The Lady Vols are back in Knoxville for one final nonconference tune-up before SEC play begins, and there’s plenty to unpack as Tennessee looks to reset after a tough loss on the road.
No. 18 Tennessee (7-3) hosts Southern Indiana (8-2) tonight at Food City Center, with tipoff set for **6:30 p.m.
ET** on SEC Network+. It’s the last chance for the Lady Vols to sharpen their game before diving into the SEC gauntlet, which begins January 1 at home against Florida.
Tennessee enters this one looking to bounce back from its most lopsided loss of the season - an 89-65 defeat at the hands of No. 17 Louisville in the Women’s Champions Classic. That game exposed some of the inconsistency that’s plagued the Lady Vols in their biggest matchups this season, but it also featured a standout performance from a senior who’s starting to find her rhythm.
Zee Spearman delivered her first double-double of the season in that loss, putting up 18 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. She added three blocks and two steals - the kind of all-around effort that Tennessee will need more of as the schedule ramps up. Spearman’s physicality in the paint and ability to impact both ends of the floor give the Lady Vols a much-needed interior presence.
Talaysia Cooper chipped in 14 points, four assists, and three steals, though she also turned the ball over six times - a stat that’s been a recurring issue for Tennessee in high-pressure games. Mia Pauldo was the third and final player in double figures, finishing with 10 points, four boards, four assists, and a steal.
The loss to Louisville marks Tennessee’s third defeat against a ranked opponent this season. The Lady Vols dropped their season opener to NC State, 80-77, in a neutral-site battle, and fell 99-77 to No.
4 UCLA on the road. Those games have followed a pattern: Tennessee has shown flashes of offensive firepower, but defensive lapses and turnovers have made it tough to keep pace with elite competition.
Still, there have been encouraging signs. The Lady Vols notched a gritty 65-62 win over Stanford earlier this month and have dominated most of their unranked opponents, including a 112-40 blowout over Winthrop. The pieces are there - it’s just a matter of putting them together consistently.
That makes tonight’s matchup against Southern Indiana more than just a breather before conference play. It’s a chance to reset, clean up the mistakes, and build momentum heading into the SEC slate.
Southern Indiana comes in with an 8-2 record and is fresh off a 78-59 win over Morehead State. They won’t be a pushover, and Tennessee can’t afford to look past this one.
Here’s what’s ahead for the Lady Vols after tonight:
Upcoming Schedule Highlights:
- Jan. 1 vs.
Florida (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
- Jan. 4 at Auburn (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
- Jan. 8 at Mississippi State (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
- Feb. 1 at UConn (Noon ET, FOX)
- Feb. 8 at South Carolina (3 p.m.
ET, ABC)
- Feb. 15 vs.
Texas (3 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Feb. 22 at Oklahoma (2 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2)
- Feb. 26 at LSU (6 p.m. ET, ESPN)
That’s a loaded slate, and it underscores just how important it is for Tennessee to use this final nonconference game to tighten rotations, build chemistry, and establish the kind of defensive identity they’ll need to contend in the SEC.
Tipoff’s just around the corner. For the Lady Vols, it’s not just about getting back in the win column - it’s about setting the tone for what’s to come.