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Tennessee Lady Vols lose heartbreaker to Georgia: Three takeaways

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee center Kasiyahna Kushkituah (11) and Georgia center Jenna Staiti (14) try to get the rebound during a basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and the Georgia Bulldogs at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday, January 14, 2021.Kns Ladyvols Georgia Hoops Bp
Tennessee center Kasiyahna Kushkituah (11) and Georgia center Jenna Staiti (14) try to get the rebound during a basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and the Georgia Bulldogs at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday, January 14, 2021.Kns Ladyvols Georgia Hoops Bp /
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The Lady Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Lady Vols. Here’s an analysis of the women’s basketball Volunteers’ heartbreaker.

Two failed offensive possessions in the final 12 seconds and a horrendous third quarter cost the Tennessee Lady Vols Thursday night. Kellie Harper’s team blew a 17-point ahead second half lead in its first game all year as a ranked team, falling 67-66 at home to the Georgia Lady Bulldogs.

Despite being up 40-25 at halftime, UT was outscored by UGA 29-9 in the third quarter. Still, the Lady Vols got a break when two missed Georgia free throws and a turnover gave them the ball down by one with 12 seconds to go. However, two straight turnovers prevented them from scoring, and Georgia pulled away.

Ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll, UT fell to 8-2 on the year and 2-1 in the SEC. They will next visit the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday, Jan. 17. Joni Taylor’s team improved to 11-1 on the year and 3-1 in the SEC and will next host the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday, Jan. 17. Here are three takeaways from the Tennessee Lady Vols’ loss.

1. Turnover issues from last year returned.

Rocky Top looked like it was back in its first season under Harper. The team committed 24 turnovers, largely thanks to Jordan Horston looking like a freshman again with six. Horston had one of the final two turnovers. That offset a solid 11 points, four assists and four steals by her. She wasn’t alone. Marta Suarez and Rae Burrell each had four, and Rennia Davis had three.

This team had 20 turnovers through three quarters, and lots of them were in that disastrous third quarter. Kasiyahna Kushkituah had the key turnover, one of her two, at the end with the chance to win the game just before Horston’s turnover. Both were at fault. Jordan Walker had two as well, and Destiny Salary had one. UT forced 17 turnovers, but their 24 were just too many.

2. Three-point shooting proved to be a difference.

Now, if the Tennessee Lady Vols took care of the ball, this wouldn’t have been an issue. Sometimes, teams just have off-nights or on-nights shooting. In this case, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs were the team that did well from beyond the arc, shooting 7-of-19, or 36.8 percent, from the three-point line.

Meanwhile, UT shot 3-of-14, or 21.4 percent from outside. If they just make one more three, or if Georgia just misses one more three, this game goes a different way. Burrell largely just had an off-night, as she only had seven points thanks to going 1-for-5 from downtown. That told the story.

3. Tamari Key was one bright spot leading an inside attack.

If she continues to play like this, Tamari Key could become a star. Key was the one player who didn’t turn the ball over, and she came away with 14 points. However, her defense stood out, as she also had an amazing four blocks and two steals. Key’s play alone allowed UT to dominate inside in general, outrebounding the Lady Bulldogs 38-29.

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There’s no denying that the inside play was a bright spot for the Tennessee Lady Vols, and it all went through Key. Even Davis, with 15 points and a block, benefitted from Key’s presence. The same held true for Kushkituah off the bench, who did have seven points, seven rebounds and three assists despite her turnovers.