Postgame Notes: #4/4 UT 97, Penn 52

Nov. 14, 2014

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Number of Interest

Here are a few numbers of interest:

» Three freshmen scored in double digits in their Lady Vol debut for the first time since 1985 against East Carolina.

» The Lady Vols had a program best four players record double-doubles, Nia Moore, Bashaara Graves, Isabelle Harrison and Alexa Middleton.

» All eight Lady Vols who played earned at least one rebound with Moore leading the group with 14.

» Alexa Middleton is just the 18th freshman to start her first game as a Lady Vol.

» A new career high in points for Moore.

POSTGAME NOTES

THE SERIES

This marked the initial meeting between Tennessee and Penn.
The Lady Vols faced an Ivy League team for only the second time, the first time having put their #1/1 ranking on the line in a 107-39 triumph over Princeton in Knoxville on Dec. 20, 2005.
With the win, Tennessee is 2-0 against Ivy League schools.

SEASON OPENER

The Lady Vols are now 2-1 in season openers since Holly Warlick took over the program.
This marked UT's first opener at home during the Holly Warlick era, as the Lady Vols won last season at Middle Tennessee and dropped a game at Chattanooga two years ago.
It was the first time Tennessee has opened at home since Pepperdine came to town on Nov. 13, 2011.
The Lady Vols are now 37-4 in season openers over the past 41 seasons.
UT has now won 10 season openers in a row at home dating back to a 69-64 setback to #6 Louisiana Tech on Nov. 14, 1999.
The win by 45 points was the most in a season-opener since a 50-point win over Stetson (83-33) to open the 2005-06 season.
The 97 points were the most in an opener since a 102-72 win over Chattanooga to begin the 2006-07 season.

FOR STARTERS

Today's starters: Jordan Reynolds, Nia Moore, Jasmine Jones, Bashaara Graves and Alexa Middleton.
This was Moore's second career start.
Baashara Graves made the first points for the Lady Vols with a lay-up.

18TH LADY VOL ROOKIE TO START

With her start against the Quakers, Alexa Middleton became just the 18th freshman to start her first game as a Lady Vol.
Andraya Carter was the last rookie to draw a starting nod, reporting for the opening tip at Chattanooga.

OFF THE BENCH

With just eight bodies to play, freshman Jaime Nared was the first Lady Vol off the bench, in for Jasmine Jones.
Kortney Dunbar was the next Lady Vol in taking over for Jasmine Jones.
Isabelle Harrison came in for Nia Moore.
Despite a short bench, the Lady Vol reserves outscored Penn's by a score of 37-13.

IZZY'S BACK

Isabelle Harrison checked in for the first time this season after four minutes in the first half. Harrison didn't play in the exhibition game.
Harrison earned her first score with a lay-up at 15:16 left in the first half.
Harrison was the first to the line and was 4-5 in the game.
She earned her 25th career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

ROOKIE PRODUCTION

This is the second time that Tennessee has had three freshmen score in double figures in their Lady Vol debut. It last happened in 1985 against East Carolina when Sheila Frost (16), Bridgette Gordon (13) and Melissa McCray (10) accomplished that feat.
Alexa Middleton dished out 11 assists, the highest assist total from a Lady Vol in her freshman debut.
Middleton scored the most points (20) in a freshman debut since Meighan Simmons (22) in 2010. She is only the fifth UT freshman to score 20-plus points in her debut.
Kortney Dunbar added 15 points and earned nine of her points with three-point shots.
Jaime Nared scored 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

MORE FOR MOORE

Moore scored a career high 24 points, which was 12 more than her previous high of 12, which she scored against Ole Miss on Feb. 10, 2013. It was just the fifth time that Moore has scored in double figures.
She earned a career high four blocks, breaking her high of three which she had against Tenn. State on Dec. 17, 2013.
She also earned a career high in rebounds with 14, breaking her previous record of 13 which she had against Troy on Dec. 14, 2013. She recorded her second career double-double.

HITTING DOUBLE-DOUBLES AND DOUBLE FIGURES

Four different Lady Vols earned a double-double: Graves, Moore, Middleton and Harrison. It is the first time in Lady Vol history to occur.
The Lady Vols had six players in double figures: Nia Moore (24), Alexa Middleton (20), Bashaara Graves (16), Kortney Dunbar (15), Isabelle Harrison (10) and Jaime Nared (10).
Graves was the first Lady Vol to hit double figures, the 45th time in her career with at least 10 points. She also earned her 14th career double-double with 10 rebounds.
Moore earned her second career double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Middleton earned her first one with 20 points and 11 assists.
Harrison earned her double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

REBOUNDS FOR ALL

Reynolds earned a career high eight rebounds beating out her prior high of six against Lipscomb on Dec. 29, 2013. She also tied her career high of three steals.
All eight Lady Vols earned at least one rebound. Moore (14) led the group followed closely by Graves and Harrison with 10 apiece.

AT THE HALF

Tennessee led 47-25 at the halfway point.
UT ended the first half on a 30-5 run.
The Lady Vols were 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the first half.
UT shot 43.6 percent (17-39) compared to Penn's 33.3 percent (11-33) in the first 20 minutes of action.
Graves led all scorers in the game with 12 points in the first 20 minutes. Moore added 10 for the Lady Vols.

UP NEXT

Tennessee returns to action Monday night against Oral Roberts. The Lady Vols will play their next three games at home including a contest against Winthrop on Nov. 21 and against Tennessee State on Nov. 24, all at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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