LEXINGTON, KY – February 26, 2023 – Forward Karoline Striplin #11 of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, KY. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
The Lady Vols cruised to an 83-63 victory over Kentucky to wrap up the regular season on Sunday in Memorial Gymnasium. Tennessee (21-10, 13-3 SEC), which picked up its first win in Lexington since 2017 and first triumph at Memorial since 2015, finished with its highest conference victory total since going 15-1 in 2014-15. The Big Orange closed the regular season winning four of their last five.
Senior Rickea Jackson was the top scorer for UT with 21 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Jillian Hollingshead had a strong outing with 15 points on 88-percent shooting from the floor, and sophomore Karoline Striplin and graduate Jordan Walker were also in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10, respectively. Senior Jasmine Powell led the team in assists, dishing out a season-high-tying eight. Maddie Scherr turned in a game-high 27 points to lead UK (10-18, 2-14 SEC), while Robyn Benton managed 17, and Jada Walker posted 10 on the day.
The Lady Vols will head to the SEC Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina next week. Tennessee will enter as the No. 3 seed and receive a double bye, playing the winner of Second Round Game 6 in the late contest on Friday, March 3.