Knoxville, TN – Tennessee is off to a 4-0 start after topping Georgia Tech, 87-76, on Sunday night. The #4/3 Lady Vols pounded the glass to the tune of 65 total rebounds including 33 offensive boards. Bashaara Graves had the best game of her career with highs of 23 points, 18 rebounds and five assists. It was Graves’ 13th career double-double.
Isabelle Harrison had 10 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for her seventh career double-double. It marked the second game that both Graves and Harrison each had double-doubles.
The Yellow Jackets (2-1) were led by freshman Kaela Davis — the twin of Vols’ freshman forward A.J. Davis — who had 28 points on her brother’s home court. Aaliyah Whiteside had 16 for Tech.
After Georgia Tech crept within five points, the Lady Vols ripped off a 12-0 run to firmly regain control of the win. Massengale canned back-to-back jumpers followed by a bevy of free throws to put Tennessee ahead 82-65 with just under three minutes remaining.
Georgia Tech made a run which brought the Yellow Jackets within five points at 70-65 on a jumper by Sydney Wallace with 6:48 left in the game. Earlier in the half, Tech cut its deficit to four points, 64-60 with 10:30 left in the game.
Tennessee corralled 65 rebounds, the most in a game since also grabbing 65 vs. Marquette on Nov. 23rd, 1996. The 33 offensive rebounds were the most since the Lady Vols had 34 vs. Arkansas on January 10th, 2000. Graves’ 14 offensive boards are the most since at least 2000.
Graves had a double-double in the first half alone with 14 points and 11 rebounds as Tennessee jumped out to a 44-35 lead on the Yellow Jackets. Harrison also had 10 rebounds to go along with seven points.
Tennessee led by as many as 18 late in the first half at 41-23.
The Lady Vols dominated the glass, out rebounding Tech, 33-18 including 20 offensive rebounds in the first half.
Tennessee is now 6-0 all-time versus Georgia Tech including Holly Warlick’s first-career win as a head coach last season, 71-54 in Atlanta.
The Lady Vols will have a week off before returning to action on Sunday, November 24th as Oakland comes to Knoxville for the first time ever. The Lady Vols and Golden Grizzlies tip-off at 2:00pm, in a game that can be viewed on UTSports.com and heard on the Lady Vol Network.
