KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In a thrilling matchup of undefeated in-state rivals just outside the top 25 rankings, the Tennessee Lady Vols showcased their prowess by sinking 15 three-pointers—narrowly missing a school record—to secure an impressive 89-75 victory against Middle Tennessee on Tuesday night. The game’s excitement drew a robust crowd of 9,697 fans to the Food City Center, underscoring the significant interest in this rivalry.
The Lady Vols (3-0) tied their previous performances for second-most three-pointers in a single game, coming just shy of the program record of 16, set against Kentucky on March 6, 2011. In addition to their remarkable accuracy, Tennessee also set a new mark for three-point attempts, launching 42 shots from beyond the arc, just five attempts away from the Southeastern Conference’s record.
In a standout performance, redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper led the charge for the Big Orange, achieving her first career double-double with a remarkable tally of 18 points and 10 rebounds, shooting an impressive 50% from the floor on 8-of-16 attempts. Key contributions came from senior guard Samara Spencer, who netted 17 points, while fifth-year guard/forward Tess Darby and senior forward Sara Puckett added 14 and 13 points, respectively, helping to bolster the team’s offensive strategy.
Middle Tennessee (2-1) fought valiantly, led by guard Courtney Blakely, who recorded a game-high 25 points. She was supported in double-digit scoring by Anastasiia Boldyreva with 18 points, and contributions from Jalynn Gregory and Ta’Mia Scott, who each chipped in 13 points.
Tension filled the air at the start as MTSU quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead. However, Spencer ignited the Lady Vols’ offense, sinking a three-pointer to get the home side on the board with 7:36 left in the opening quarter. Despite MTSU’s strong initial scoring—earning 10 of their first 12 points in the paint—the Lady Vols responded with an electrifying 16-6 run, spearheaded by Spencer’s three-pointers and Cooper’s decisive layups, ending the first quarter with a 23-18 lead.
The exchange of baskets continued early in the second quarter, but a UT defensive trap forced a Middle Tennessee timeout with the Lady Vols ahead at 25-20 and 7:16 remaining on the clock. After the break, Tennessee began to assert dominance, extending their lead to 29-23 with a layup from Jillian Hollingshead and a couple of free throws from Kaniya Boyd. The Lady Vols would not look back, as they ended the half with a commanding 41-30 advantage, thanks to strong contributions from beyond the arc.
Midway through the third quarter, Tennessee established its largest lead of 17 points on two occasions, as Cooper continued to shine with her dynamic offensive play, scoring 10 points during a pivotal stretch. Entering the fourth quarter, the Lady Vols maintained a comfortable 67-57 lead despite a resilient effort from Middle Tennessee, who attempted to make a comeback.
The Blue Raiders cut the lead to eight early in the fourth, but a pair of back-to-back three-pointers from Darby re-established a solid cushion for the Lady Vols. As the final minutes approached, strong efforts from Cooper and Latham helped to consolidate Tennessee’s control of the game. Darby capped the contest with two more three-pointers, leading Tennessee to victory.
NEXT UP: The Lady Vols will return to the court on Saturday, welcoming Liberty to Knoxville, marking the fourth consecutive home game to kick off the 2024-25 season. Fans can catch the action live on SECN+ starting at noon ET.
NO SHUTTING DOWN SAM: Senior Samara Spencer was truly remarkable in the opening quarter, draining four straight three-pointers within a mere four-minute span, accounting for 13 of the Lady Vols’ 23 points in that period alone. Spencer not only reached her season high of 12 points but surged past it, finishing the quarter with an impressive 13-point performance while also setting a personal best with six field goals made. Her final stat line concluded with a season-high of 17 points and a matching record of five assists.
COOP IN CONTROL: Redshirt sophomore Talaysia Cooper emerged as a driving force in the third quarter, contributing a pivotal 12 points of the 26 scored. She celebrated a significant milestone by achieving her first career double-double, totaling 18 points and 10 rebounds, and tied her career high for field goals made with eight.
AGGRESSIVE FROM THE ARC: The Lady Vols excelled from long range, with seven players successfully sinking at least one three-pointer in the game. The team’s total of 15 three-pointers ties for the second-most in school history, matching a feat accomplished by the 2010 team. Spencer and Darby each contributed four three-pointers to the count, while Latham and Puckett made two each, showcasing the team’s depth and shooting prowess.
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE: Tennessee outperformed Middle Tennessee in the final quarter, outscoring their opponents by four points. Darby was instrumental in this stretch, successfully sinking all four of her three-point attempts, while Whitehorn and Cooper contributed significantly, ensuring Tennessee’s victory with their offensive contributions. The Lady Vols enjoyed their best shooting performance of the night with a remarkable field goal percentage of 66.7 percent in the fourth quarter.
SUCCESS AGAINST IN-STATE FOES: With the victory against Middle Tennessee, the Lady Vols enhanced their all-time record against in-state four-year colleges to an impressive 265-62-1. They have now won 21 of their last 23 matchups against schools from Tennessee, continuing a dominant trend with 37 victories out of their last 39 encounters against such teams, with their only defeats occurring against Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee in recent seasons. Notably, this season, the Lady Vols improved to 23-1 in their all-time series against the Blue Raiders, signaling their impressive run against in-state competition.
**Interview with Talaysia Cooper, Redshirt Sophomore Guard of the Tennessee Lady Vols**
**Editor:** Talaysia, congratulations on the big win against Middle Tennessee! You had an incredible performance, securing your first career double-double. How does it feel to contribute so significantly to this victory?
**Talaysia Cooper:** Thank you so much! It feels amazing to help the team win, especially against such a competitive rival. I’ve worked hard on my game, and it’s rewarding to see it all come together. I’m just grateful for my teammates and our efforts.
**Editor:** The team was just one three-pointer shy of setting a school record, hitting 15 out of 42 attempts. What was the key to your team’s success from beyond the arc during this game?
**Talaysia Cooper:** We really focused on our spacing and ball movement. Everybody was confident in taking their shots, and we supported each other. Samara [Spencer] got us started with those early threes, and that kind of sparked the whole team to build off that energy.
**Editor:** You guys had a significant crowd at the Food City Center. How did the support from nearly 10,000 fans impact your performance on the court?
**Talaysia Cooper:** The atmosphere was electric! Having that many fans behind us was incredible. It really motivates us to play harder and gives us that boost we need. It feels like we’re not just playing for ourselves; we have our whole community cheering us on.
**Editor:** It looked like Middle Tennessee put up a tough fight early in the game. What adjustments did the Lady Vols make after falling behind at the start?
**Talaysia Cooper:** We knew we needed to tighten up our defense a bit. Coach [Kelly Harper] emphasized staying disciplined and focusing on our rotations. Once we locked in, especially with that defensive trap, we started to take control and find our rhythm offensively.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, you have Liberty coming to Knoxville for your next game. What’s the focus for the team as you prepare for that matchup?
**Talaysia Cooper:** We need to maintain our momentum and continue building on our chemistry. Every game is important, and we want to keep playing at a high level. We’ve got to stay disciplined, work on our defense, and keep shooting with confidence.
**Editor:** Talaysia, thank you for the insights and best of luck in your upcoming games!
**Talaysia Cooper:** Thank you! Go Lady Vols!
