Postgame Notes: No. 9 Tennessee 83, Vanderbilt 75

Jan. 24, 2013

TENNESSEE TIDBITS

 With the win over Vanderbilt, the Lady Vols improve to 7-0 in the SEC and 16-3 overall.
 Tennessee is remaining unbeaten team in the SEC.
 The Lady Vols extend their lead in the series to 61-8 over the Lady Commodores, and 24-6 when playing on the road against VU.
 The Lady Vols snapped an eight-game home win streak the Commodores held entering tonight's game.
 The Lady Vols led the whole game
 Today's attendance was 10,154.

FOR STARTERS

 Today's starters: freshman Bashaara Graves, senior Taber Spani, sophomore Isabelle Harrison, sophomore Ariel Massengale and junior Meighan Simmons.
 Simmons is the only Lady Vol to start every game this season.
 Harrison drained Tennessee's first bucket for the fifth time this year as she swished a jump shot to start the game.
 Senior Kamiko Williams and freshman Jasmine Jones were the first off the bench for Tennessee.

SPREADING THE OFFENSE

 Taber Spani led the scoring effort with 24 points.
 Two other Lady Vols hit the double digit mark, Meighan Simmons also scored 20+ points with 23,while Bashaara Graves put up 16 points on the night.
 It was Simmons' sixth game this season with 20 or more points and Spani's first of the season.
 It also marked the second time this season that Spani led the Lady Vols in scoring.
 Tennessee dished out 14 assists, with Ariel Massengale leading the way with six helpers.

SPANI SEES DOUBLE

 With senior Taber Spani's 24 points against the Lady Commodores, she has now scored in double figures in six of the last seven games (Vanderbilt, 24; Alabama, 14; Auburn, 12; Missouri, 11; Georgia, 11; South Carolina, 18).
 It was her first 20-point game this season and fourth of her career.
 Spani has scored in double figures in nine games this season.

RAINING THREES

 With her three 3-pointers tonight, junior guard Meighan Simmons hit two or more three-pointers for the fifth time in the last six games.
 It was her 11th time this season with two or more treys.
 Senior Taber Spani was also 3-for-5 on the night hitting two or more threes for the fourth time this season.
 The Lady Vols ended the game with six threes after making only one against Alabama.

SIMMONS SHINES IN THE RECORD BOOKS

 With her 23 points, Simmons moved past Abby Conklin into 28th (1,232 pts) on the all-time scoring leaders list.

PERFECT FROM THE LINE

 Meighan Simmons, Ariel Massengale and Taber Spani were perfect from the line in tonight's game with Simmons and Massengale going 6-for-6, while Spani was 5-for-5.
 Spani has not missed a free throw since Nov. 18.
 Down the stretch, the Lady Vols were perfect from the line inside two minutes with Massangale and Spani going 4-for-4, while Simmons was 2-for-2.

SUMMITT IN THE HOUSE

 Head coach emeritus Pat Summitt made only her second road appearance this season at Vanderbilt. She was also in attendance at Chattanooga in the season opener.
 Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam was also in attendance, sitting next to Summitt.

AT THE HALF

 At the half, UT led 41-29 over the Lady Commodores, the 13th time this season the Lady Vols have been ahead at the halfway mark.
 Spani led the squad with 15 points at the half, while Simmons added 10.
 Harrison grabbed a team-best six rebounds in the first 20 minutes of action.
 UT outrebounded VU 30-23, while also outscoring the Lady Commodores in the paint 16-12.
 UT shot 44.7 from the field while VU was 25.6 in the first half.
 Spani was 3-4 in threes and Simmons was 2-3 as the Lady Vols shot 62.5 percent in 3FG in the first 20 minutes of play.
 The Lady Vols gave up seven turnovers while forcing four.
 Simmons dished out three of UT's seven assists in the first half.

UP NEXT

 Tennessee returns to Rocky Top as the Lady Vols face No. 2 Notre Dame on Big Monday, Jan. 28. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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