Horston has 20 in victory

The University of Tennessee women’s basketball team returned to the win column in wire-to-wire fashion Thursday night, with the Lady Volunteers putting back-to-back losses behind them in a 65-51 Southeastern Conference victory over Ole Miss at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee senior Jordan Horston had another strong all-around performance with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks, and the combination of strong defense and a fourth-quarter surge allowed the Lady Vols (17-8, 9-1) to steer clear of what would have been the program’s first three-game skid since dropping six in a row three years ago in Kellie Harper’s first season as coach. The Lady Vols lost 84-76 to No. 5 Connecticut on Jan. 26, then lost 76-68 at No. 3 LSU on Monday. Tennessee had seven-point leads after each of the first two quarters against Ole Miss, 15-8 and 28-21, and was up 43-34 entering the fourth. The Lady Vols’ advantage grew to 13 points on Horston’s jumper at the 8:58 mark, but a seven-point swing in favor of the Rebels (18-5, 7-3) made it 47-41 with 7:01 left. And then a big play by Rickea Jackson with 5:40 on the clock got things moving in Tennessee’s direction again. Jackson made her lone steal of the game, drew a foul on the fast break and hit both free throws, the first two points of a 16-4 run that settled it. “I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy game,” Harper said. “It was going to be a battle, and we were going to have to work. It was good. … We did a lot of good things that I’m proud of.” Jackson, with 16 points, was the only other Tennessee scorer in double figures, but Jillian Hollingshead added nine points in 23 bench minutes and Jasmine Franklin had eight in 13. All three players had five rebounds apiece to help the Lady Vols finish with a 42-40 edge on the glass, with Jordan Walker grabbing eight for the team high in that category. She also had a game-high four steals and added four assists. Angel Baker had 14 points and Marquesha Davis 11 with 10 rebounds for Ole Miss. Tennessee returns to competition at 7 p.m. Eastern on Monday at Mississippi State (15-7, 4-5).

BASEBALL

› ATLANTA — Right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez and outfielder Kevin Pillar highlight 26 players with minor league contracts invited to spring training this month by the Atlanta Braves. The 39-yearold Chavez was effective as a long reliever out of the Atlanta bullpen the past two seasons, going 3-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 46 appearances over two stints with the team a year ago, and he re-signed with the Braves in the offseason, giving them another low-risk option in an already deep bullpen. The 34-year-old Pillar is looking to bounce back from a fractured shoulder that sidelined him for most of last season. He played in just four MLB games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 and spent time at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he batted .315 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs. Pillar, who would receive $3 million if he makes Atlanta’s roster, is looking to earn playing time in left field, where the other options include Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario, both coming off disappointing seasons. A dozen of Atlanta’s invitees have MLB experience, including four who have played for the Braves: Chavez, left-handed pitcher Danny Young and infielders Ehire Adrianza and Adeiny Hechavarría. The Braves also invited several of their top prospects to camp, led by left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to North Port, Florida, on Feb. 16, with the full squad due in camp by Feb. 21.

FOOTBALL

› Bobby Beathard, the architect of four Super Bowl-winning teams with two different organizations during his lengthy tenure in football, has died. He was 86. A spokesperson for the Washington Commanders said Beathard’s family told the team he died Monday at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, less than a week after his 86th birthday. Beathard was director of player personnel for two of the NFL championships by the Miami Dolphins in the 1970s and served as general manager for two more by Washington in the 1980s. He also scouted for Kansas City when the Chiefs won the American Football League title and made Super Bowl I to cap the 1966 season and was general manager with the San Diego Chargers when they got there in the mid-1990s. Beathard, who also scouted for the Atlanta Falcons, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.