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Tennessee Lady Vols: Three takeaways from 65-63 win vs. Alabama

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Tennessee Volunteers fans hold up a cardboard photo of women's basketball coach Pat Summitt during the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Connecticut 60-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Tennessee Volunteers fans hold up a cardboard photo of women's basketball coach Pat Summitt during the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Connecticut 60-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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A game-winning three-pointer helped the Tennessee Lady Vols beat the Alabama Crimson Tide. Here’s what we learned about the women’s basketball Volunteers.

Rennia Davis drilled a long three-pointer with less than a second left, and the Tennessee Lady Vols snapped a five-game losing streak to the Alabama Crimson Tide dating back to 2016 for a 65-63 win. Kellie Harper’s team improved to 15-3 and 5-1 in the SEC while Alabama fell to 11-7 and 1-4 in the league.

UT nearly blew a nine-point fourth quarter lead with Alabama scoring on all of their offensive possessions in the final five minutes of the game, hitting five three-pointers in the process. Rocky Top took a one-point lead off two Rae Burrell free throws, but then they fell behind by one after committing a foul and letting Cierra Johnson hit two free throws with 15 seconds left.

Davis hit her three on the subsequent possession after nearly turning it over. The Tennessee Lady Vols are now on a four-game winning streak with a trip to the UConn Huskies up next. Here are three things we learned from their thrilling victory.

1. Wings lead the way, even in the clutch.

Jordan Horston led the team in scoring with 19 points, and she also deserves credit for eight rebounds and four assists. But Rennia Davis and Rae Burrell were still the clutch players. We already mentioned Davis’s game-winning three-pointer. That was part of her 16 points overall on the night.

Meanwhile, Burrell hadn’t scored all game. But once Alabama cut it to one in the fourth quarter with just over three minutes left, she proceeded to score eight points, including two free throws for the go-ahead score late. So Davis and Burrell were the clutch stars, and for that they deserve all the credit in the world.

2. Interior defense dominated.

Alabama got red-hot from outside down the stretch, and there was nothing the Tennessee Lady Vols could do about that. But up to then, they were incredible on the inside, and that’s the only reason they had a chance to win in the end.

Rocky Top had 13 blocks on the night. Tamari Key led the way with an astonishing six, but Jordan Horston deserves credit for adding four. Together, they had 16 defensive rebounds, eight apiece, and they helped UT outrebound the Tide 45-31. This was a huge deal and a big reason for their win. The freshmen stepped up inside.

3. Little things nearly cost the Lady Vols.

It’s one thing for a team to get hot. However, turnovers and missed free throws shouldn’t happen, and those two things nearly did the Lady Vols in on this night. Despite Jordan Horston leading the team in scoring while also getting her rebounds and assists, she had six turnovers. That continues to be a problem for her.

As a team, the Lady Vols had 20 turnovers, and Alabama only had six. Meanwhile, they hit six-of-12 free throws on the night, with Rennia Davis going one-of-four despite her strong finish. These things can’t happen in close games like this, and they almost cost Harper’s team.