Tennessee’s 16 team three-pointers carried the Lady Vols to the record books on Friday night – and, more importantly, an opening win in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
5-seed Tennessee defeated 12-seed South Florida by a score of 101-66 from Ohio State’s arena in Columbus, OH.
The Lady Vols’ 16 three-pointers is a new NCAA Tournament single-game record.
“Yeah, it just feels good to see the ball go in again,” Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell said after the game. “It feels like such a long time since we’ve shot that well from three and we’ve been that efficient. I really think we needed that.”
Caldwell’s squad shot 50% from the floor and 43.2% from behind the arc against the Bulls.
Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper led the team with 20 points and six rebounds while guards Samara Spencer and Jewel Spear put up 15 and 11 points, respectively. Cooper, Spencer, and Zee Spearman each had a team-high three three-pointers on Friday night.
The Lady Vols advance to the second round to take on 4-seed Ohio State in its own building on Sunday.
More from RTI: Three Things To Watch For: Tennessee Basketball vs. UCLA
Check out postgame interviews from Kim Caldwell, Jewel Spear, and Samara Spencer after the Lady Vols’ 35-point win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night:
Tennessee – Caldwell, Spear, Spencer
