The No. 13 Tennessee Lady Vols began their Southeastern Conference (SEC) play with an impressive 91-78 road win over Texas A&M on Thursday, January 2. This victory marked the first SEC win for Tennessee under first-year head coach Kim Caldwell, who now has a strong 1-0 start in league play.
The Lady Vols (13-0, 1-0 SEC) played with dominance throughout the game, leveraging their scoring depth and defensive intensity to dismantle the Aggies (7-6, 0-1 SEC) at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas. Jewel Spear led the way with a stellar performance, scoring 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Samara Spencer orchestrated Tennessee’s offense, dishing out a team-high 8 assists, while Zee Spearman played a crucial role on the glass, grabbing 6 rebounds to lead the Lady Vols. Tennessee displayed their versatility, outscoring Texas A&M in multiple key categories, including bench points (49), points in the paint (44), and points off turnovers (34).
This win also marked a milestone in Caldwell’s tenure, showcasing her ability to manage a high-scoring and fast-paced offense while getting contributions from across the roster. In addition to Spear’s scoring, the Lady Vols benefitted from a balanced attack, with contributions from multiple players in the scoring and rebounding columns.
For Tennessee, this victory sets a positive tone for the rest of their SEC campaign. With a challenging conference schedule ahead, the Lady Vols will look to build on their strong start as they aim to compete for SEC supremacy and make a deep run in the postseason.
