It wasn’t pretty, but Tennessee pulled out a win over Kentucky in its SEC Tournament debut, 76-62
The 5-seed Lady Vols (18-11) didn’t get out to a great start, but a run in the third quarter created the necessary separation.
TALK ABOUT IT INTHE ROCKY TOP FORUM
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The 12-seed Wildcats (12-20) got as close as eight in the fourth quarter but didn’t have enough in the tank. This ends Kentucky’s season in the second round of the SEC Tournament.
Leading the way for the Lady Vols was Sara Puckett. With Rickea Jackson only playing 17 minutes due to foul trouble, Puckett shouldered the scoring load with 22 points.
Tess Darby also pitched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Tennessee shot 43.5% from the field and 36.4% on 3-pointers.
On the defensive end, the Lady Vols held Kentucky to just 35.5% from the field and 23.5% on 3-pointers.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Vols got out to a bit of a sluggish start. It took Tennessee nearly two minutes before scoring its first points on a Jewel Spear 3-pointer. Kentucky would jump out to a of as much as five but Puckett refused to let it get any larger.
Ultimately, her 10 first-quarter points pushed the Lady Vols into their first lead of the game after Puckett hit a 3-pointer with a minute remaining. This gave Tennessee a 19-18 advantage after the first frame.
Due to Jackson’s pair of fouls, Kellie Harper held her out for the entirety of the second quarter. The Lady Vols still managed to win the quarter 9-8 after ugly offensive stretches from both sides. Tennessee went an over four-minute period without making a shot from the field.
At halftime, the lead sat in the Lady Vols’ favor at 28-26. Tennessee shot a poor 25.8% from the field and 25% on 3-pointers. Puckett led the way with 12 points followed by five from Spear.
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Volsâ pursuit of SEC crown began in Italy
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Puckett continued her hot stretch in the second half. She continued to be a consistent option on offense scoring five early points. However, Kentucky went on a short run to tie the game while forcing Jackson into her third foul to resend her to the bench.
The Lady Vols fired right back, though, going on a 10-0 run to create a double-digit lead. At the end of third quarter, the Wildcats had scratched the deficit to nine.
In the fourth quarter, Tennessee extended its lead. It led by as much as 15 in the frame but ultimately took the win by 14.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Lady Vols dominated the glass. With an immediately noticeable size advantage, it was tough for Kentucky to compete in this area.
This resulted in a 50-33 lead in this category. Darby led the way for Tennessee with 10.
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The Lady Vols’ rebounding translated to plenty of second-chance opportunities, as well. They grabbed 17 offensive rebounds for 15 second-chance points.
On the other end, the Wildcats scored just nine points in this fashion after grabbing 10 on offense.
UP NEXT
Next, Tennessee will return to the arena tomorrow to face 4-seed Alabama. The Tide got an extra day of rest and a chance to scout the Lady Vols during the match against Kentucky.
Tip-off is set for approximately 2:30 p.m. ET. The winner will face the victor between 1-seed South Carolina and 9-seed Texas A&M in the semifinals.
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
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Cash Ball
02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 6-3-0
Midday: 9-6-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
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Pick 4
Evening: 5-7-6-0
Midday: 5-2-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.
In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.
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Jan 24, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope claps after a possession during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)
In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.
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Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope shakes hands with Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari prior to the game at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
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Kentucky hits the road at Texas
This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.
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Feb 15, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope argues with an official during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Which game could be a trap?
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We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.
Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.
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Fourth of July festivities to celebrate in Louisville
See the Fourth of July festivities planned in Louisville for America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Kentucky state law permits fireworks use unless prohibited by local ordinances.
In Louisville and Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are illegal, but smaller items like sparklers are allowed.
Certain fireworks are banned in Louisville if their labels include words like “explosive,” “rocket,” or “firecracker.”
Safety officials advise keeping water nearby, not relighting “dud” fireworks, and never allowing children to ignite them.
Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.
Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.
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Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?
Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
Are fireworks legal in Louisville?
In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.
If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.
But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
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Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky
How to use fireworks safely
The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:
Use fireworks outdoors.
Obey local laws.
Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Former Courier Journal reporter Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.