The Lady Vols, now boasting an undefeated record of 9-0, showcased a balanced offensive attack, placing six players in double figures. Alongside Spearman’s performance, Talaysi Cooper also made a strong impact with 12 points, achieving a double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds. Cooper’s all-around game included six assists and four steals. Samara Spencer and Tess Darby each added 12 points, while Ruby Whitehorn chipped in with 10 points.
For Memphis, Tilly Boler emerged as the leading scorer with 23 points. Deede Hagemann, who recently transferred from Michigan State, made a noteworthy debut by scoring 19 points. Tanyuel Welch also contributed significantly, recording 16 points, along with eight rebounds and three steals.
Following their remarkable performance where they set an NCAA record with 30 three-pointers in a previous game, Tennessee struggled with their shooting from beyond the arc, making only 12 of 37 attempts, resulting in a 40% success rate. The Lady Vols found it challenging to establish control against Memphis, which held the lead for much of the first half.
In the closing moments of the first half, Spearman made two layups surrounding a three-pointer from Spear, allowing Tennessee to take a narrow 42-41 lead at halftime. Whitehorn then initiated the second half with a layup and helped propel a 7-0 run that extended to a 14-0 stretch, giving Tennessee a comfortable 49-41 advantage.
Tennessee continued to build momentum with an 8-0 run, featuring a three-pointer from Darby, to increase their lead to 60-47. However, the Lady Vols did not manage to maintain a double-digit lead until the latter part of the fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Lady Vols will participate in the West Palm Beach Classic, where they are set to face Richmond on Friday and Tulsa the following day. Meanwhile, Memphis will host Louisville on Saturday.