The Tennessee women’s basketball schedule has been officially finalized following the announcement of tournament matchups by organizers of the highly anticipated West Palm Beach Classic on Tuesday. Under the direction of head coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols will compete against formidable opponents, specifically the Richmond Spiders and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, both of which are coming off impressive seasons that included conference championship appearances, on December 20 and 21, respectively.
The Lady Vols are set to clash with the Spiders at 2:15 p.m. ET on Friday, December 20, before engaging in an 11 a.m. contest against the Golden Hurricane on Saturday, December 21. Both games will take place at the inviting Massimino Court, located on the picturesque Keiser University campus in sunny West Palm Beach, Florida. Basketball enthusiasts can secure their tickets through the official website of the tournament organizer, Coast 2 Coast Basketball, here.
The venue, Massimino Court, bears the name of the legendary College Basketball Hall of Fame men’s coach Rollie Massimino, whose last coaching tenure from 2006 to 2017 was at Keiser University, which was formerly known as Northwood University. Massimino rose to fame as the head coach of Villanova, where he famously led the Wildcats to a national championship title, solidifying his place in basketball history.
Just prior to heading to Florida, the Lady Vols will take to the road for an encounter against Memphis on December 18, setting the stage for a thrilling trio of games away from home before they enjoy a well-deserved winter break.
SERIES NOTES
vs. Richmond (Dec. 20)
- This matchup marks the second-ever meeting between these historic programs.
- The only previous women’s basketball clash occurred on January 14, 1991, when the highly ranked Lady Vols, then No. 2/3, dominated the Spiders with an impressive 80-54 victory in Knoxville.
- Tennessee boasts an unblemished 26-0 all-time record against teams from the Atlantic-10 Conference.
- During the 2023-24 season, Richmond achieved an outstanding 29-2 overall record and an impressive 16-2 mark in A-10 competition, thereby clinching both the regular season and tournament titles.
- In the 2024 NCAA First Round, the Spiders displayed their tenacity against Duke, leading 37-28 at halftime before ultimately succumbing to a 72-61 defeat in the second half.
- Richmond is currently guided by head coach Aaron Roussell, who enters his sixth season at the helm with a 94-57 record and begins his 21st year in coaching with a commendable overall record of 406-179.
- His coaching excellence was recognized when he was named the 2024 A-10 Coach of the Year.
vs. Tulsa (Dec. 21)
- This encounter will signify Tennessee’s inaugural meeting with the Golden Hurricane.
- UT has a remarkable 44-1 all-time record against women’s basketball teams in the American Athletic Conference, showcasing their dominance.
- In the previous season, Tulsa concluded with a commendable 25-10 overall record and a tied for first place finish in AAC action with a strong 13-5 record.
- The Golden Hurricane advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament before being eliminated by Illinois in a competitive match that ended 69-61.
- Tulsa is led by fourth-year head coach Angie Nelp, who previously served as the associate head coach under Charli Turner Thorne at Arizona State, bringing her experience and insight to the Golden Hurricane.
- Under Nelp’s guidance, the program has flourished, as she has achieved a remarkable 59-34 record, making her the first coach in program history to secure winning seasons in each of her initial three campaigns.
