Tennessee’s women’s basketball program has resumed team activities, the program announced on Monday afternoon.
“The Tennessee women’s basketball program, which had games vs. Texas A&M and Kentucky postponed last week due to COVID-19 contact tracing, has been cleared to resume full team activities this week,” it said in a statement. “The Lady Vols are doing so after meeting all SEC Return To Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force requirements.”
The Lady Vols (6-1, 0-0 SEC) will return to practice on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s SEC-opener against No. 13 Arkansas. Tipoff inside of Thompson-Boling Arena with the Razorbacks (10-2, 1-1 SEC) is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
Tennessee enters its first conference game of 2021 having won four games in a row. The streak includes a 66-58 road win over No. 15 Indiana after its game on the road at Texas was canceled.
The Lady Vols defeated Lipscomb 77-52 in their last game out. Senior forward Rennia Davis led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds, her 32nd career double-double, tying Tamika Catchings for sixth all-time in career double-doubles at UT.
Junior Rae Burrell finished with 10 points to join Davis in double figures for Tennessee, and senior Kasiyahna Kushkituah and sophomore Tamari Key each added nine. Every active player for the Lady Vols finished with at least two points.
Tennessee entered the game ranking 14th in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 31.7 percent. After limiting the Lady Bisons to 30.4 percent, the Lady Vols have held all seven opponents this year below 40 percent and six of seven to 32 percent or lower. During the Harper era, only eight of 38 opponents have reached 40 percent field goal shooting in a game.
The Lady Vols dominated Lipscomb in the paint. They scored 46 points in the paint while holding the Lady Bisons to eight. Tennessee has now outscored all seven of its opponents in the paint by a margin of 278-110.
