COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a dominant performance during the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament, Tennessee, seeded fifth, overwhelmed 12th-seeded South Florida with a resounding 101-66 victory. Talaysia Cooper led the charge with 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Samara Spencer contributed 15 points. Zee Spearman and Jewel Spear added 13 and 11 points, respectively, bolstering Tennessee’s path forward.
Tennessee, now holding a 23-9 record, will face No. 4 seed Ohio State (26-6) in the next round. Coach Kim Caldwell praised her team’s cohesive effort, stating, “Our team is at our best when we are playing as a team.” This statement reflected the collective contribution, indicating that Tennessee is regaining momentum after a rough patch.
In an initially close contest, Tennessee held a narrow 26-25 lead at the end of the first quarter, a period defined by multiple ties and lead changes. However, they seized control in the second quarter by outscoring South Florida 29-9. Spearman and Cooper were instrumental during this period, with Spearman making all three of her attempts from beyond the arc.
Samara Spencer explained the shift in momentum, noting the increased pressure they applied defensively. “We just turned our pressure up,” she said. The tactics led to turnovers and capitalized on South Florida’s limited ball-handling capabilities. At their peak, Tennessee built a 35-point lead in the fourth quarter, showcasing efficient shooting with 50% field goal accuracy and hitting 43% of 3-point attempts. Eight different Tennessee players contributed by successfully making at least one 3-pointer.
South Florida’s standout performance came from Sammie Puisis, who scored 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while L’or Mputu added 12 points. Coach Jose Fernandez acknowledged Tennessee’s impressive shooting performance, particularly following a first quarter where South Florida had managed to keep the deficit to one point despite turning the ball over 10 times. By halftime, the turnover count had risen to 16, proving detrimental against a highly capable Tennessee offense.
The game marked Tennessee’s 164th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, in which they set school records for both made (16) and attempted 3-pointers (37) in a tournament game. This also brought their season total of made 3s to 328, a new Southeastern Conference single-season record.
South Florida’s journey to this point included their 10th NCAA berth, having recently won the American Athletic Conference tournament championship. However, Tennessee’s size, depth, and shooting prowess were too formidable for them to handle, leading to a decisive outcome.
An impressive defensive effort from Tennessee saw them force 24 turnovers, while managing to commit only six themselves. This resulted in a significant advantage in points from turnovers, with Tennessee outscoring South Florida 36-10 in this category.
For Kim Caldwell, in her first year as Tennessee’s coach, this win marks a significant milestone. Previously, she led Glenville State to the Division II national championship in 2022 and had a brief spell at Marshall last season. “I think it definitely means a lot for our players,” Caldwell said about the victory. Achieving this while breaking out of a recent slump made the win particularly meaningful.
Sunday’s matchup against Ohio State will offer Tennessee the opportunity to secure their 37th Sweet 16 berth, strengthening their storied history since the NCAA tournament began in 1982.