KNOXVILLE, TN – January 22, 2023 – Forward Rickea Jackson #2 of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Mizzou Arena in Missouri. Photo By Emma Ramsey/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee used an 8-0 run over the last minute and a half to erase a five-point deficit and seize a 68-65 win over Missouri on Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena, keeping its conference record perfect at 8-0 and winning its ninth-straight game.
The 8-0 record in league play is UT’s best start to the SEC schedule since the Lady Vols opened at 13-0 in 2014-15 en route to a 15-1 league record and regular-season title.Sophomore Sara Puckett was 7-of-9 on the day in Mizzou Arena and went a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc, hitting a game-tying trey with 40 seconds on the clock to finish with a season-high 17 points for Tennessee (16-6, 8-0 SEC). Senior Rickea Jackson was also in double figures with 15 on the day, pushing her team ahead with a second left by scoring inside, drawing a foul and sinking the free throw for the final margin. Missouri (14-6, 3-4 SEC) was led by Hayley Frank, who posted a game-high 26 points and Jayla Kelly who finished with 14.
Puckett banked in her third trey of the game with 40 seconds remaining to even the score at 65. Tennessee’s defense got the stop on the next possession as Puckett came up with the rebound, and Jasmine Powell found Jackson in the lane who hit a turnaround jumper and drew the foul with 1.1 seconds left on the clock, converting on the free throw to put the Lady Vols up by three. Missouri was able to heave a three up at the buzzer, but it clanked off the backboard, and the Lady Vols claimed a 68-65 win in Mizzou Arena
The Lady Vols will return home to host No. 5 UConn at 7 p.m. on Thursday in a contest that will be broadcast on ESPN. ESPN’s College GameDay Covered by State Farm will be on site for the event, going live from inside Thompson-Boling Arena beginning at 6 p.m. Coverage of this rivalry game between UT and UConn can be heard on MIX 99.3 starting at 6:30 PM.