Lady Vols Fall to Virginia Tech, 57-43

Dec. 6, 2015

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 8/8 Tennessee fell to Virginia Tech, 57-43, on Sunday afternoon in the final contest of an eight-game homestand to open the season.

The Hokies (7-1) held the Lady Vols to a season-low 43 points on just 31 percent shooting. The big difference came from behind the arc as Virginia Tech finished 9-19 from 3-point range while UT was held to a season-worst 1-19 from long range.

Virginia Tech guard Vanessa Panousis led all scorers with 21 points including 5-8 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Lady Vols led 25-22 at the break in what was a low-scoring opening 20 minutes. Diamond DeShields and Mercedes Russell paced the offense, accounting for 23 of the team's 25 first-half points. DeShields led all scorers at halftime with 15 points, extending her double-digit scoring streak to five straight games while Russell had eight points and nine rebounds.

The Big Orange led by as many as nine points in the first half in addition to holding the Hokies to just 22 points. The Lady Vols also forced 11 turnovers and recorded two blocks in first two quarters.

Tennessee (6-2) led by one entering the final quarter of play but was outscored 21-6 in the fourth as the Hokies snapped UT's 44-game home unbeaten streak against unranked non-conference opponents.

Russell was a bright spot on both ends of the floor for the Lady Vols, scoring 14 points while grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds on the afternoon.

Controlling the Paint

The Lady Vols outscored the Hokies, 24-16, in the paint. It was the sixth time in eight games this season that UT has outscored its opponent down low.

Mercedes Russell was dominant on the boards, pulling down a career-best 15 rebounds on the afternoon on top of scoring 14 points.

Russell recorded her fourth double-double of the year. It was the ninth double-double recorded by a Lady Vol in the first eight games of the season.

Win Streaks Snapped

The Lady Vols had their 44-game home win streak against unranked non-conference opponents snapped.

It was the first loss for Tennessee at home in the month of December since a 73-60 loss to No. 1/1 Stanford on Dec. 22, 2012.

UT lost for the first time against Virginia Tech. The Lady Vols were 7-0 all-time against the Hokies entering the game.

Up Next

The Lady Vols hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Kansas to take on Wichita State on Dec. 11 at 8:05 p.m. ET. The game will be steamed live on WatchESPN.com

The Shockers are coached by LVFL Jody Adams, who played at Tennessee from 1989-93. She is assisted by LVFL Bridgette Gordon (1985-89).

UT held on for a 54-51 victory over an upset-minded Wichita State team on Dec. 16 of last year at Thompson-Boling Arena in the only prior meeting between the two programs.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Controlling the Paint

Win Streaks Snapped

Up Next

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