Freshman Sensation Mia Pauldo Leads Tennessee Lady Vols to Third Consecutive SEC Victory
The Tennessee Lady Vols secured their third consecutive SEC victory by defeating Mississippi State 90-80. Mia Pauldo led the charge for the Lady Vols, scoring 26 points, a career-high for the freshman. Tennessee had a strong start in the first quarter, shooting over 60 percent from the field, and ended the quarter with a 26-19 lead.
Despite a less impressive second quarter, Tennessee maintained a 10-point lead at halftime. The Lady Vols heavily relied on their starting lineup in the first half, with only five points coming off the bench. However, the bench players stepped up in the second half to contribute significantly to the team's success.
Tennessee finished the game shooting 50.7 percent from the field, marking only the third time this season they have shot over 50 percent. The Lady Vols faced a challenge in the later part of the third quarter as Mississippi State mounted a comeback, cutting the deficit to just five points in the fourth quarter.
In the final minutes of the game, Tennessee made crucial baskets to secure a 90-80 victory over Mississippi State. Janiah Barker scored 18 points, while Talaysia Cooper and Zee Spearman each added 14 points. The Lady Vols focused on reducing turnovers and saw improvement, committing only 14 turnovers in this game.
Alyssa Latham returned to play after missing the previous game due to a shoulder injury, contributing two perfect free throws. Kaniya Boyd was absent from the game due to a foot injury. The Lady Vols will face Mississippi State again later in the regular season on January 29th.
The Lady Vols will next play against Arkansas at home on Sunday, with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.