Tennessee’s lone exhibition offered exactly the kind of all-access look a team wants before the games start counting: pace, pressure, depth, and plenty of scoring. The Lady Vols rolled past Florida A&M 132-63 on Tuesday night, and with eight players finishing in double figures, there was production everywhere you looked.
The game didn’t start with Tennessee completely overwhelming the Rattlers right away. Florida A&M was able to crack the initial press early and get some clean looks going downhill.
But once the Lady Vols settled in and cranked up the defensive pressure, the whole thing tilted fast. Tennessee turned a 21-0 run into a 33-10 lead before the Rattlers finally stopped the surge.
That pressure created a flood of mistakes for Florida A&M. Tennessee forced 10 turnovers in the opening quarter and turned those into 12 points.
Kennedy Fauntleroy was especially active in that stretch, using quick hands to force three of those turnovers herself. By the end of the night, the Lady Vols had piled up 45 points off 37 turnovers.
The offensive distribution matched the defensive chaos. Tennessee kept finding points at the rim and in transition, finishing with 74 points in the paint, 59 fastbreak points, and 42 second-chance points.
That kind of volume can hide some early finishing misses, and there were a few of those at the start, but the Lady Vols cleaned it up as the game moved along. They went 30-for-50 on layups, including several contested attempts.
ZaKiyah White stood out as one of the most complete performers on the floor. She hit threes, put the ball on the deck, and consistently found teammates when help came her way.
She also did the little things on the defensive end, getting back in transition, protecting the paint, and helping cut off easy Florida A&M baskets. White finished with 16 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and four steals.
Ariel Minus also made her presence felt. The freshman worked on the glass, created chances on second opportunities, and was disruptive on in-bounds plays.
She looked like someone who could earn minutes right away. Minus finished with 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting and added seven rebounds.
Tennessee also cashed in at the stripe. The Lady Vols went 23 of 25 from the free throw line, a 92% clip that would play well over the course of a season if it holds.
Smikle gave Tennessee another scoring option, showing the same versatility that had already appeared in scrimmages. She got to 19 points, though she also picked up four fouls in her first 14 minutes. That looked more like the byproduct of aggressive defense than anything else, but it was part of the night’s story.
On the boards, Tennessee was simply in charge. Fats Janneh led the way with 13 rebounds, and the Lady Vols outworked Florida A&M 58-25 on the glass. That edge kept feeding the pace and gave Tennessee more chances to run, crash, and score in waves.
In Other News...
DeSean Bishop Update Matters For Tennessees Stretch Run
DeSean Bishops day at South Carolina ended early, but Tennessee got a reassuring sign afterward. Josh Heupel said the running back is expected to be in good condition for the upcoming week, which matters as the Volunteers head into the stretch run with Bishop playing a bigger and bigger role in the offense.
Bishop has been pushing toward 1,000 rushing yards this season, and his presence gives Tennessee another reliable option as the games get tighter. With one year of eligibility still left after this season, keeping him available now and down the stretch looms as an important piece of the bigger picture for the Volunteers. [Read more 🡒]
Vols Suddenly Have A Real Shot At Key 2027 DB Target
Preston Glascos recruitment is moving into the home stretch, and Tennessee has positioned itself squarely in the mix for one of the more intriguing 2027 defensive backs in the region. The Grayson High School cornerback from Georgia is expected to make his college choice soon, and his list has been trimmed to Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee after a process that has already brought multiple scholarship offers and steady attention from major programs.
For the Vols, the encouraging part is that Glasco has remained in regular contact with the coaching staff and came away from a recent visit with Tennessee firmly in the conversation. That kind of late momentum matters in a battle like this, especially when the competition includes two heavyweight SEC neighbors, and it leaves Tennessee with a real opening as his decision approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Gabby Minus Gave Lady Vols Fans An Encouraging First Glimpse
The Lady Vols exhibition win over Florida A&M offered plenty of early October optimism, but the first real curiosity for Tennessee fans may have been freshman Gabby Minus. In her first game at Food City Center, Minus finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and a noticeable defensive presence, giving an encouraging glimpse of how she might fit into Kim Caldwells rotation this season.
Caldwell noted the freshmans initial nerves, which is hardly surprising in a Tennessee debut, but praised the way Minus settled into the flow of the game. For a team that just rolled past Florida A&M, the bigger takeaway was less about the lopsided score and more about a newcomer showing she can contribute right away. [Read more 🡒]