University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
3-2
Virginia Tech
6-0
Lady Vols Fall to Virginia Tech, 67-63
November 27, 2016 | Women's Basketball
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BLACKSBURG, Va. -- No. 17/16 Tennessee nearly overcame a double-digit deficit to Virginia Tech in the fourth quarter, but the team fell, 67-63, on Sunday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (6-0) led by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Vols (3-2) cut the deficit to three with 1:17 remaining in the game on two free throws by Jaime Nared. Mercedes Russell recorded one of her three rejections with 55.6 seconds remaining, as she knocked it off Chanette Hicks to give the Lady Vols possession.
Diamond DeShields hit Russell on a screen-and-roll to cut the deficit to 62-61. However, the Hokies regained a three-point lead, as Hicks went into the lane and made a layup while being fouled. The sophomore guard missed the free throw, keeping the game at one possession with 29.9 seconds remaining.
Nared drove into the lane, but couldn't convert a layup amidst contact, and the Lady Vols were forced to foul. Hicks made two free throws to seal the game.
Russell finished with 17 points and season highs with 14 rebounds and three blocks. Nared recorded her second consecutive double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. DeShields finished a rebound shy of a double-double, collecting 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists . Jordan Reynolds finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Hicks led the Hokies with 24 points, five rebounds and eight steals. Regan Magarity finished with 16 points, and Sidney Cook scored 14 points and added 12 rebounds.
The Lady Vols opened up the game with a Nared layup, but the Hokies rattled off eight straight points on their way to taking an 18-10 lead after the first quarter.
Tennessee made a run during the second period, as Russell made her impact during a 13-3 Tennessee run. Russell had four points and two rebounds in the spurt. Meme Jackson hit a three pointer to bring the score to 25-24, and the Lady Vols retook the lead after DeShields stole the ball and passed ahead for a fastbreak layup by Nared.
The third quarter opened as a tight affair. Russell converted a three-point-play with 3:27 remaining in the frame to tie the game, but Virginia Tech scored seven consecutive points, six of those on layups by Magarity. Tech was able to push its lead to 11 by the end of the third.
After the Hokies scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter to push their lead to 13, the Lady Vols responded with a 9-0 run, with four of those coming from Reynolds to get UT back into the game. The Lady Vols, however, weren't able to close it out.
Tennessee will return to the court on Wednesday, as it takes on Tennessee State at 7 p.m. ET on SECN+/WatchESPN. The Lady Vols are 4-0 all-time against Tennessee State, with the last victory coming in 2014 as the #4 Lady Vols defeated the Tigers 97-46.
Double-Double Brigade
- Mercedes Russell recorded her fourth double-double in five games so far this season with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
- Russell recorded her 14th career double-double, which moves her into a tie for 21st place all-time on Tennessee's career double-double chart. She is tied with Shelia Collins (1981-85), Pashen Thompson (1993-97) and Vonda Ward (1991-95).
- Jaime Nared recorded her second consecutive double-double, as she finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. It is Nared's third career double-double and second of the year.
Block Party
- Russell recorded three blocks and is now ranked 10th on the school's all-time career blocks list with 112, passing Chamique Holdsclaw (111).
- The Lady Vols blocked six shots in the first half of the game vs. Virginia Tech, which was more than they had blocked in any of their previous four games in 2016. The team's season high was four in the win over James Madison.
- Tennessee finished with 10 blocks, led by three from Russell and two from DeShields and Reynolds.
- Jordan Reynolds finished with two blocks, tying a career high that she last set against Alabama on Jan. 31, 2016.
