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Tennessee Lady Vols dominate Central Arkansas 63-36: Three takeaways

By Caleb Calhoun

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 14: A general view of megaphones for the Tennessee Volunteers cheerleaders against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the quarterfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 14, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 14: A general view of megaphones for the Tennessee Volunteers cheerleaders against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the quarterfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 14, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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In their home opener, the Tennessee Lady Vols beat the Sugar Bears in a blowout. Here’s what we learned from the women’s basketball Volunteers’ victory.

After struggling to hold off the ETSU Bucs in Kellie Harper’s debut, the Tennessee Lady Vols returned home to get a dominating 63-36 win. They won every quarter, getting progressively better in the process.

It was a rocky road at first, though. There were a series of lead changes, and UT only had a 20-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. They took a 33-26 lead into halftime, but the largest lead in the first half was eight points.

By the end of the third quarter, though, they were in control, up 51-32. Harper was able to go 11-deep this time, but unlike the first game, it was due to being in control, not being in four trouble. Now at 2-0, Harper’s team gets three days off before a huge game at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Monday. Here are three takeaways from the Tennessee Lady Vols’ win.

Jordan Horston’s breakout game

She was the No. 2 rated player in the nation, and Jordan Horston finally showed why. In her breakout game, she had 17 points through three quarters and finished the game 7-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from the three-point line. Horston also had five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and no turnovers. Fans expect many more games like that from her.

Dominant defense for three quarters

Things were scary for the Tennessee Lady Vols after the first quarter. They were only up 20-18, as we mentioned. But their defense stepped it up. Central Arkansas scored, seven, seven and four points in the next three quarters. That’s how they were held to 36 points. They shot 25 percent from the field, and the defense got better as the game went on for UT.

Legitimate depth proving itself

Not only did the defense get better, but it was at its best in the fourth quarter. That’s important because Kellie Harper was going to her bench at that point with such a lead. She played 11 people on Thursday, and all of them had a field goal. All 10 from Tuesday plus Kamera Harris saw action. And it was all significant action. This depth hasn’t been around for a while, so it’s a major positive.