KNOXVILLE - Jordan Walker scored 14 points and Alexus Dye had a double-double as the 15th-ranked University of Tennessee women's basketball team turned a 9-0 fourth-quarter run into a 17-2 closing surge to beat Southern Illinois 59-49 on Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Walker had seven points and Tamari Key and Sara Puckett both had the only five points each scored in the critical run after the visiting Salukis had the Lady Volunteers on the ropes in the season opener for both teams.
Southern Illinois, which led 30-27 at halftime and 42-38 after three quarters, was up 47-42 after a deep 3-pointer by Makenzie Silvey and a fast-break layup by Quierra Love with 5:24 to play. At that point, the Salukis had made eight 3-pointers and the Lady Vols were 0-for-13 from outside the arc.
Walker then hit a 3-pointer and Puckett followed with another for the lead before Key sank three free throws to make it 51-47 in favor of Tennessee. Abby Brockmeyer scored for Southern Illinois, but Puckett and Key made layups and Walker scored four points in the last 36 seconds to wrap up the win.
Love led Southern Illinois with 13 points.
Dye had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Tennessee. Rae Burrell, the team's top returning scorer, added 12 points but did not play in the second half after falling down hard on a layup with 1:24 left in the first half. She was grabbing her right knee and did not put any weight on her leg as she left the court. Tennessee was also without starter Jordan Horston due to an ankle injury.
The Lady Vols' next game is at 6 p.m. Friday against the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Their next home game is at 6:30 p.m. Monday against the University of South Florida.