Postgame Notes: Tennessee 71, Kentucky 70

March 9, 2014

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THE SERIES & THE WIN

Sunday' game marked the 60th all-time meeting between the two programs.

With the win, Tennessee moves to 50-10 in the all-time series against Kentucky, and 1-1 against the Wildcats this season. 

In the SEC Tournament, UT is 6-1 against UK, with the only loss coming back on Feb. 28, 1982 (80-74) in the tourney title game in Lexington, Ky. 

Sunday's game marks the fourth time the teams have met for the SEC postseason title, with UT holding a 3-1 record in those games.

GRIND FOR 9

Tennessee has finished second in SEC regular season nine times and on all nine occasions has bounced back to win the SEC Tournament championship. 

Tennessee won its league-leading 17th SEC Championship trophy. The Lady Vols were victorious in 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  

The Big Orange women have won four of the past five, and seven of the last 10 tournament crowns.

DEJA VU

In 2010, No. 1 seed UT won the SEC Tournament at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, defeating No. 2 Kentucky, 70-62. 

Sunday's game marks the fourth time the teams have met for the SEC postseason title, with UT holding a 3-1 record in those games.

TOURNAMENT TIME FOR TENNESSEE

Tennessee now has a 73-18 all-time record in the SEC Tournament.

When playing in the championship game, UT 17-5.

Tennessee is 8-2 all-time in games played at Gwinnett Center.

FOR STARTERS

Today's starters: juniorCierra Burdick, sophomoreBashaara Graves, juniorIsabelle Harrison, redshirt freshman Andraya Carterand seniorMeighan Simmons.

It was the 13th-straight game Tennessee has utilized the lineup, and the Lady Vols are now 12-1 with the quintet.

Tennessee won the tip for the 29th time this season.

Burdick scored the Lady Vols' first basket with a jumper. It's the third time this season that the junior has scored UT's first points.

Mercedes Russell was first off the bench for Tennessee, the ninth time this season the freshman has been called upon first.

Junior point guardAriel Massengalewas on the bench. She suffered a facial injury during that game and missed Texas A&M (Jan. 26), Arkansas (Jan. 30), Alabama (Feb. 2), Ole Miss (Feb. 6) and Vanderbilt (Feb. 10). She was on the bench, but did not play against Kentucky (Feb. 16), Auburn (Feb. 20), South Carolina (March 2), LSU (SEC Tournament - March 7) and Texas A&M (SEC Tournament - March 8). She also missed at the Missouri (Feb. 23) and LSU (Feb. 27) away games.

ALL-TOURNAMENT / MVP

Isabelle Harrison averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds in three games at the Tournament. Entering the championship game, she averaged 20.5 points (fourth among tournament players) and 12.5 rebounds (first among tournament players) per game. 

Tennessee has had 15 SEC Tournament MVPs through the years, with a Lady Vol winning four of the last five awards.

SIMMONS JOINS ELITE CLUB

With senior Meighan Simmons' 17 points, she becomes just the fifth Lady Vol in program history to score 2,000 or more points during her UT career.

The 2,000-point club includes Chamique Holdsclaw (3,025), Bridgette Gordon (2,462), Candace Parker (2,137) and Tamika Catchings (2,113).

FIVE MINUTES LEFT

At the five minute mark, UT trailed, marking just the fifth time this season Tennessee has been behind with five minutes left to play.

When the Lady Vols are trailing with five minutes left, UT is 1-4.

COMEBACK KIDS

Tennessee trailed in all three games of the SEC Tournament, coming back for victories in all three contests.  

Tennessee trailed by as many as 10 points, 18-8, with 13:57 left in the first half.

UT took back the lead, 52-51, with 8:35 left in the game thanks to two free throws from Harrison.

It is the sixth come-from-behind win for Tennessee this year. UT trailed by: 15 at Alabama; 15 vs. LSU (SEC Tournament); 14 at MTSU; 10 to Virginia; 10 to Texas A&M; 8 to Arkansas. 

BURDICK BIG ON THE BOARDS

Cierra Burdick led the team with 10 boards, marking her fourth straight game with double digit boards and fifth in the last six contests.  

REYNOLDS SHINES IN WIN

Tennessee freshman Jordan Reynolds played an instrumental role in the win over Kentucky.

Reynolds had a career-high 11 points, 4-of-6 from the field and 3-for-3 in free throws.

PAINTING THE TOWN ORANGE

Tennessee has outscored its opponents in the paint, 138-84, in the last three games, including 50-34 vs. Texas A&M and 52-18 vs. LSU.  

UT outscored UK, 36-32, in points in the paint.

DOUBLE-DIGIT HARRISON

With Isabelle Harrison's 16 points, she recorded her 29th game (of 32) this season, and 48th of her career scoring in double digits.

TENNESSEE DEFENSE

Entering the championship game, Tennessee had a +20 rebound margin, outworking their opponents 48.0 to 28.0 on the glass.

UT outrebounded UK, 39-34, with Cierra Burdick leading the way with 10 boards.

HITTING DOUBLE FIGURES

The Lady Vols had three players in double figures: Isabelle Harrison (16), Meighan Simmons (17), Jordan Reynolds (11).

Tennessee has had three or more players score in double digits in 31 of its 32 games.

AT THE HALF

Kentucky led Tennessee, 38-32. 

Simmons led the Lady Vols with eight points.

The Big Orange outrebounded UK, 19-17, with Burdick leading all players in the game with five boards.

The Wildcats were outscoring UT in points in the paint, 22-14.

Kentucky shot 53.1 percent (17-32) compared to Tennessee's 44.4 percent (16-36) in the opening half.

UP NEXT

Tennessee will await its seed in the NCAA Tournament when Selection Show Monday takes place on March 17.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Cierra Burdick

Andraya Carter

Bashaara Graves

Isabelle Harrison

Ariel Massengale

Meighan Simmons

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