Whitehorn has 20, Spencer 18 as No. 15 Lady Vols top Mississippi State 86-73

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Spencer shares turning point in Vols' win vs. Mississippi St.

Samara Spencer joins SEC Now to relive the moment where No. 15 Tennessee turned up the heat against the Bulldogs and shares the Vols' goal moving forward in SEC play.

Jan 17, 2025, 02:32 am

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- — Ruby Whitehorn scored 20 points, Talaysia Cooper had a double-double and No. 15 Tennessee turned back Mississippi State 86-73 on Thursday night.

Samara Spencer scored 18 points and Jewel Spear had 13 for the Lady Vols (15-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) with both hitting four 3-pointers. Cooper had 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Jerkaila Jordan scored 17 points for the Bulldogs 15-3, 2-3) and Debreasha Powe added 16. Destiney McPhaul had 11 points and Madina Okot had 11 rebounds.

The Lady Vols were held 10 points below their nation-leading scoring average but scored 23 more than the Bulldogs defensive average.

They key was opportunities. Mississippi State shot 46% and Tennessee shot 44% but the Lady Vols put up 14 more shots. That meant five more made baskets for Tennessee, which was 12 of 26 from 3-point range to 8 of 23 for Mississippi State.

The Lady Vols turned 20 MSU turnovers into 30 points.

Whitehorn hit 6 of 8 shots, including both her 3s, for 14 points in the first half, which ended with the Lady Vols up 43-34. Tennessee hit five 3s in the second quarter, including three in the final minute. Spear hit the first one and then Spencer had a pair, the last from the left wing as time expired after a steal by Cooper.

MSU trailed 64-56 entering the fourth but Cooper had two quick baskets and Spencer hit a 3-pointer to make it 71-56. A 3-pointer by Powe pulled Mississippi State within 78-71 with three minutes to go but Spear's 3-pointer with 1:09 left capped an 8-0 run that sealed it.

Both teams face their state rivals on Sunday with Mississippi at Mississippi State and Tennessee at Vanderbilt.

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