University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
3-0
ETSU
1-1
Lady Vols Down ETSU on the Road, 83-58
November 15, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Highlights | Box Score | Warlick Presser | DeShields & Reynolds Presser
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Redshirt junior Diamond DeShields dropped 28 points in No. 13/14 Tennessee's 83-58 win on the road against ETSU at the ETSU/MHSA Athletic Center.
Playing in front of the most fans to ever watch a ETSU women's basketball game at home (6,072), the Lady Vols' offensive dominance was on display again Tuesday night, as UT scored 80-plus points for the third-consecutive game.
Led by DeShields' 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, Tennessee (3-0) extended its winning-streak over the Buccaneers (1-1) to 18 games. The Lady Vols currently hold a 20-2-1 advantage in the series.
Senior Jordan Reynolds put together an all-around performance, totaling 10 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists on the night.
Tennessee's presence was felt down low in the paint, where the team scored 50 points. Redshirt junior Mercedes Russell finished with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and three rebounds.
Micah Norris and Tianna Tarter led the Bucs. Norris finished with 13 points and four rebounds, while Tarter accounted for 12 points, six assists and four rebounds.
ETSU jumped out to an early 14-10 lead halfway through first quarter, but three-consecutive 3-pointers by DeShields, who had 11 points in the period, fueled an 18-2 run to end the stanza.
The Lady Vols continued to find success on both ends of the floor in the second quarter, ending with a 12-3 run against the Buccaneers to take a 46-27 lead into halftime. DeShields dominated the half, going 8-of-12 from the field for 20 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
Tennessee built upon its lead in the third quarter, taking a 24-point advantage into the final period. Russell chipped in five points and two rebounds in the quarter.
UT's lead was insurmountable for the Buccaneers in the final period, as Tennessee cruised to its third win of the season, beating ETSU, 83-58, on the road.
The Lady Vols will travel to University Park, Pa., on Sunday to face Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
DeShields Feeling it From the Field
- Diamond DeShields was on fire Tuesday night, dropping 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor to go along with 10 rebounds, six assists and a block.
- It was her first double-double of the season, third as a Lady Vol and the fourth of her career.
- DeShields dominated the first half of play, scoring 20 points on 67 percent (8-of-12) shooting and dropping three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Lady Vols a 19-14 lead in the first quarter that would never be surrendered.
- The performance marked the 25th time in her career that she had scored 20-plus points in a game.
- This wasn't the first time DeShields had found success against the Bucs. Last year, she dropped a season-high 31 points to go along with eight rebounds, a career-high seven steals and five assists.
Limiting the Bucs' Scoring Threat
- ETSU's guards Tianna Tarter (24) and Shamauria Bridges (23) combined to score 47 points in their first game this season against Butler.
- The Lady Vols held them to a combined 18 points on 6-of-26 shooting on the night and just 2-of-13 from behind the arc. Tarter finished with 12 points, and Bridges managed just six points.
- Last season, Tarter averaged 17.0 points per game and Bridges averaged 15.2.
Offensive Hot Streak Continues
- UT's 28 first-quarter points ties for third-most points in a quarter by the Lady Vols in school history (quarters were instituted prior to the 2015-16 season). Tennessee had 28 in the second quarter versus James Madison earlier this season and had 28 in the season opener against Central Arkansas last season.
- In all three games this season, the Lady Vols have scored 80-plus points. Last season, UT only reached the 80-point margin four times.
- The Lady Vols last surpassed 80 points in three consecutive games during the 2014-15 season, hitting 91 vs. Oral Roberts (11/17), 81 vs. Winthrop on (11/21) and 97 vs. Tennessee State on (11/24).
