Senior Day Spoiled as Tennessee Falls to Georgia
The Tennessee Lady Vols couldn’t find their rhythm Sunday, suffering a tough 72-69 loss to Georgia in their final regular-season game at Food City Center. The defeat not only marred Senior Day celebrations but also put Tennessee’s NCAA tournament seeding in jeopardy.
After a sluggish start, Tennessee (21-8, 8-8 SEC) clawed its way back into the game, finally taking the lead with five minutes remaining. But the momentum was short-lived, and Georgia (12-18, 4-12) reclaimed control in the closing minutes, ending a 16-game road losing streak.
Jewel Spear led the Lady Vols with 20 points, while Zee Spearman added 19. Despite their efforts, Tennessee’s inconsistent shooting and struggles against Georgia’s zone defense proved costly. Now, with two straight losses following their No. 12 overall seed projection in the NCAA tournament, the Lady Vols’ position as a top-16 host is in serious doubt.
SEC Tournament Implications
Tennessee’s loss dropped them to the No. 9 seed in the SEC tournament, setting up a first-round matchup against No. 16 seed Texas A&M (10-18, 3-13) on Wednesday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
- If the Lady Vols win, they will face No. 8 seed Vanderbilt (21-9, 8-8) in the second round on Thursday.
- With a potential run, Tennessee could attempt to salvage its NCAA tournament seeding.
But considering their recent struggles, Tennessee needs a strong showing to avoid slipping further down the March Madness bracket.
Nightmare Start for Tennessee
The Lady Vols opened the game in disastrous fashion. It took them nearly seven minutes to score their first points, trailing 11-0 before breaking the drought. Georgia, meanwhile, dominated early, stretching the lead to 18-2 before Tennessee showed signs of life.
By halftime, Georgia was shooting 50% from the field while Tennessee struggled at just 25%. The Lady Vols were ice-cold from beyond the arc, going 3-for-19 from deep, and they couldn’t crack Georgia’s zone defense or push the tempo in transition.
Spear and Spearman kept Tennessee within reach, scoring 10 and nine points in the first half, respectively. But the early deficit was too much to overcome.
Talaysia Cooper’s Injury Adds to Tennessee’s Woes
As if the loss wasn’t bad enough, the Lady Vols also suffered a major blow with the injury to leading scorer Talaysia Cooper. The junior guard went down hard in the second quarter, landing on an opponent’s foot and immediately grabbing her right ankle. She had to be carried off the court and didn’t return after halftime.
The SEC Network later reported that Cooper was questionable to return with a lower-body injury. Her absence loomed large, as she has been a crucial piece of Tennessee’s offense this season, averaging 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 steals per game.
March Madness Seeding in Peril
Tennessee entered the week projected as a No. 12 overall seed, comfortably in position to host first- and second-round NCAA tournament games. But back-to-back losses, especially to a Georgia team that had won just three conference games all season, put their standing in serious question.
Now, the Lady Vols may need a deep run in the SEC tournament to solidify their hosting spot. Otherwise, they could find themselves traveling for the opening rounds of March Madness—something they were hoping to avoid.
With uncertainty surrounding Cooper’s availability and the team’s inconsistency in recent weeks, the Lady Vols face a critical stretch. The SEC tournament now becomes not just an opportunity for redemption, but a necessity to secure a favorable postseason path.
