In a thrilling showdown in Knoxville, the Tennessee Lady Vols staged an electrifying comeback against Texas A&M, only to fall short in an 82-74 defeat. Despite trailing by 19 points in the second half, the Lady Vols showcased their resilience, narrowing the gap to just two points late in the game.
Coming into this matchup, Tennessee was ranked No. 21 and sat sixth in the SEC standings, having endured consecutive losses to No. 4 Texas and No.
17 Ole Miss. The starting lineup featured Nya Robertson, Talaysia Cooper, Alyssa Latham, Lauren Hurst, and Janiah Barker.
The game began with the Aggies blazing hot, launching a 10-0 run that forced Tennessee to regroup early. Texas A&M's precision from beyond the arc was a significant factor, as they connected on six of their first nine three-point attempts.
Dominating the first half, the Aggies maintained their lead, heading into halftime up 47-42. They continued their momentum into the third quarter, extending their advantage to 59-44, and capitalized on a seven-minute scoring drought from Tennessee to stretch the lead to 63-44.
Janiah Barker emerged as the beacon of hope for the Lady Vols, spearheading the comeback effort. With 7:01 left in the fourth quarter, Barker had already amassed 24 points, helping to trim the deficit to single digits.
Tennessee's tenacity brought them within two points with just over a minute left on the clock. However, a crucial three-pointer from Texas A&M sealed the deal, and subsequent free throws ensured the Aggies' victory.
Barker's performance was nothing short of stellar, finishing with a team-high 29 points, an impeccable 5-for-5 from three-point land, and securing a double-double with 10 rebounds. Alongside her, Cooper contributed 11 points, while Zee Spearman added 14.
The Lady Vols were favored by 20.5 points entering the contest, but the loss drops them to 16-9 overall and 8-5 in conference play. They'll aim to break their three-game losing streak on Sunday, February 22, when they face off against Oklahoma.