KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, Ruby Whitehorn led the charge for the No. 15 Tennessee women’s basketball team, scoring 20 points as they triumphed over Mississippi State with a score of 86-73.
Tennessee’s offensive effort was supported by Talaysia Cooper, who achieved a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Samara Spencer and Jewel Spear also made significant contributions, each hitting four three-pointers and finishing with 18 and 13 points, respectively.
On the other side of the court, Jerkaila Jordan was a standout for Mississippi State, scoring 17 points. Debreasha Powe added 16 points, while both Destiney McPhaul and Madina Okot contributed with 11 points and 11 rebounds, respectively.
Despite Tennessee scoring 10 points below their impressive national average, they still outperformed Mississippi State’s defensive statistics by a solid margin, scoring 23 points more than what the Bulldogs usually allow.
The game was characterized by shooting opportunities, with Tennessee taking 14 more shots than Mississippi State. The Lady Vols converted 12 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc, while the Bulldogs managed to sink 8 of 23. Furthermore, Tennessee’s defense capitalized on 20 turnovers from MSU, converting these into 30 valuable points.
During the first half, Whitehorn excelled, going 6 for 8 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and accumulating 14 points. The half concluded with Tennessee leading 43-34, bolstered by five three-pointers in the second quarter, three of which came in the final minute—two from Spencer and one from Spencer off a steal by Cooper as time ran out.
Entering the fourth quarter, Tennessee held a 64-56 lead. Cooper quickly made two baskets, and Spencer added a three-pointer, extending the lead to 71-56. Although Powe’s three-pointer brought Mississippi State closer at 78-71 with three minutes remaining, Spear responded with a crucial three-point shot, sealing an 8-0 run for Tennessee and their victory.
Both teams are set to face their state rivals next Sunday, with Tennessee traveling to Vanderbilt and Mississippi State hosting Mississippi.
