On 'We Back Pat' night, Tennessee hosted in-state rival Vanderbilt.
The Lady Vols held on to defeat the Commodores in the match 73-64 while honoring Pat Summitt and bringing awareness to Alzheimer's.
This wasn't without dramatics, though. The game was narrow down the stretch and Rickea Jackson was missing from Tennessee's (12-6, 5-1 SEC) sideline for the majority of the fourth quarter. Kellie Harper said she was dealing with asthma after the game.
Jackson posted 16 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and four steals in three quarters before not being able to finish the game.
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Jasmine Powell tied Jackson's mark of 16 to tie for the team lead in scoring.
Returning to Knoxville in the match was Justine Pissott. The sophomore spent one season with Tennessee before departing for Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-2).
In her return, she managed nine points on 3-for-9 shooting to go along with three rebounds.
The win also marked No. 100 for Harper in her Tennessee tenure.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After trailing by double-digits in each of Tennessee's first five SEC matches, the Lady Vols managed to stop the streak. Instead, it got out to a solid start and took a three-point lead into the second quarter.
Vanderbilt managed to tie things up in the second, though. At halftime, the Commodores had knotted things up at 33.
Both teams shot efficiently from the field with the Lady Vols shooting at a 45.2% clip from the field. Vanderbilt managed 42.9% shooting to go along with 40% shooting from range.
Tennessee's biggest hindrance was once again turnovers. It gave up 10 in the first half. However, the creation of nine on the other end helped keep things in a stalemate.
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The Lady Vols were able to create a bit of separation in the third quarter. Behind Jackson's six points in the frame, they took a four-point edge into the fourth and final frame.
However, Jackson wouldn't return in the fourth quarter. Vanderbilt managed to tie the game and ultimately would trail by one with 3:16 remaining in the game. However, the Commodores did not score again and were outscored 8-0 down the stretch leading to Tennessee's win.
STAT OF THE GAME
Tennessee's domination over its in-state, in-conference rivals continued on Sunday.
The Lady Vols are now 79-10 all-time against Vanderbilt. This marked the seventh straight win over the Commodores and keeps Harper undefeated in the series, as well.
Remarkably, Tennessee has only lost once at home to Vanderbilt. It sits at 37-1 in Knoxville with the only loss coming under Holly Warlick in the 2018-19 season.
The Lady Vols have also won 17 of the last 18 games of the series.
WHAT THE LADY VOLS SAID
UP NEXT
Next, Tennessee will have a bye for the midweek before taking a trip to face Ole Miss.
The Rebels sit at 13-5 on the year and 3-2 in SEC play. They defeated Georgia on Sunday by 10 points but will also face Florida at home before the Lady Vols come to town.
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