Tennessee Lady Vols Suffer Narrow Loss Against Oklahoma Sooners

News Summary

In a dramatic college basketball clash on Sunday, the Tennessee Lady Vols faced their first defeat of the season, losing to the Oklahoma Sooners 87-86. Despite an early lead, the Lady Vols trailed for most of the game. They rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring Oklahoma 27-12, but ultimately fell short. Star player Jewel Spear led the team with 28 points, but the last-second attempt to win the game wasn’t successful. The loss leaves Tennessee with a 13-1 record, while Oklahoma improves to 13-2.

Knoxville Drama Unfolds as Tennessee Lady Vols Face Heartbreaking Loss to Oklahoma

In a thrilling college basketball showdown on Sunday, the Tennessee Lady Vols experienced their first defeat of the season, falling just short to the Oklahoma Sooners with a nail-biting score of 87-86. The game, played in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 11,321 fans at the Food City Center, kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

Early Momentum Shifts

The Lady Vols kicked things off strong, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead early in the game. However, the excitement didn’t last long as the Sooners soon tightened their grip, building a commanding lead. By the end of the first quarter, Tennessee found themselves trailing by 11 points, and unfortunately for them, the gap only widened as Oklahoma pushed the lead to a daunting 16 points by the start of the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter Comeback Magic

27-12, Tennessee mounted an incredible comeback attempt. Jewel Spear, in particular, sparked the charge, netting an impressive 28 points over the course of the game. Spear’s shooting was nothing short of spectacular, with 11 of 17 from the field and a sizzling 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. During the fourth quarter alone, she contributed 11 points, including three critical three-pointers that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Not to be overshadowed, Talaysia Cooper and Samara Spencer added 16 points each, while Ruby Whitehorn chipped in 13 points. Cooper also made history by tying for third place in program history with a remarkable nine steals in the game, showcasing her defensive prowess.

Oklahoma’s Strong Performance

Payton Verhulst, who contributed 16 points and hit four three-pointers, helping Oklahoma maintain their lead through much of the game. Additionally, Raegan Beers put forth a solid effort with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Throughout the game, Oklahoma shot a high 54% from the field compared to Tennessee’s 45.7%. The rebounding battle also tilted in favor of the Sooners, who dominated with 42 rebounds to the Lady Vols’ 33.

A Heart-Stopping Finish

40 seconds left. When a shot clock violation granted the Lady Vols possession with 10 seconds on the clock, fans held their breath, hoping for a miraculous win. Unfortunately, with just three seconds remaining, their last three-point attempt fell short, sealing the deal for Oklahoma.

Looking Ahead

13-1 overall while sitting at 1-1 in the SEC. Meanwhile, Oklahoma improved to 13-2 and also stands at 1-1 in the conference. The Lady Vols will have to regroup quickly as they prepare to host the No. 6/4 LSU team on Thursday, January 9th—a challenge sure to be another rollercoaster ride for players and fans alike.

As the Tennessee Lady Vols look ahead, there’s no doubt they’ll bring the same fight and determination that had fans cheering until the very last moments of this heart-stopping match.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

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Knoxville Appoints Kim Caldwell as New Head Coach for Lady Vols Basketball
Lady Vols Shine at SEC Tipoff ’25, Building Community Spirit Ahead of Season
Knoxville Launches 13th Annual Pansy Project for Alzheimer’s Awareness and Support

Additional Resources

• UT Sports
• Wikipedia: Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball
• Rivals
• Google Search: Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball
• Sports Illustrated
• Google Scholar: Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball
• Knox News
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Women Basketball
• The Oklahoman
• Google News: Tennessee Lady Vols vs Oklahoma

Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER

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