Former Lady Vols basketball coach Kellie Harper pinpointed the end of the second quarter as the reason for Tennessee’s win Thursday.

Harper, who was fired as the Lady Vols coach in April, has begun to make regular appearances in the SEC Network studio this season. She was on the desk again Thursday when No. 15 Tennessee beat Mississippi State 86-73 to kick off “We Back Pat” Week in the SEC.

“Once they got that cushion – they hit three 3s to end the second, they started the third with a three, and they maintained that cushion throughout the second half,” Harper said when asked what impressed her most about the win. “They played comfortable, they played very loose and very free in the that second half. Mississippi State didn’t gain on them – they didn’t lose – but they didn’t gain on them. They just couldn’t keep up.”

The sequence turned a 2-point lead into a nine-point lead at halftime in 1:21. It started with a steal by Talaysia Cooper at the top of the press, and she assisted a wide-open 3-pointer for Jewel Spear. After Tennessee gave up a fast-break layup, Samara Spencer knocked down a 3-pointer in response. Then Cooper snagged another steal in the press, giving the Lady Vols the final shot – and Spencer drained a deep buzzer-beater 3-pointer.

Spear was responsible for the 3-pointer on the first play of the third quarter.

Spencer, who scored 18 points and went 4-for-7 from deep, was interviewed postgame. Harper congratulated Spencer on the win and asked where the senior point guard thought the team could continue to find improvement.

Spencer pointed to the team’s lapses at times and weaker third quarters – the Bulldogs only outscored Tennessee in the third – and said they need to make sure they come out of halftime with the same intensity.

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Spencer also said transition defense was a big focus going into the game after hearing Mississippi State thought it would be successful in transition. Tennessee had one player in position to get back quickly to defend any breakaways, and MSU only outscored UT on fast-break points 21-13.

“Well, we heard that they were talking about how they felt like they could get a lot of transition points, and they did get some transition points, but not as many as they normally get,” Spencer said. “I think that we did a pretty good job at it. We had some lapses, but overall, we kept the game in check in transition.”

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.