Lady Vols Stumble at Home Against Mississippi State, Face Grueling Road Ahead
After weather postponed their ranked matchup at Ole Miss, the Lady Vols returned to the court Thursday night with fresh legs but found themselves flat-footed in a game that quickly slipped away. Tennessee suffered a 77-62 loss at home to Mississippi State - a team that entered the night near the bottom of the SEC standings. It was Tennessee’s first conference loss of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Let’s break down what went wrong - and what lies ahead - for a Lady Vols team that suddenly finds itself needing answers.
A Momentum-Killer of a Loss
This wasn’t just a loss. It was a jarring step backward for a Tennessee team that had built real momentum with a 6-0 start in SEC play.
The Lady Vols had climbed into the conversation for a top-four NCAA Tournament seed, riding a wave of improved execution and confidence. But Thursday’s result was a gut punch.
Mississippi State came in with a 2-5 conference record, tied for 11th in the SEC, and had struggled to find any rhythm in league play. On paper, this was a home game Tennessee should’ve handled. Instead, the Lady Vols were outplayed from start to finish - on their own floor.
The loss doesn’t just sting because of the opponent. It hurts because of what’s coming next.
Tennessee’s SEC schedule was front-loaded with winnable matchups. But the second half?
It’s a gauntlet. Up next is a trip to No.
1 UConn - a team that hasn’t forgotten last season’s loss in Knoxville. After that, it’s back-to-back road games at No.
23 Georgia and No. 3 South Carolina.
Then, after a brief reprieve at home against struggling Missouri, the Lady Vols head to No. 4 Texas before hosting Texas A&M.
The closing stretch includes visits to No. 10 Oklahoma and No.
6 LSU, with the regular season finale at home against No. 5 Vanderbilt.
In short: this was a game Tennessee couldn’t afford to drop. And they dropped it - hard.
Offense Goes Ice Cold
The numbers tell the story, and they’re not pretty. Tennessee shot just 31.9% from the field (22-for-69), and even that doesn’t fully capture the struggles. On layups alone, the Lady Vols went 12-for-35 - a stat that speaks volumes about both shot selection and finishing.
From beyond the arc, it was more of the same. Tennessee hit just 4-of-21 from three-point range (19%), with four different players failing to convert a single three despite multiple attempts. The perimeter shooting woes allowed Mississippi State to collapse inside, daring the Lady Vols to beat them from deep - and they couldn’t.
The free throw line wasn’t much kinder. Tennessee finished 14-for-23 (60.9%), though that number gets a bit of context when you consider that Deniya Prawl went 0-for-6.
Without her attempts, the team was a much more respectable 14-for-17. Still, in a game where every point mattered, the missed opportunities at the stripe added up.
Bottom line: this was one of Tennessee’s worst offensive performances of the season, and it came against a team that had struggled to defend in SEC play. That’s a red flag.
Zee Spearman: A Lone Bright Spot
In a game full of missed chances and cold shooting, Zee Spearman was one of the few players who brought consistent energy and execution. The sophomore guard continues to show growth, and her performance stood out - not just statistically, but in terms of impact.
Spearman finished with nine points on 3-of-8 shooting, adding five rebounds and just one turnover in 20 minutes. But perhaps most telling?
She was the only Lady Vol to post a positive plus-minus on the night, checking in at +11. That’s not a perfect stat, but in this case, it speaks volumes.
The next closest? Lauren Hurst at -1 - and she played just seven minutes.
Spearman’s ability to stay poised in a chaotic game, contribute on both ends, and avoid mistakes is something Tennessee will need more of as the schedule tightens.
What’s Next
There’s no time to dwell on this one. The Lady Vols are about to enter the toughest stretch of their season - and arguably one of the toughest three-game runs in the country.
It starts Sunday with a trip to face No. 1 UConn in an out-of-conference showdown that always brings national attention. The Huskies will be looking for payback after last year’s loss in Knoxville, and Tennessee will need to bring a level of focus and execution that was missing Thursday night.
From there, it’s back to SEC play with road games at No. 23 Georgia and No. 3 South Carolina - two teams that have been battle-tested and are fighting for postseason positioning.
The Lady Vols still have time to steady the ship. But with the margin for error shrinking, they’ll need to do it fast - and against the best teams in the country.