In a battle that left fans on the edge of their seats, the Tennessee Lady Vols defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores with a score of 86-61. The Commodores fought hard but couldn’t quite catch up, leaving the game with a bitter taste of defeat. Coach Shea Ralph observed, “If you look at the stat sheet, we were pretty competitive in most areas except for our shooting percentage… There were some things outside of our control that didn’t go our way today.”

Leading the game in scoring was Iyana Moore with an impressive 25 points. Sacha Washington contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Jordyn Cambridge added 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.

From the very start, Tennessee showcased their speed and composure, effortlessly maneuvering the ball and scoring two three-pointers and two layups within their first five possessions. However, the Commodores answered with a mid-range jump shot from Cambridge, a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from Moore, and a layup from Washington, keeping the game within reach at a 10-7 deficit early in the first quarter.

The Lady Vols gained momentum when Rickea Jackson, their leading scorer, sank a three-pointer, starting a 12-0 run that extended their lead to 20-7. Finally, Jordan Oliver’s layup put the Commodores on the scoreboard after more than three minutes of being scoreless. Despite trading blows for a few minutes, Tennessee finished the first quarter with a commanding lead of 30-15.

The second quarter mirrored the first, with Tamari Key’s layup for Tennessee matched by Moore’s mid-range shot. Halfway through the quarter, Cambridge snatched a defensive rebound, drove in transition, and found Iyana open on the left wing for a three-pointer. The crowd erupted, and the Commodores found hope amid the chaos.

Vanderbilt managed to force two consecutive turnovers with a block from Aiyana Mitchell on the 6’6″ Tamari Key. However, their attempts at a comeback faltered as they went scoreless for the last three and a half minutes of the first half, including two near-missed three-pointers from Cambridge and Moore.

Vanderbilt entered halftime trailing 44-29. The Commodores struggled with shooting, making only 33% from the field, 25% from three-point range, and 71% from the free-throw line. In contrast, Tennessee boasted impressive shooting percentages of 59%, 54%, and 100% for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws, respectively.

The second half began with a burst of energy from Vanderbilt, where Washington and Moore quickly scored consecutive layups, followed by an and-one opportunity for Washington. However, they couldn’t convert the free throw. Despite the efforts of Washington and Moore, who scored all of Vanderbilt’s first 14 points in the half, they were no match for Jackson. She dominated the third quarter, scoring 10 points by herself and ending the game with an impressive 24 points.

“She’s a great player,” Ralph acknowledged. “She plays with a lot of confidence and a lot of swag… Great players take advantage of your mistakes.” Jackson’s exceptional performance kept the Lady Vols comfortably in the lead at 66-48 going into the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, the final quarter showcased Vanderbilt’s inability to score consistently and their struggles with defense. Even when they managed to stop Tennessee’s offense, they couldn’t capitalize on it. The Commodores could never find their rhythm, and as time ticked away, defeat loomed over them. The two-game winning streak had come to an end.

Vanderbilt’s next game will be against Arkansas on the road on Sunday, February 25. With only one home game left in the season against Georgia on Sunday, March 3, the Commodores will strive to bounce back and finish strong.

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