The University of Connecticut’s (UConn) women’s basketball team suffered a disappointing 80-76 loss to longtime rival Tennessee, ending their winning streak in the series that dated back to 2007. The No. 5 Huskies were defeated by the No. 19 Lady Vols at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.
UConn’s struggles began in the second half, particularly in the third quarter, where they were outscored 22-15 by Tennessee. The Lady Vols went on a 13-0 run out of halftime, forcing three turnovers and scoring six points off those turnovers. This run gave Tennessee their first two-possession lead of the game.
Despite a late comeback effort, UConn was unable to regain the lead. The Huskies got within two points with 30 seconds remaining, but Zee Spearman’s layup sealed the win for Tennessee.
UConn’s superstar Paige Bueckers had a subpar performance, scoring 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting from the field. However, she added a team-high eight assists, four rebounds, and a steal. Freshman Sarah Strong led the Huskies with 18 points and nine rebounds, but also committed a team-high five turnovers.
The Huskies’ struggles from beyond the arc were evident, as they shot just 25% (5-for-20) on three-pointers. Tennessee, on the other hand, shot 46% from the field, despite also struggling from three-point range (25%). The Lady Vols outrebounded UConn 46-34, which proved to be a crucial factor in their victory.
This loss marks UConn’s first defeat in the series since 2007, when legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt was still at the helm. The Huskies will look to regroup and bounce back from this setback as they continue their season.
In the end, Tennessee’s strong second-half performance and rebounding advantage proved too much for UConn to overcome. The Lady Vols’ victory marks a significant upset in the world of women’s college basketball, and they will undoubtedly look to build on this momentum as they move forward.
