University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Winthrop
Sharpshooting Massengale Leads In 81-48 Win
November 21, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2014
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Ariel Massengale connected on her first five 3-point field goals of the game to set the tone as #4 Tennessee thumped Winthrop, 81-48, on Friday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. The senior connected on 6-of-10 3-point field goals in the game on the way to a game-high 20 points.
Tennessee (3-0) continued its torrid stretch to open the 2014-15 season, winning its first three games by a combined total of 130 points. That is the second largest margin of victory through the first three games in a season in Tennessee history. Only in 1989-90 did the Lady Vols win their first three games by a larger margin, a total of 140 points.
In its three wins to open the season, Tennessee has outscored its opponents by an average score of 89.7 - 46.3.
The Lady Vols have piled up 269 in the first three games, also among the most points ever scored the first three games of a season. That's the eighth-most through the first three games of a season in history.
Junior Bashaara Graves posted her third double-double in as many games with 15 points and 10 rebounds. It was Graves' 16th career double-double. Classmate Nia Moore scored in double-figures for the third game in a row with 14 points. Jaime Nared chipped in with 10 points, all in the second half.
In her season debut, Cierra Burdick corralled 10 rebounds, but did not score a point.
Winthrop (1-2) was led by Schaquilla Nunn (12 points and 15 rebounds) and Zoe Vernon (13 points and nine rebounds).
Massengale opened the game red-hot as she connected on five triples in a span of 2:27 seconds to put Tennessee ahead 21-7 with 13:45 left in the first half. Three of those 3-pointers came in a span of 70 seconds during a 17-0 run that gave the Lady Vols a 27-7 lead.
She did not score again in the first half, but Tennessee led 40-25 at halftime thanks to her 15 points. Graves added 11 points in the first half. The Lady Vols forced Winthrop into 13 first-half turnovers.
The second half was similar to the first as Tennessee outscored the Eagles, 41-23 behind a big half from Nared (10 points) and Moore (8 points).
Tennessee forced Winthrop into 34 turnovers and came away with 19 steals, six by Andraya Carter. The 34 turnovers were the most by an opponent since Alcorn State also had 34 miscues on Nov. 25, 2012.
Tennessee finishes its season-opening four-game homestand with a visit from Tennessee State on Monday night at 7 p.m. That game will air on the SEC Network + and can be heard on the Lady Vol Network.
