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Tennessee Lady Vols lose No. 17 Texas A&M in overtime: 3 takeaways

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 14: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 14, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Kentucky defeated Tennessee 65-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 14: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 14, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Kentucky defeated Tennessee 65-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee Lady Vols’ first defeat this year was to the Aggies in overtime 79-76. Here are three takeaways from the women’s basketball Volunteers’ loss.

After falling behind 69-62 early in the fourth quarter, the Tennessee Lady Vols showed resiliency once again. They came back on the road to tie the game at 70 in regulation. However, Holly Warlick’s team could not get over the hump to take the lead. So they relied on amazing defense until overtime.

Then, in overtime, Tennessee took a 74-70 lead. But they could not hold it. Texas A&M came back to win 79-76 thanks to a series of terrible plays specifically by Evina Westbrook, including two turnovers and a foul on a three-point shot. In the end, Texas A&M won the game 79-76.

This was the first win against a ranked team for the Aggies, who now improve to 14-4 and 3-1 in the SEC. Meanwhile, Warlick’s team fell to 15-1 on the year and 3-1 in the conference.

The loss was also brutal for Tennessee because it was the first game of this tough four-game stretch that they need to define who they are. With the next three games coming against Top 10 teams and two coming against Top 5 teams, this was definitely their best chance at a victory. And they blew it. Here are three takeaways from the Tennessee Lady Vols’ rough loss.

1. The inside players did their part.

We’ll make our first takeaway a compliment for the Tennessee Lady Vols. Mercedes Russell was once again great, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field while also grabbing 10 rebounds. As teams closed in on Jaime Nared, who somehow still managed 18 points, Russell would have to shoulder a larger load. She did just that as much as she could.

Then, off the bench, Cheridene Green also provided a major presence underneath with 12 points and five rebounds.  So the inside game was great all around. However, with all that, how could Russell only muster 21 points when the game went to overtime? That leads to our next key.

2. Holly Warlick’s coaching blew this game. 

The Tennessee Lady Vols had a chance to win the game in regulation. The only play they ran was a rushed three-point shot. In fact, for the last 10 minutes of the game (including overtime), the Vols relied far too heavily on dribble-drive plays and outside shooting. That was happening despite Russell having one of her best nights! And it’s how Warlick blew the game with her offensive coaching.

Then, the Lady Vols were in complete control in overtime. They had held Texas A&M scoreless for the first three minutes and 20 seconds. That’s after holding them to one point the final nearly seven minutes of regulation. And then, inexplicably, Warlick switched from man-to-man to zone up 74-70. Tennessee did give up two offensive rebounds and committed a foul that cut Texas A&M’s lead to 74-72. Danni Williams then scored the team’s first field goal since early in the fourth quarter to tie it. And then the Lady Vols made a crucial mistake, which leads to our final point. But before we get there, know that Warlick was awful here.

3. Guard play was far too unreliable.

For most of crunch time, the Tennessee Lady Vols’ offense was the failed Meme Jackson/Evinna Westbrook show. After they tied the game at 70, teams started triple-teaming Mercedes Russell under the basket and forcing Jaime Nared and Rennia Davis out of the way.

As a result, they begged Evina Westbrook and Meme Jackson to beat them. And the two couldn’t do it. Jackson had the worst shooting performance of the year, and Westbrook finally looked like a freshman. She made the key mistake at the end of the game by fouling Danni Williams on a three-point shot. Then, on the final offensive possession, she picked up her dribble too soon, forcing a turnover with nobody in sight. Before that, she committed the turnover that allowed Williams to tie it up. Simply put, Jackson had an off-night, but Westbrook was just horrendous for the entire game. And that was the difference.