways from Thursday’s game:
– Kim Caldwell’s 23 points marked her fifth consecutive game with 20 or more points.
– The Lady Vols’ 88 points were their most in an SEC game this season.
– Tennessee’s victory marked their 11th consecutive win over Alabama at Thompson-Boling Arena.
– The Lady Vols improved to 15-1 at home this season, with their only loss coming to UConn on Jan. 26.
Overall, it was a big win for the Lady Vols, and they will look to carry their momentum into their next game against Arkansas.
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