Tennessee

No. 19 Tennessee defeats No. 5 UConn for first time in past 5 meetings

Published

11 months ago

February 6, 2025

No. 19 Tennessee defeats No. 5 UConn for first time in past 5 meetings

No. 19 Tennessee defeated No. 5 UConn in Knoxville on Thursday, winning the matchup between two of the most accomplished programs in women’s college basketball for the first time in their past five meetings.

The Lady Vols’ 80-76 victory over the Huskies was their first in the rivalry since 2007, but that’s deceiving because the two teams didn’t play again after that until 2020. UConn coach Geno Auriemma thought the rivalry had become too bitter between fanbases and wanted to take a break. Tennessee and UConn last played each other in January 2023.

The first 20 minutes of Thursday’s matchup were tight with the Huskies going into halftime with a narrow 39-37 lead led by Sarah Strong’s 12 points.

However, Tennessee created some separation with six minutes remaining in the third quarter on a jumper by Samara Spencer, who followed that up with a steal and another basket for a 49-45 lead. On Tennessee’s next possession, Sara Puckett hit a 3-pointer to create a seven-point margin.

The Huskies took a four-point lead in the first two minutes of the third quarter and appeared to be taking control of the game. Tennessee then went on a 13-0 run capped by a Talaysia Cooper layup that built a nine-point margin.

UConn slowly chipped away at the Lady Vols’ lead and ended the third quarter down 59-54. Tennessee maintained its lead, but could never get further ahead than six points. The Huskies eventually tied the game twice, first at 69-69 on two free throws by Kaitlyn Chen then at 74-74 on a 3-pointer from Paige Bueckers.

Yet the Lady Vols weren’t shaken by UConn’s rally, quickly regained the lead on a jumper by Zee Spearman and stayed ahead until the end. Spearman’s basket out of a timeout with 15 seconds was the dagger, giving Tennessee an 80-76 lead. Azzi Fudd missed a layup and Bueckers misfired on a 3 as time expired.

Spearman led Tennessee with 16 points and seven rebounds, with Spencer adding 14 points. Jewel Spear tallied 12 points for the Lady Vols, who improved their record to 17-5 overall.

Strong scored a game-high 18 points for UConn with nine rebounds, followed by 14 from Bueckers. However, the Huskies star guard shot 5-of-16 from the floor. With the defeat, UConn dropped to 21-3 for the season.

For new Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell, who gave birth to a son last month, the win over a longtime rival is the biggest of her first season in Knoxville. Previously, her team had lost its four games against opponents ranked in the top 10.

After defeating the No. 5 team in the nation, Tennessee takes on No. 6 LSU (23-1) in Baton Rouge on Saturday. UConn is again on the road for a matchup with Providence (10-15) on Sunday.

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Tennessee

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee sheriff’s office is asking the community to pray for a family whose 5-year-old was hospitalized after falling into a swimming pool.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and family members were “administering life-saving measures” Thursday afternoon after pulling the child out of the water.

The child was then transferred to a hospital, where they are still being treated.

“The child was subsequently transported to the hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care‚” said a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, no further details will be released at this time.”

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Tennessee

Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Sam Purcell felt good about the game plan for Mississippi State women’s basketball’s matchup with Tennessee.

But the Bulldogs gave up 26 points in the first quarter and trailed by seven points. It was a deficit they never recovered from in a 90-80 loss to the Lady Vols at Humphrey Coliseum on Jan. 8.

“You look at that that first quarter, I thought it was crucial. We had a great scout, a great game plan, but we didn’t talk on ball screens,” Purcell said. “Their largest quarter was that first quarter, and we’re going to watch back and go, dang it, we need to be more vocal. And you got to give them credit – top to bottom, they’re probably as good as anybody in the country with athleticism. So you can’t let those athletic kids turn the corner for wide open layups, and we did.”

Kharyssa Richardson and Madison Francis led the Bulldogs with 22 points each, but MSU didn’t have enough defense to pull off the upset.

Had Mississippi State been able to slow down Tennessee’s drivers in the first quarter, it may have been a different result. But once the Bulldogs started slowing that down, the Lady Vols were “phenomenal hitting some big-time shots,” Purcell said.

Tennessee only had the edge in points in the paint, 42-40, but it also went 10-for-27 on 3-pointers, which was an area Mississippi State couldn’t match. The Bulldogs shot 2-for-13 from deep.

MSU also couldn’t stop Tennessee freshman point guard Mia Pauldo, who scored a game-high 26 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Bulldogs sent her to the foul line time and time again, and she went 8-for-9 on free throws.

“I thought (Pauldo) was poised, she was clutch,” Purcell said. “Obviously, that’s what you need in games like this that are gonna come down the to the wire. You need players to step up, and I thought she was the X factor for them.”

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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.

Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.

The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.

Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma

Oct 10, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) on the phone in the bench area in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Cowboys Stadium. The Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.