Jackson’s 34 points spark Tennessee past Kentucky, 80-71

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Rickea Jackson set a single-game Southeastern Convention event report with a season-high 34 factors as Tennessee held off Kentucky 80-71 in a quarterfinal spherical sport Friday evening.

Tennessee (22-10) advances to face No. 4 LSU within the semifinals.

Ajae Petty hit two free throws with 21 seconds left within the third quarter to tug Kentucky (12-19) inside three, 51-48, however Jackson hit a jumper to start out a run of 14 straight factors for the Volunteers to push the result in 65-55. Jackson scored 16 of Tennessee’s 27 fourth-quarter factors.

Kentucky had misplaced its last seven video games of the common season and was the 14th seed, however the Wildcats knocked off Eleventh-seed Florida and sixth-seeded Alabama to develop into the lowest-seeded group to ever attain the event’s quarterfinal spherical. However in opposition to Tennessee, Kentucky struggled with attrition. Adebola Adeyeye fouled out and Petty was disqualified within the fourth quarter after pulling Karoline Striplin’s pony tail. Maddie Sherr additionally fouled out within the last minute.

Jackson hit 10 of 15 photographs from the sphere and was an ideal 14-for-14 from the road whereas scoring 20 or extra factors in her seventh straight sport. Jordan Horston scored 21 factors and Tess Darby hit 4 of 5 from 3-point vary and added 12 factors.

Kentucky’s main scorer, Robyn Benton, was in foul hassle early in opposition to Alabama Thursday and didn’t rating. She scored 20 factors to steer the Wildcats in opposition to Tennessee. Scherr scored 13 and Jada Walker had 12. Petty scored 11 factors earlier than being ejected.