When it comes to scoring options for the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team this season, Rickea Jackson and Jordan Horston have consistently been at the top of the list — though not always in that order.
So while there may be grounds for a debate about who is Batman or Robin in this 1A-1B punch, there is no doubt they are a dynamic duo, something they showed again Thursday night as the Lady Volunteers jumped into Southeastern Conference play with a 77-67 win at Florida.
Jackson’s season-high 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting and game-high nine rebounds led the way, but Horston added 15 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Lady Vols (9-6), who trailed 15-14 after the first quarter in Gainesville before taking the lead midway through the second and heading to halftime up 36-31.
Tennessee built its advantage to 13 points twice in the third quarter before entering the fourth ahead 56-46. The Gators (11-3) cut the visitors’ lead to 63-58 on Kirsten Deans’ layup with 5:49 to go, but free throws allowed the Lady Vols to push their edge to double digits with a little more than three minutes to play and put the game away.
Horston and Jackson, the only Tennessee players who scored in double figures, shot a combined 16-for-24 (67%) from the field with the rest of the Lady Vols 12-for-34 (35%). Jackson made eight of nine free throws in 25 minutes off the bench, while Horston, who started and played 24 minutes while battling foul trouble in the first half, was 6-for-11 at the foul line as part of a 19-for-27 showing for Tennessee.
Jasmine Franklin matched Horston with seven rebounds as the Lady Vols finished with a 45-27 advantage on the glass.
Florida’s offense was more balanced, with Alberte Rimdal scoring 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, Deans adding 16 with five steals and Ra Shaya Kyle and Nina Rickards chipping in 11 points apiece.
Tennessee returns to competition by hosting Alabama (12-2) at noon Sunday. The Crimson Tide beat visiting Georgia 56-53 on Thursday night in another SEC opener.
Compiled by Marty Kirkland. Contact him at mkirkland@timesfreepress.com.