KNOXVILLE – A week after blowing a 23-point lead and losing at No. 5 Notre Dame, the Tennessee women’s basketball team lost a 16-point lead Thursday night.
Only this time it was at home against Ole Miss, which is ranked 103rd in the Rating Percentage Index. And this time, Tennessee found a way to stop the bleeding.
The No. 10 Lady Volunteers turned their midgame misfortune around, went on a 25-6 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters and escaped with a 75-66 win in front of 9,016 at Thompson- Boling Arena.
There was little glamour in Tennessee’s first game since going 1-3 in a four-game stretch against highly ranked foes. But the Lady Vols (17-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) found late success with a zone defense that finally slowed Madinah Muhammad and Alissa Alston, who combined to score 50 points for the Rebels (11-9, 1-6).
Tennessee guard Rennia Davis shoots against Mississippi during an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Tennessee guard Jaime Nared (31) squeezes between Mississippi forward Promise Taylor (55) and guard Madinah Muhammad (20) during an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)“We just extended our defense,” Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said of the fourth-quarter adjustment. “When all five are talking and moving, we play great defense.”