Postgame Notes: UT 66, USC 71

Feb. 23, 2015

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2

Number of Interest

Here are a few numbers of interest:

» With 16 points and 10 rebounds, Cierra Burdick notched her fifth double-double of the season.

» The six Tennessee turnovers marked a new season-low.

» Bashaara Graves earned her second game this season with 20-plus points. She earned a game-high 20 points. She now has six career games with at least 20 points.

POSTGAME NOTES

THE SERIES

This marked the 51st time the teams have met.
Tennessee now has a 47-4 record in the series.
#2/2 South Carolina is the highest ranked opponent that the Lady Vols have faced this season.
This marked the third-straight meeting and 14th time overall that both teams have been ranked in the top-25. It was the second consecutive game that USC was ranked higher.
The Lady Vols are now 19-2 in games played in Columbia.
With the loss, the Lady Vols end their 20-game win streak vs. SEC opponents. It also broke an eight game win streak, which began after the loss to #4/4 Notre Dame.

FOR STARTERS

Today's starters: Bashaara Graves, Cierra Burdick, Jordan Reynolds, Andraya Carter, Ariel Massengale.
This is the 11th different lineup for the Lady Vols.
Not one single Lady Vol has started every game this season. Reynolds has started in all but one game.
This marked Massengale's fourth start and second since the loss of Isabelle Harrison (torn ACL).
With this group, Tennessee is 0-1.
The jump ball was controlled by South Carolina.
The first points were scored by Bashaara Graves with a jumper.

OFF THE BENCH

Jaime Nared was the first Lady Vol in with 15:02 left in the first half. She came in for Jordan Reynolds.
Alexa Middleton was next in for the Lady Vols.
Nia Moore entered the game for the first time with 7:35 left in the game.

A-MASS CLOSER TO ANOTHER RECORD

Entering the game, Ariel Massengale needed nine assists to become the third Lady Vol to record 500 assists and 1,000 points in her career at UT.
Tonight, Massengale dished out an assist and needs just eight more to reach the feat.

OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING

In the first half, the Lady Vols only had two turnovers, protecting the ball. They had a season-low number of turnovers with just six. Their previous low was eight, which last occurred vs. Texas A&M.
Again, Tennessee found success as the free throw line going 11-for-14.
Four Lady Vols scored in double digits: Cierra Burdick, Bashaara Graves, Jordan Reynolds and Andraya Carter.
Graves notched 20 points, seven rebounds and an assist. She led all scorers in the game.
Burdick tallied 16 points, shooting 7-for-11, 10 rebounds and an assist. She earned her fifth double-double of the season and 17th of her career.
Both Reynolds and Carter produced 10 points. Reynolds led the team with three assists. Carter was the only Lady Vol to record a steal. She had two.

STAFF CONNECTIONS

Third-year Lady Vol assistant Jolette Law is a produce of Florence, S.C., and a graduate of Wilson HS.
Sixth-year South Carolina assistant coach Nikki McCray is a 1995 graduate of Tennessee and native of Collierville, Tenn.
McCray was at UT from 1991-95, earning WBCA All-America and SEC Player of the Year honors her final two seasons. She also helped the USA to win two Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000.
Head coach Holly Warlick is now 19-4 vs. teams with former Lady Vol players and/or staffers, including 2-1 vs. South Carolina with Nikki McCray.

AT THE HALF

The Lady Vols trailed the Gamecocks, 36-33.
Tennessee shot 42 percent (13-31) while South Carolina shot 45 percent (17-38).
The Gamecocks had a 28-12 advantage in the paint.
South Carolina led in the rebounding race 23-20.
This was the ninth time that the Lady Vols trailed at halftime.
Bashaara Graves led UT scorers with 11 points and five rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Lady Vols remain on the road with a trip to Athens, Ga. to take on the Lady Bulldogs on Thursday, Feb. 26 for another 9 p.m. tip on the SEC Network.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Bashaara Graves

Alexa Middleton

Jaime Nared

Jordan Reynolds

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