KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a strong performance on Thursday night, the No. 15 ranked Tennessee Lady Vols dominated Auburn to secure a decisive 99-61 victory. Jewel Spear led the way for Tennessee with 17 points, while Ruby Whitehorn contributed 15 points in a well-rounded team effort.
Other key contributors included Zee Spearman, who added 14 points, Kaniya Boyd with 11, and Talaysi Cooper, who chipped in 10 points for the Lady Vols, pushing their season record to 18-6 overall and 5-6 in Southeastern Conference play. Tennessee displayed impressive shooting, finishing the game with a 56% success rate, including a remarkable 14 out of 28 from beyond the arc. Spear was particularly effective, hitting five three-pointers, with three occurring during a critical 17-0 run late in the fourth quarter.
For the Tigers, Deyona Gatson had a standout performance, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. However, Auburn struggled with their shooting, converting only 2 of 8 attempts from three-point range and finishing with an overall shooting percentage of 43%. Yuting Deng also contributed 13 points, but Auburn’s 21 turnovers proved costly, leading to 22 points for Tennessee. The Tigers shot 11 of 20 from the free-throw line, hindering their chances.
Auburn began the game strong, shooting 53% in the first quarter and trailing closely at 22-20, with Deng scoring 10 points. Tennessee ended the first quarter strong with five quick points from Whitehorn. The Lady Vols took control early in the second, scoring the first six points to establish a 28-20 lead on a jumper by Whitehorn.
In the second quarter, Tennessee intensified their attack, hitting 3 of 5 three-point attempts and completing 11 of 15 shots, which led to a significant 28-14 advantage in the quarter, giving them a 50-34 lead at halftime. In contrast, Auburn managed only 4 of 11 shooting in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Auburn failed to narrow the gap beyond 11 points, wrapping up the period at 71-52. The Lady Vols will face Ole Miss at home on Sunday, while Auburn will host Vanderbilt.
