Lady Vols Show Grit in Overtime Win at Georgia: Caldwell Breaks Down the Key Moments
Coming off a hard-fought 82-77 overtime win on the road at Georgia, Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell met with the media to talk through what went right, what needs work, and how her team is continuing to evolve in the thick of SEC play. The Lady Vols didn’t make it easy on themselves, but in a league where every win is a battle, they found a way to close it out-and that’s what matters most.
Surviving the Finish, Thriving in OT
“Didn’t love the end of the game,” Caldwell admitted. “Happy to get out of here with a win.”
And she had reason to feel both. Tennessee had a chance to seal things in regulation but let Georgia hang around late.
A substitution for size led to a foul that gave the Bulldogs free throws to tie it up. Still, the Lady Vols regrouped in overtime and showed the kind of poise Caldwell’s been pushing for all season.
“I thought we played with poise and good pace and together down the stretch,” she said. “I was a little bit worried about the momentum not being in our favor and us being deflated, and we weren’t.”
That mental toughness is something Caldwell has been trying to instill since day one.
Sharing the Ball, Even When the Shots Aren’t Falling
Tennessee racked up 16 assists on a night when the shots weren’t exactly dropping early. That kind of ball movement speaks volumes about the team’s growth.
“It’s impressive that we didn’t shoot it very well, and we had 16 assists,” Caldwell said. “It would’ve been higher if a couple more shots had fallen in the first quarter.”
Even more encouraging? The players weren’t just echoing Caldwell’s message-they were reinforcing it among themselves. That’s the kind of internal leadership that helps teams win in March.
Clutch at the Line: Spearman and Pauldo Deliver
When the game was on the line, Zee Spearman and Mia Pauldo stepped up to the stripe and delivered.
“Zee’s always been one of our better foul shooters,” Caldwell said. “She’s someone I trust at the line.”
Pauldo, meanwhile, took a beating all game but kept getting up-and kept coming through.
“She’s tough,” Caldwell said. “She works on her foul shots every single day, and when you put the work in, it’s going to pay off.”
That kind of grit can’t be taught. It’s earned, and Pauldo earned every bit of it in Athens.
Heating Up from Deep After a Cold Start
Tennessee didn’t start hot from beyond the arc, but once one went down, the confidence followed.
“I wanted us to get off to a really good start today. I don’t think we did,” Caldwell said. “But I do think we did a good job of continuing to play.”
By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Vols had wrestled the lead away, and a late surge before halftime-capped by a buzzer-beating three from Pauldo-gave them a much-needed spark.
“We needed it,” Caldwell said of the 8-0 run. “We hadn’t been shooting well, and then we kind of got hot late.”
Pauldo and Cooper Step Up in the Second Half
Both Mia Pauldo and Talaysia Cooper found their rhythm after halftime, and it wasn’t just about scoring-it was about how they got their looks.
“They didn’t have to create for themselves tonight,” Caldwell said. “They were able to catch it on the opposite side of the floor, where we shared it a little bit better. They were easier shots, and they didn’t have to work as hard for them.”
That’s the benefit of ball movement and spacing-it makes life easier for your scorers and forces defenses to make tough choices.
Rebounding, Defense, and Learning on the Fly
Caldwell was especially pleased with Cooper’s work on the glass, where she pulled down four offensive rebounds.
“I don’t really care about her points,” Caldwell said. “That was very big for us. Everyone that had an offensive rebound helped us win that game.”
On the defensive end, Tennessee showed flashes but still has room to grow.
“They did a really good job of going into the post,” Caldwell said of Georgia. “Their post got in foul trouble, but they were kind of whipping it with us at the rim.”
That’s an area Caldwell knows needs tightening up, especially with a trip to South Carolina looming.
Freshmen Growing Through Mistakes
Late-game execution remains a work in progress, particularly with younger players still learning the ropes.
“We had some freshmen make some freshmen plays at the end,” Caldwell said. “But again, I trust them to be out there. We’re learning in real-time, and we’ll continue to fix it.”
That trust, even when mistakes happen, is how young players develop into dependable veterans.
Looking Ahead
Next up: a road test at South Carolina, one of the toughest environments in the country. Caldwell knows the grind doesn’t stop.
“We worked really hard tonight,” she said. “Every single night is a grind, and you’ve got to go to a really tough environment and try to compete.”
With players like Pauldo and Spearman showing they can handle the pressure, and with more growth coming from the younger core, the Lady Vols are starting to find their identity. And if they can keep stacking wins-even the ugly ones-they’ll be a team no one wants to see come tournament time.