Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | March 07, 2024 | Eric Trainer
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Junior forward Sara Puckett fired in 22 points, and senior guard/forward Tess Darby recorded her first career double-double, pacing No. 5 seed Tennessee to a 76-62 victory over No. 12 seed Kentucky in the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Second Round on Thursday afternoon at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
The Lady Vols (18-11) advanced to Friday’s quarterfinal round, where they will meet No. 4 seed Alabama (23-8) at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Puckett connected on eight of 12 shots from the field for UT, including 4-of-6 accuracy from beyond the arc to pace the Big Orange’s offensive attack. Darby tossed in 10 points, including eight in the third period when UT began to separate from UK, and finished with a career-best 10 rebounds.
Senior guard Jewel Spear joined Puckett and Darby in double figures with 10, while fifth-year forward Rickea Jackson was just shy of a double-double of her own with eight points and nine boards.
The Wildcats were led in scoring by Saniah Tyler, who tallied 17 points. Ajae Petty contributed a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Eniya Russell added 11 points in the loss.
