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Three takeaways from Tennessee Lady Vols upset win at No. 15 Indiana

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 23, 2020; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper talks with guard Rennia Davis (0) from the sideline as they take on the UConn Huskies in the second half at XL Center. UConn defeated Tennessee 60-45. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2020; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper talks with guard Rennia Davis (0) from the sideline as they take on the UConn Huskies in the second half at XL Center. UConn defeated Tennessee 60-45. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tennessee Lady Vols beat the Hoosiers. Here are our takeaways from the women’s basketball Volunteers’ road win.

What a huge step for the Tennessee Lady Vols! After developing a reputation with only one win last year against top 50 teams in any sort of computerized ranking, Kellie Harper’s team scored what may have been its biggest win of her tenure on Rocky Top Thursday afternoon despite no Keyen Green, who is out for the year, and Jaiden McCoy, who is day to day.

In an added game after both teams had scheduled matchups with other opponents postponed last weekend, UT shocked the No. 15 ranked Indiana Hoosiers 66-58 on the road in Bloomington, Ind. at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Indiana’s only lead was when it hit a bucket early to go up 2-0. Rocky Top then went on a 6-2 run and never trailed the rest of the way.

Indiana fell to 2-2 on the year with the loss, and the Tennessee Lady Vols improved to 4-1. Up next for them is a home game against the Jackson State Tigers Sunday. These are the three things we learned from UT’s huge victory over a Big Ten school.

1. Rennia Davis finally returned to form.

After struggling to find her offensive rhythm through the first four games, Rennia Davis took over this one. She was clearly just waiting for the big moment. The senior forward had another double-double with a team-leading 19 points and 15 rebounds. She also had two assists, two steals and came away with a blocked shot.

However, her clutch play was the story. Indiana cut it to 54-53 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter despite trailing by 14 at one point. Davis then took over and scored eight of the team’s final 12 points. Rae Burrell still did her part with 18 points in the game, but Davis this is the Davis we have all been waiting to see.

2. Defense and rebounding in general was the story.

Harper continues to build this program in Pat Summitt’s image, and the way the Tennessee Lady Vols played on Thursday made that clear. On the glass, Rennia Davis wasn’t the only one who dominated. Three centers played in Tamari Key, Kasiyahna Kushkituah and Emily Saunders. Kushkituah had eight rebounds off the bench.

Altogether, UT outrebounded Indiana 51-38 and had nine offensive rebounds. Defensively, they held the Hoosiers to 2-of-27 from beyond the arc, which is why they were 22-of-69 overall. Indiana only had 11 turnovers, but every shot was contested, and that made a huge difference.

3. Last year’s five-stars belonged back in the lineup.

A noticeable change in this game was Kellie Harper putting Jordan Horston and Key back in the starting lineup. Horston was the top combo guard a year ago, Key was the top center, and both started most of the year and were billed as the future of the program. As a result, it was odd when Harper relegated them to the bench early this year.

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Well, as a starter, Horston exploded for 13 points, six assists, six rebounds, three steals and even a block. Sure, she still had three turnovers, but that’s much better than how she was a year ago on that front. Key wasn’t as effective, getting into foul trouble and eventually fouling out, but her presence helped Davis explode. As a result, this should be the Tennessee Lady Vols’ lineup.