Coming off a frustrating loss Sunday at Ole Miss and facing another road game in Southeastern Conference play, the Tennessee women’s basketball team needed to bounce back.
The league’s last-place team made for an easy target Thursday night.
Jewel Spear made five 3-pointers in a 25-point performance, Rickea Jackson poured in 21 points, and Tamari Key’s 10 gave the Lady Volunteers a trio of double-digit scorers in a resounding 95-73 SEC victory at Georgia on Thursday night.
Key tied her season high for scoring while starting for the first time this season, and her eight rebounds were a game high and helped Tennessee (13-7, 6-2) finish with a 41-25 advantage on the glass. Jasmine Powell added a game-high nine assists for the Lady Vols, who totaled 24 helpers against just 15 turnovers, and Powell was responsible half of Tennessee’s six steals.
The visitors turned Georgia’s 14 turnovers into 22 points, the latter a season best for Tennessee.
Jackson had six rebounds and five assists in another solid all-around performance for the fifth-year senior, and her 3-for-4 shooting from behind the arc contributed to Tennessee matching its season high with a dozen 3-pointers.
Georgia (10-11, 1-7) had four scorers in double figures, led by De’Mauri Flournoy’s 18 points, and the Lady Bulldogs tied their season high with seven 3-pointers while scoring their most points in SEC play this season. Their 49 second-half points were also their most in a half this season, but the hosts ultimately couldn’t match Tennessee’s offense.
The 95 points marked the most scored by Tennessee in an SEC game under Kellie Harper, who took over as head coach in 2019.
The Lady Vols led 19-14 after the first quarter, 41-24 at halftime — Tennessee’s largest midpoint margin of the season — and 66-54 entering the final period to bounce back from their 80-75 loss at Ole Miss. Tennessee remained tied with Ole Miss (16-5, 6-2) for second in the league standings, behind nationally ranked No. 1 South Carolina (20-0, 8-0).
Next up for Tennessee is a visit from Missouri (11-10, 2-6) at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Compiled by Marty Kirkland. Contact him at mkirkland@timesfreepress.com.