University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
4-4
Texas
3-4
Lady Vols' Comeback Falls Short vs. Texas, 72-67
December 11, 2016 | Women's Basketball
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Tennessee made a valiant rally after trailing by 15, but fell 72-67 against #17 Texas on Sunday afternoon at the Erwin Center.
Tennessee (4-4) trailed by 15 in the second quarter but made a run to bridge the last part of the second period and the first five minutes of the third quarter to take the lead. Texas was able to recapture the lead and withstood late three-pointers from Alexa Middleton and Diamond DeShields to hold on for the win.
Jaime Nared tallied a career-high 22 points to go with five rebounds and two blocks. DeShields chipped in 16 points to score in double figures for the seventh time in eight games this year.
Texas (3-4) started the game on a 9-0 run and led 22-12 after the first quarter. The Lady Vols were out-rebounded 17-9 in the opening frame, which helped the Longhorns score nine second-chance points.
The Longhorns pushed the lead to 15 in the second quarter, as Alecia Sutton made a jumper with 6:10 remaining to make the score 31-16. The Lady Vols ended the half on a 13-4 run, however, as Nared scored seven points in the spurt, including ending the half with a deep three-pointer to make the margin 37-32 at the break.
The Lady Vols continued that momentum early in the third quarter. DeShields scored six points, and the Lady Vols forced four turnovers, as they started the third on a 7-0 run. The Lady Vols held Texas scoreless for the first 5:43 of the second stanza and took their first lead on a DeShields jumper with 6:19 left in the third. The teams traded buckets through the rest of the period, and the Longhorns took a 48-46 lead into the final quarter.
Trailing by four, Nared drove the lane and made a layup, stole the inbounds pass and went back into the lane for another layup to tie the game at 52 with 7:37 left. Texas countered with four straight points, however, to retake a lead they wouldn't surrender for the remainder of the game. The Longhorns shot 53 percent from the field in the fourth quarter.
Texas had five players score in double figures, led by 13 from Brooke McCarty and 12 from Joyner Holmes, Lashann Higgs and Kelsey Lang. Lang also added eight rebounds and six blocks for the Longhorns.
The Lady Vols will return home to start a five-game homestand on Wednesday, as they take on Appalachian State at Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET and be broadcast online at SECN+/WatchESPN.
Nared's Night
- Jaime Nared scored a career-high 22 points, going 10-of-20 from the field and hitting two three-pointers.
- Nared's previous career high came on Dec. 3, 2014, against Saint Francis, when she scored 20 in the Lady Vols' victory.
- Nared made a career-high 10 field goals, with her previous best coming when she made eight against Penn State earlier this season.
- She also tied her season high with two blocks, both of which came in the first quarter.
