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Three takeaways from Tennessee Lady Vols’ failed comeback bid vs. LSU

By Caleb Calhoun

Feb 27, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Lady Vols center Tamari Key (20) grabs a rebound over LSU Lady Tigers center Faustine Aifuwa (24) during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Lady Vols center Tamari Key (20) grabs a rebound over LSU Lady Tigers center Faustine Aifuwa (24) during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Khayla Pointer intercepted an in-bounds pass from Sara Puckett with seconds to go and was able to dribble out the clock, securing a 57-54 victory for the LSU Tigers at the Tennessee Lady Vols Sunday. On Senior Day and in their final regular season game, UT fought back from an 18-point deficit but couldn’t close the deal.

Ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll and No. 14 in the Coaches Poll during the game, Kellie Harper’s team suffered its first home SEC loss all season. The end result was LSU, who entered the game ranked No. 8 in both polls, taking the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament away from them.

Still, the Tennessee Lady Vols, who fell to 22-7 and 11-5 in SEC play, kept a double-bye with the No. 3 seed and will first play Friday night in the event. LSU improves to 25-4 and 13-3 in SEC play. Here are three things we learned from the Tennessee Lady Vols’ loss.

1. Poor shooting came at the worst time.

When you’re playing an elite team like LSU and you’re missing your most explosive player, you can’t afford to be off when shooting the ball. Unfortunately for Harper’s team, they were off. UT shot 21-of-67 from the field and an abysmal 2-of-11 from the three-point line.

Even worse, they were 10-of-17 from the free throw line. Puckett and Tess Darby combined to go 0-of-4 from three. Jordan Walker went 2-of-4 from the stripe, and Tamari Key went 4-of-8 from there. These little things made the difference in what became a close encounter.

2. Defense and effort in the paint made this a game.

It should be impossible for the Tennessee Lady Vols to nearly come back from 18 down without Jordan Horston when they’re shooting as bad as they did Sunday. However, they did it with defense and effort down low. UT forced 19 turnovers. Key had three blocks, and Brooklynn Miles had two steals off the bench.

Although they were outrebounded 47-42, they outscored LSU in the paint 36-24. Key’s efforts showed with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Alexus Dye had 10 points and seven rebonds. Rae Burrell continues to struggle shooting the ball but still had 11 points. This type of fight is to be commended given what Rocky Top is dealing with.

3. Turnovers fittingly proved costly.

Honestly, they actually weren’t that bad at taking care of the ball for long periods of the game, as they only had 15 turnovers, which is nowhere near their worst play. However, those turnovers did cost them in the end, and it’s an issue that’s plagued them all year.

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LSU may have won the turnover battle, but the Tennessee Lady Vols committed them when it mattered most. Burrell was open for a potential game-tying three on that final in-bound play, but Puckett forced it elsewhere, resulting in the steal. Things like this have happened all year, and that’s why they lost their final regular season game.