Postgame Notes: #10/9 UT 73, #4/5 USC 61 - University of Tennessee Athletics

March 2, 2014

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THE SERIES & THE WIN

Sunday's game marked the 50th all-time meeting between the two programs.

With the win, Tennessee moves to 47-3 in the all-time series against South Carolina.

In Knoxville, the Lady Vols are now 21-1 in the series.

FOR STARTERS

Today's starters: junior Cierra Burdick, sophomore Bashaara Graves, junior Isabelle Harrison, redshirt freshman Andraya Carter and senior Meighan Simmons.

It was the 10th-straight game Tennessee has utilized the lineup, and the Lady Vols are now 9-1 with the quintet.

Tennessee won the tip for the 26th time this season.

Harrison scored the Lady Vols' first basket, a layup with xxxxx on the clock. It's the 13th time this season that the junior has scored UT's first points.

Mercedes Russell was first off the bench for Tennessee, the eighth time this season the freshman has been called upon first.

Junior point guard Ariel Massengale was on the bench. She suffered a facial injury during that game and missed Texas A&M (Jan. 26), Arkansas (Jan. 30), Alabama (Feb. 2), Ole Miss (Feb. 6) and Vanderbilt (Feb. 10). She was on the bench, but did not play against Kentucky (Feb. 16) and Auburn (Feb. 20). She also missed at the Missouri (Feb. 23) and LSU (Feb. 27) away games.

It was the third largest crowd of the season at Thompson-Boling Arena as 14,072 fans were in attendance.

GETTING THE SWAGGER BACK

With the 73-61 win over the #4/5 Gamecocks, this is Tennessee's first time toppling a top-five-ranked team since knocking off #3/2 Stanford in overtime, 82-72 in Knoxville on Dec. 19, 2010. UT had played 124 games and was 0-9 vs. top-five teams during that span.

This win is also the first time the Lady Vols defeated a top-10 program since defeating #10/11 Georgia in the SEC home-opener on Jan. 6, 2013, 79-66. The Lady Vols were 0-4 vs. top-10 squads since that win, dropping games to #2/3 Notre Dame and at #10/10 Kentucky last season, and at #6/5 Stanford and vs. #2/2 Notre Dame this year.

SIMMONS SHINES ON SENIOR NIGHT

Prior to tipoff, senior Meighan Simmons was recognized at halfcourt for her four years at Tennessee.

With Simmons' 16 points, she surpassed Kara Lawson (1,950) on UT's all-time scoring chart into fifth place. Simmons now has 1,958 career points and is 42 shy of being the fourth Lady Vol to score 2,000 points in her career at Tennessee.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE HARRISON

Junior Isabelle Harrison scored 20 points against South Carolina, marking her 24th game this season in double figures.

It marks the fourth time she has hit 20-plus points in a game this season.

With 15 rebounds, Harrison recorded her 15th double-double of the year and 21st in her career.

She needs one more double-double to tie Chamique Holdsclaw on UT's most double-doubles for a junior.

TENNESSEE OFFENSE

Tennessee led by as many as 12 in the second half with 6:28 remaining.

When leading with five minutes left in the game, UT is now 24-1.

TENNESSEE DEFENSE

At the half, UT was leading 38-30 over South Carolina, marking just the third time this season the Gamecocks have trailed at the half. Both other games that USC trailed at the midway point, it lost.

The Lady Vols forced 10 USC turnovers, notching 6 points off the Gamecock miscues.

UT outrebounded South Carolina, 48-39, with Harrison leading the way with 15 boards.

HITTING DOUBLE FIGURES

The Lady Vols had three players in double figures: Isabelle Harrison (20), Andraya Carter (14), Meighan Simmons (16)

Tennessee has had three or more players score in double digits in 28 of its 29 games.

AT THE HALF

Tennessee led 38-30 at the halfway point.

UT shot 50.0 percent (18-36) compared to USC's 41.9 percent (13-31) in the first 20 minutes of action.

Harrison led all scorers in the game with 14 points in the first 20 minutes. Carter added 10 for the Lady Vols.

It was a battle of the boards in the first half as both teams grabbed 20. Harrison led the team with six boards., while Burdick followed with five.

USC was outscoring UT in points in the paint, 26-20.

UP NEXT

Tennessee returns to action Friday in the SEC Tournament in Duluth, Ga. The Lady Vols are expected to be a No. 2 seed and will play at 6 p.m. ET Friday.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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