Lady Vols roll in conference opener
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Tennessee women’s basketball team’s strong start against Kentucky was more than enough to withstand a finish that wasn’t as smooth.
Evina Westbrook scored 17 points and Mercedes Russell added 16 as the No. 7 Lady Volunteers got going quickly against Kentucky and never trailed while rolling to a 63-49 victory Sunday in the Southeastern Conference opener for both schools.
Playing for the first time since beating then-No. 18 Stanford 10 days prior, the Lady Vols showed no rust while scoring the game’s first 10 points for a 26-7 lead after one quarter at Rupp Arena. The gap reached 23 points midway through the third as they remained unbeaten through 13 games while handing the Wildcats (8-7) their sixth consecutive loss.
Westbrook, a freshman guard, got Tennessee rolling with three of its five 3-pointers on eight attempts in the opening quarter for 11 points. The Lady Vols missed their final nine shots from long range, but Westbrook’s teammates contributed from inside the arc to lead comfortably.
“The shots were just open, so if they’re not going to guard us, we’re going to take shots,” said Westbrook, who finished 7-of-11 from the field.
The game was the first of three this season Kentucky’s women will play on the home floor of the storied men’s program.
“A different arena, definitely, but we warmed up good,” Westbrook said. “We had a really good practice (Saturday), and everyone just really focused.”
Russell shot 7-for-10 from the field, accuracy that offset a rough start by Jaime Nared. The Lady Vols’ leading scorer this season, Nared missed her first eight attempts before going 2-for-3 in the fourth to finish with 11 points. She also had 10 rebounds. Rennia Davis, another freshman, added 11 rebounds and 9 points.
Tennessee controlled the rebuilding Wildcats in nearly every category, from rebounding (where the Lady Vols had a 50-31 advantage) to inside points (3024). The only downsides were 40 percent shooting and 21 turnovers, though Kentucky converted them into just eight points.
The Lady Vols were also outscored 29-27 in the second half, but coach Holly Warlick wasn’t complaining.
“I didn’t think we let up,” she said. “Did we miss some easy shots? Yeah, we did. But I just love our energy and effort and how we’re playing well together. We’re not going to play a perfect game. …. Our goal was to be 1-0 today in the SEC, and that’s what we are.”
Maci Morris had 18 points for the Wildcats, who started 3-for-15 from the field and shot just 30 percent, the second time in three games they’ve been that bad or worse. Their lone bright spot was forcing a seasonhigh 21 turnovers, but they failed to convert offensively.
Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell chalked up the overall effort to a lack of confidence.
“There is some doubt in our minds, and we’ve got to battle through that,” he said. “The only way you get confidence is through achievement, and against Tennessee, they’re really talented and you can’t make those mistakes.”
Tennessee hosts Auburn on Thursday and Vanderbilt next Sunday.