Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Highway Patrol said it is ramping up efforts to ensure safety on the state’s roadways during the holiday season.
As a part of the Holiday Safety Enforcement Campaign, state troopers will be out in full force in an effort to prevent serious crashes and fatalities.
“The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, but they also bring increased risks on the road,” said Colonel Matt Perry of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “We’re asking all drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and always buckle up. Our goal is to make sure everyone arrives at their destination safely.”
THP officials said the campaign will focus on reducing impaired driving, speeding, aggressive drivers and distracted driving across all 95 counties.
Colonel Perry also reminded drivers of the dangers of drowsy driving.
“If you start to feel sleepy, pull over to a safe spot, take a short nap, or roll down your window for some fresh air,” Perry said. “Don’t risk your life or the lives of others by driving drowsy.”
Officials said you can report distracted or other unsafe driving by calling *THP hands-free.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol cruiser. (Courtesy: WVLT / WSMV)
Sweetwater, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office revealed that officials with the City of Sweetwater made questionable credit card purchases totaling more than $130,000 over the course of nearly a decade.
According to the investigation, city officials made purchases totaling $132,680.03 from December 2014 through June 2023, including at least $2,615.99 the city paid in taxes and fees.
Types of Questionable Expenditures
Total ($)
Taxes or Fees ($)
Food
71,636.67
1,967.41
Unsupported
36,009.14
73.12
Equipment and Supplies
10,287.60
254.55
Planning, Development, or Tourism
9,843.38
205.63
Contingency and Gifts
4,248.65
97.54
Travel
654.53
17.74
Grand Total
132,680.03
2,615.99
City officials “frequently dined at restaurants or food trucks located in Sweetwater or nearby cities such as Athens, Cleveland, Crossville, Farragut, Knoxville, Lenoir City, Madisonville, and Spring City,” the Comptroller Office’s investigation said. However, the city did not have a policy governing the purchase of food, the purpose of the meals or who was present.
Additionally, investigators said city officials made unsupported purchases including Amazon Prime and Adobe subscriptions and equipment and supply purchases, such as diffusers and essential oils.
The Comptroller’s Office also said city officials made other questionable purchases totaling $34,165.66 that were coded to an account nicknamed “gun pay.”
“Many city employee purchases appeared to be relevant to city business, such as police employees purchasing firearms or several employees purchasing clothing and boots for additional uniforms; however, some city employee purchases appeared to be abusive by benefiting the employee as a payroll advance rather than benefiting the city,” investigators said.
According to the Comptroller’s Office, the investigation revealed the following deficiencies:
City of Sweetwater officials failed to provide adequate oversight or separate financial duties
City of Sweetwater officials failed to establish an adequate prior approval system for purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to maintain adequate supporting documentation for purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to maintain adequate supporting documentation for city accounts
City of Sweetwater officials routinely paid sales taxes on city purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to establish adequate written policies governing city purchases
Investigators said city officials “indicated that they have corrected or intend to correct these deficiencies.”
The City of Sweetwater providing our news partner WVLT with following statement:
“As a result of a comprehensive investigation over the scope of nearly nine years, the Comptroller’s Office of the State of Tennessee is releasing a report spanning from 2014 to 2023. And while the report makes only two findings, neither of which are criminal, the City of Sweetwater takes this review very seriously. The report recommends a few internal control policy changes, several of which have already been implemented and adopted by the City of Sweetwater. We will now take time for internal review on additional procedures and policies to ensure continued public confidence. We want to continue to sharpen and improve our internal controls to benefit the citizens of Sweetwater.
We are grateful to see this matter closed, and appreciate the diligence the staff and state personnel provided throughout the course of this thorough investigation.“ – City of Sweetwater
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Knoxille police have identified the suspect in a deadly Knoxville shooting.
Officers responded to Washington Pike early Thursday morning, December 19. Investigators say 21-year-old Kevin Martinez shot and killed the victim, 38-year-old Ernest Glenn.
Nashville police arrested Martinez as he was boarding a Greyhound bus there.
He is now being charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.
KPD says he will be extradited back to Knoxville in the coming days.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police Department officials Friday afternoon identify the victim of a deadly shooting Thursday on Washington Pike while the search for a suspect continues.
KPD says 38-year-old Ernest Glenn of Knoxville was shot at least once and pronounced dead at the scene in the 2900 block of Washington Pike after crashing his car into a fence.
Officials say a second gunshot victim, identified only as a 45-year-old man, remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Police believe, at this time, that the shooting was targeted and not random in nature.
According to KPD, a suspect has not been identified or charged, but detectives are pursuing active leads.
The shooting remains under investigation by the KPD Homicide Unit.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 865-215-7165. Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward.
Kevin Martinez, 21 (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The seventh-ranked Vols fell to No. 6 Ohio State, 42-17, at Ohio Stadium Saturday night in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.
Tennessee finished the season 10-3, earning its second 10-win campaign in the past three seasons under head coach Josh Heupel. The Vols’ 30 victories since 2022 are the most for the program in a three-year span since 1998-2000.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava finished the night 14-for-31 with 104 passing yards, adding 47 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. The redshirt freshman concluded his first season as the starting quarterback with a 10-3 record, becoming the first freshman quarterback—true or redshirt—in Tennessee history to win 10 games in a single season.
Wide receiver Bru McCoy was Iamaleava’s favorite target, hauling in four receptions for 40 yards.
Freshman running back Peyton Lewis led the Vols in rushing, carrying the ball 10 times for 77 yards.
Ohio State (11-2) jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead, scoring on its first three drives of the game. Quarterback Will Howard connected with receiver Jeremiah Smith on a 37-yard touchdown pass on OSU’s opening drive.
The Buckeyes scored twice on the ground in the first half, with Quinshon Judkins punching in a one-yard run, followed by a 29-yard rushing touchdown from TreVeyon Henderson.
With Ohio State driving and threatening to take a four-score lead, redshirt senior defensive back Will Brooks intercepted Howard in the back of the end zone with 10:02 remaining in the second quarter—his fourth interception of the season.
Tennessee used the pick to build momentum, driving 62 yards in nine plays for its first score of the night—a 36-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Max Gilbert. UT’s defense forced a quick three-and-out on OSU’s next possession as the Vols fought back.
Iamaleava marched Tennessee down the field in 16 plays on the ensuing drive, capping the series with a two-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the Buckeyes’ lead to 21-10 going into halftime.
Ohio State repeated its first-half performance, scoring touchdowns on its first three second-half drives. Howard and Smith connected on a 22-yard touchdown pass before Judkins and Henderson rushed for touchdowns of one yard and 24 yards, respectively.
The Vols added a late touchdown as Iamaleava plunged in for a two-yard score with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee registered seven tackles for loss in Saturday’s game, finishing the year with 100 TFLs—tied for the eighth-most in a season in Tennessee history. The Vols have now produced triple-digit tackles for loss in three of four seasons under defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Telander led the team with a career-high 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss.
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | December 21, 2024
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Senior forward Sara Puckett scored 12 of her season-high 17 points in the second quarter, aiding a 41-11 Big Orange blitz in that period that sent No. 18/16 Tennessee on its way to a 102-61 victory over Tulsa on Saturday at the West Palm Beach Classic.
The Lady Vols closed out their stay in Florida with a 2-0 mark and improved to 11-0 overall. This marks UT’s best start since opening 15-0 in 2017-18.
Puckett finished seven of 12 from the field, including 3-of-5 marksmanship from long range, and added seven rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. She knocked down five of seven field goal attempts in the second period, including two three-pointers in three tries, as her team broke open a 22-20 game after the opening period.
Joining Puckett in double figures were Jewel Spear, who fired in 16 via four treys, junior Zee Spearman, who added 15, and redshirt sophomore Talaysia Cooper and junior Ruby Whitehorn, who chipped in 13 each. Spearman finished one shy of a double-double with a team-high nine boards.
Tulsa, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped, fell to 6-6. The Golden Hurricane got 17 points from Delanie Crawford, 12 from Mady Cartwright and 11 from Jade Clack on the offensive end. Hadley Periman pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Lady Vols grabbed a quick 2-0 lead on a pair of free throws from Zee Spearman, but Tulsa was the aggressor early on. The Golden Hurricane built a 9-4 cushion by the 7:45 mark before a three-pointer from Cooper, a layup by Jillian Hollingshead and free throws by Alyssa Latham evened things up at 11-all with 5:58 to go. A pair of buckets by TU, though, sent it into the 4:24 media break with a 15-11 advantage, thanks to a 12-4 differential in points in the paint and 58.3-percent shooting. Tennessee began to whittle away at the deficit, getting a pair of Spear free throws and a Puckett three to retake the lead, 18-17, with 2:27 remaining. A Spearman close-range bank shot and a Cooper putback down the stretch helped their squad close out the opening stanza with a 22-20 edge.
A Cooper jumper in the paint and another from Spearman from the baseline provided the Lady Vols their biggest lead, 26-20, forcing Tulsa to ask for a timeout with 8:31 left in the second quarter. The run continued, reaching 10-0 as Tennessee increased its pressure and held its foes scoreless from the 2:18 mark in the first quarter until 6:39 remaining in the second and upped the score to 30-20. After the Golden Hurricane ended the drought with a bucket, UT scored the next five points and forced another TU timeout with the Big Orange leading 35-22 at the 6:08 mark. The Golden Hurricane scored shortly after the break, but another UT 9-0 burst propelled the Lady Vols to a 20-point lead, 44-24, with 3:08 showing on the clock. The Lady Vols closed out the first 20 minutes by outscoring Tulsa, 19-7, to take a 63-31 at the intermission behind 12 of Puckett’s 15 points in the first half.
Tennessee increased its margin by one in the early going of the second half, with Spear’s third trey of the game sending the teams into the 4:55 media timeout with the Big Orange on top, 71-38. A Darby three ball ballooned the lead to 37, 78-41, leading to a Tulsa timeout with 1:43 to go in the third. The Golden Hurricane tallied the last four points of the period to make it 78-45, UT, heading into the final 10 minutes.
The Lady Vols rotated in fresh reserves in the final frame, hitting a 40-point lead when Edie Darby drained a three in her third straight game to make it 89-49 with 5:21 remaining. A Cooper jumper in the paint sent the teams into the final media timeout with UT leading, 91-52. A Whitehorn layup and Destinee Wells three elicited Tulsa’s final timeout with 2:37 to go and the Big Orange leading 96-54. A Spearman three, a bucket by Avery Strickland and a free throw by Kaniya Boyd helped their squad close out the game and eclipse 100 points.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will take a brief holiday break and then return to action on Dec. 29, as they play host to Winthrop at Food City Center. Tennessee and the Eagles will meet at 2 p.m. ET in the Big Orange’s first Sunday home game of the season. The contest will be streamed on SECN+ and broadcast statewide on Lady Vol Network radio stations and worldwide via live stream on UTSports.com.
ELEVEN WINS IN A ROW: In her first year as the head coach of the Lady Vols, Kim Caldwell has guided the team to an 11-0 start, marking only the second time in 13 seasons UT has opened a campaign with that many wins. The 2024-25 squad joined the 2017-18 (15-0) unit in opening their years that way. UT won its first 11 contests for only the 10th time in program history, and Caldwell has built her second-best start to a season in her ninth year as a head coach. Top honors go to her 2021-22 GSU squad that started 29-0 on its way to 35-1 and an NCAA Division II national title
LOTS OF BUCKETS FOR PUCKETT: Sara Puckett produced a strong showing, racking up a team-leading and season-high 17 points versus Tulsa. Puckett made seven of 12 field goal attempts and hit three of five treys. The senior finished with a season-high seven rebounds, two steals and two assists. It’s the fifth game Puckett has landed in double figures.
TREYS FOR DAYS: Tennessee carded its seventh performance with ten or more three-pointers in a single contest, hitting 14 against Tulsa. The Big Orange was on target often, hitting 43.8 percent from beyond the arc. Nine Lady Vols knocked down a three-pointer, with Jewel Spear and Sara Puckett leading the charge with four and three, respectively. In addition to the double-digit team three-point effort vs. the Golden Hurricane, Tennessee drained an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys vs. N.C. Central and had 15 vs. MTSU, 14 vs. Liberty, 12 vs. Memphis, and 10 vs. Western Carolina and Samford.
100-POINT DUB: The Lady Vols tallied their fifth 100-point game of the 2024-25 season. That gives the program 92 all-time regular-season scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the Tulsa contest. Prior to Saturday’s matchup, UT had 101 in the opener vs. Samford on Nov. 5, 109 vs. Liberty on Nov. 16, 102 vs. Western Carolina on Nov. 26 and a school and SEC-record 139 vs. N.C. Central on Dec. 14.
PRESSURE SPARKS SUCCESS: The Lady Vols forced Tulsa to turn the ball over a total of 23 times during Saturday’s win, posting a 27-13 advantage on points off turnovers. Eight of Tennessee’s foes thus far have committed at least 22 miscues, including N.C. Central (44), Samford (37), Western Carolina (37), UT Martin (31), Iowa (30), Liberty (25), Tulsa (23) and Middle Tennessee (22). Tennessee also forced a 10-second violation versus the Golden Hurricane, with UT’s press now resulting in 13 10-second violations by opponents through 11 games.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After three weeks of rest and preparation, the time has finally arrived for No. 7 Tennessee’s College Football Playoff debut as it takes on No. 6 Ohio State tonight in primetime at Ohio Stadium.
Tonight’s showdown in Columbus will mark the Volunteers’ first-ever road game against a Big 10 team at the time of the meeting as well as the program’s first time playing a game in the state of Ohio.
In the first year of the expanded 12-team playoff, UT enters as the No. 9 seed after posting a 10-2 record overall with a 6-2 mark in the Southeastern Conference while the Buckeyes are the No. 8 seed after finishing 10-2 overall, including a 7-2 record in the Big 10.
Saturday’s game will be nationally televised on ABC and ESPN with Chris Fowler (PxP), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Marty Smith (field reporter) and Holly Rowe (field reporter) on the call. Coverage is slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
The game will also feature an ESPN Megacast with multiple auxiliary broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks, all of which are listed below.
Main Broadcast (ABC & ESPN): LINK McAfee Field Pass (ESPN2): LINK Command Center (ESPNU): LINK SkyCast (ESPNews): LINK SkyCast 2 (SEC Network): LINK Spanish Broadcast (ESPN Deportes): LINK Halftime Band Performances (ESPN3): LINK
Fans can listen to Tennessee’s official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (Local: WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1) over 65 stations across the state of Tennessee and the southeast, SiriusXM (Ch. 82) and the SiriusXM app (Ch. 82), as well as the Varsity App. A live audio stream of the broadcast will also be available on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics App. Fans attending the game are encouraged to listen to the radio broadcast via the Vol Network Stadiumcast on 91.1 FM.
Bob Kesling (PxP), VFL Pat Ryan (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action, with VFL Jayson Swain handling sideline duties for the Vol Network radio broadcast. The Big Orange Countdown pregame show begins two hours prior to kickoff at 6 p.m. ET. The pregame show is hosted by John Wilkerson, Hubbs, Swain and a rotating VFL special guest each week. The Vol Network celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024.
The Spanish broadcast is available locally on WNML-AM 990 with Carlos Lopez (play-by-play) and VFL Fuad Reveiz on the call.
SEC Network will be on location in Ohio Stadium. A special edition of Marty & McGee airs at 6 p.m. followed by SEC Now at 7 p.m.
Additionally, fans should note the Ohio Stadium bag policy – bags or purses of any size are NOT permitted in Ohio Stadium. Wallets, clutches or wristlets no larger than 5″ x 8″ x 1″ are permitted. Fans should also be aware that Ohio Stadium is a CASHLESS venue. Concession stands accept debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Any fans that purchased tickets through Tennessee Athletics’ official allotment are encouraged to enter through Gate 6.
NEED TO KNOW
Vols Set to Make CFP Debut Tennessee will make its first appearance in the College Football Playoff this Saturday night when it squares off against Ohio State at The Shoe. The contest will be the Vols’ first game in the state of Ohio and just their second-ever meeting with the Buckeyes. The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to the CFP quarterfinals to take on No. 1 seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.
D-Samp, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year Junior running back Dylan Sampson has orchestrated one of the most prolific rushing seasons in SEC history and was recognized by being named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press. Sampson has also earned All-America honors from seven different outlets after setting four single-season program records.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native enters this weekend’s contest with a Tennessee record 22 rushing touchdowns, a mark that leads the Power Four and ranks fourth nationally as well as tied for fifth in SEC history with LSU’s Leonard Fournette (2015). Sampson has found pay dirt at least once in 11 games this season and has scored multiple touchdowns seven different times. He is tied for second in program history for career rushing scores with 35 and needs just two more to tie Gene McEver’s record of 37 from 1928-31.
Sampson also enters the CFP first round matchup at Ohio State as the SEC’s leading rusher with 1,485 yards, which is another single-season program record after he ran for a career-high 178 yards in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt to surpass Travis Stephens previous record of 1,464 yards in 2001.
Championship Caliber Defense Led by defensive coordinator and Broyles Award finalist Tim Banks, the Vols have boasted one of the nation’s top defensive units all year long, ranking among the FBS leaders in scoring defense (t-4th – 13.9), yards per play allowed (4th – 4.33), total defense (4th – 278.3), third-down defense (5th – 29.5), tackles for loss (7th – 7.8), rushing defense (8th – 99.6) and red zone defense (11th – 73.5).
Tennessee has held its opponents to under 20 points in 11 out of its last 13 games dating back to last season’s 35-0 Citrus Bowl shutout of Iowa. During this stretch, the Vols have pitched three shutouts, including two this season (71-0 vs. Kent State on Sept. 14 and 56-0 vs. UTEP on Nov. 23). It’s the first time UT has recorded multiple shutouts in a season since the final two regular season games of 2002 against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Tennessee and Texas are the only SEC teams to hold 10 of their opponents under 20 points this season.
Nico Playing His Best Football Quarterback Nico Iamaleava enters Saturday’s game playing his best football of the season. The redshirt freshman has passed for four touchdowns in back-to-back games, becoming the first UT player to do so since Tyler Bray did it in three-straight games during the 2012 season.
Iamaleava is the first Tennessee freshman quarterback in school history – true or redshirt – to win 10 games in a season as the starter. He’s also the first UT signal caller to do so overall since Casey Clausen posted a 10-3 record as a senior in 2003. Iamaleava is seeking to become the first Vols’ quarterback to win at least 11 games in a season as the starter since Clausen went 11-2 as a sophomore in 2001.
Non-Conference Success Tennessee comes into Saturday’s contest with a non-conference winning streak that sits at 14 games, its longest since winning 27 straight against non-SEC foes from 1969-73. The current streak dates back to a Sept. 1, 2022, season-opening victory over Ball State. The Vols’ last non-conference loss was to Purdue in the 2021 Music City Bowl.
Under head coach Josh Heupel, UT is 17-2 in non-conference games and has outscored its opponents 950-246. The Vols have won their last four against non-conference ranked teams, as well (at No. 17 Pitt, vs. No. 10 Clemson, vs. No. 20 Iowa, vs. No. 24 NC State). Since the start of the 2022 season, Tennessee is 14-0 versus non-conference teams. Only Georgia (15-0) owns a better non-conference record in the FBS during that span. The Big Orange are seeking their first road win over a non-conference top-10 team since beating No. 6 Miami, 10-6, in Miami on Nov. 8, 2003.
ESPN College GameDay on Site For the third time this season, ESPN College GameDay will be on site for a Tennessee road game. Saturday will mark the Vols’ 27th all-time appearance on the show, as well. In the previous five College GameDay appearances for the Big Orange under head coach Josh Heupel, they have posted a 3-2 record, with victories over Oklahoma (2024), Alabama (2022) and Florida (2022).
SERIES HISTORY
Tennessee leads series, 1-0 The Vols and Buckeyes will meet for the just second time in the storied history of the two programs when they face off on Saturday night. Tennessee won the only prior contest in the series, posting a 20-14 victory in a battle of top-five teams at the 1996 Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
Running back Jay Graham was named the game’s MVP after rushing for 154 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Peyton Manning passed for 182 yards and a score, connecting with star wideout Joey Kent seven times for 109 yards.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
Ohio State is making its sixth College Football Playoff appearance in program history, which ranks third in the FBS behind Alabama (eight) and Clemson (seven). The Buckeyes are one of six teams to win a national championship in the CFP era, winning the very first playoff in 2014. They are led by head coach Ryan Day, who has posted an impressive 66-10 overall record during his time in Columbus.
The Buckeyes are led by one of the nation’s most dominant defenses, ranking No. 1 nationally in points per game allowed (10.9), yards per game allowed (241.1) and red zone defense (55.2). All-American safety Caleb Downs leads the Ohio State defense, totaling 61 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and an interception. Junior linebacker Sonny Styles leads the team with 76 total tackles while senior defensive end JT Tuimoloau has wreaked havoc off the edge with a team-high 11.5 TFLs and six sacks.
Offensively, OSU ranks 16th in the country in scoring, averaging 35.5 points per game. The Buckeyes feature a balanced attack, having passed for 3,052 yards and rushed for 2,030 yards on the year. The dynamic backfield duo of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson have combined for 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground this season. Quarterback Will Howard has been effective, as well, completing 73 percent of his passes for 2,860 yards and 27 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. Ohio State boasts one of the nation’s most talented receiving corps, with the trio of Jeremiah Smith (57 rec., 934 yds, 10 TD), Emeka Egbuka (60 rec., 743 yds, 9 TD) and Carnell Tate (41 rec., 583 yds, 4 TD) leading the way.
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | December 20, 2024 | Eric Trainer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper scored 15 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter, propelling No. 18/16 Tennessee past RV/NR Richmond, 92-67, on Friday afternoon at the West Palm Beach Classic.
With a partisan orange-clad crowd cheering them on, the Lady Volunteers improved to 10-0 on the season, marking the third time during the post-Pat Summitt era and 13th time in program history the team has begun a campaign with 10 straight wins. The Spiders, who are ranked No. 31 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, fell to 9-3 after losing their second straight game to a ranked Power Four program. No. 6 Texas defeated UR by 11 last Sunday, 65-54, on the Spiders’ home court.
Cooper, a 6-0 guard, took over in the third stanza, scoring 15 of the Lady Vols’ 26 points in the frame after Richmond cut the gap to six just after halftime. She finished 10 of 18 from the field and added five steals in her sixth game this season with 20 or more points.
Also hitting double figures in points for the Big Orange were Ruby Whitehorn with 15 and Samara Spencer with 11, with the Fort Lauderdale native knocking down three of seven tries beyond the arc and dishing a game-best six assists. Zee Spearman led her squad on the glass, hauling down nine caroms and was a rebound bucket shy of her second straight double-double with eight points on the day.
Richmond, which trailed 23-21 after one and 47-39 at the half, was led by Rachel Ullstrom with 19 points. Maggie Doogan, Ally Sweeney and Addie Budnik chipped in 14, 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Lady Vols pushed in front early, taking a 5-0 lead with 9:07 to go on a jumper by Spearman and a Tess Darby three. Richmond evened the score at five, 10 and 12, and countered a Kaniya Boyd putback with a Doogan three to take a 15-14 advantage at the 4:46 media break. The Spiders grabbed their biggest lead of the game, 17-14, on an Ullstrom three-pointer with 4:33 remaining and led 19-16 on an Anna Camden layup at the 2:29 mark before UT reeled off five straight to wrestle back the lead, 21-19, on a three by Sara Puckett and a Spearman putback. After UR evened it up at 21, Spencer hit a runner before the buzzer sounded to provide her team a 23-21 lead after one.
UR knotted it up at 23-all out of the quarter break, but Tennessee built its biggest gap at 30-23 on the strength of a Whitehorn jumper off the glass, a Spencer three and an Alyssa Latham layup. UT pushed its lead to nine, 34-25, with 5:49 to go on a pair of Boyd free throws and a Whitehorn turnaround jumper in the paint. A 9-4 spurt via three-balls from Cooper, Spencer and Darby extended the Lady Vol lead to 13, 43-30, and forced the Spiders to ask for time with 3:15 left. UT pushed the gap to 15, 47-32, on a Whitehorn layup with 1:55 remaining, but UR trimmed the deficit to eight with a 7-0 half-ending run to trail the Big Orange, 47-39.
Richmond scored first in the second half, trimming the margin to six, 47-41, on a pair of free throws with 9:35 on the clock. Cooper offered a quick and thorough personal response, scoring 11 points over the next four minutes and putting her team up by 17, 60-43, on a layup with 5:29 to go. The Spiders managed a score before heading into the 4:29 media break trailing 60-45. Another 8-2 burst by the Lady Vols, capped by a Cooper layup, forced UR to call another timeout with UT on top, 68-47, with 2:02 left. Cooper added two more buckets in the final two minutes, finishing with 15 for the period and enabling the Big Orange to take a comfortable 73-50 cushion into the fourth frame.
A 7-2 Richmond blitz to start the final quarter elicited a timeout by Tennessee with 8:04 remaining and the Lady Vols in front, 75-57. After some course correction from head coach Kim Caldwell, Tennessee pushed back in front by 20 at 81-61 with 3:38 reading on the board, getting a layup after Cooper found Puckett en route to the bucket. An Edie Darby three-pointer with 20 ticks left gave UT its largest lead of the afternoon, 92-65, before the Spiders scored the game’s final points to end the proceedings at 92-67.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will take a brief holiday break and then return to action on Dec. 29, as they play host to Winthrop at Food City Center. Tennessee and the Eagles will meet at 2 p.m. ET in the Big Orange’s first Sunday home game of the season. The contest will be streamed on SECN+ and broadcast statewide on Lady Vol Network radio stations and worldwide via live stream on UTSports.com.
10-0 AND COUNTING: Under first-year head coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols have compiled a 10-0 start for the 13th time in program history. It marks the third 10-0 start in the past 13 seasons and joins the 2017-18 (15-0) and 2013-14 (10-0) post-Pat Summitt era UT squads in opening their campaigns that way. Caldwell has built her second-best start to a season in her ninth year as a head coach. Top honors go to her 2021-22 GSU squad that started 29-0 on its way to 35-1 and an NCAA Division II national title
NINE GAMES WITH A NEW FIVE: Tennessee has started the season 10-0 with nine different starting lineups and eight different players appearing in the first five. Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Talaysia Cooper and Zee Spearman opened the contest on Friday afternoon against the Spiders, marking the ninth unique first five. The tandem of Cooper and Spencer lead the squad with eight starts apiece. Spearman tallied her sixth start of the season, while Darby earned her fifth.
CAN’T CONTAIN COOP: Talaysia Cooper fired in a team-leading 24 points on Friday against the Spiders. She also led the squad in steals with five, while also producing an assist and a rebound. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures in every game this season except for one, carding her eighth straight double-digit contest. Cooper also recorded her sixth 20-point performance of the season. The guard has now added 20 or more points against the following opponents: Liberty (33), Richmond (24), Iowa (23), Florida State (22), N.C. Central (21) and Western Carolina (20).
SUCCESS IN THE PAINT: The Lady Vols established a big presence in the paint, contributing 52 points from the lane. It marks the seventh time thus far that Tennessee has recorded 40 or more points from paint production. The squad tallied their season-best against Western Carolina (60), followed by Samford (54), Richmond (52), Florida State (46), Iowa (44), Liberty (42) and UT Martin (42). The forward trio of Zee Spearman, Jillian Hollingshead and Sara Puckett combined for 17 of those points. Spearman contributed eight, Puckett tossed in five and Hollingshead notched four.
ON THE MARK: The Lady Vols connected on 37 of 72 shots for 51.4 percent against Richmond, finishing with their second-highest shooting percentage of the season. Tennessee knocked down 40 of 90 attempts (52.2 percent) against N.C. Central on Dec. 14 for their top showing. During the affair against Richmond, Tennessee posted 50 percent or higher marksmanship in three out of the four stanzas. The team got better after burying 12 of 27 shots (44.4 percent) in the opening quarter by sinking 12 of 21 buckets (57.1 percent) in the second. They followed suit in the third quarter (14 of 27, 51.9 percent) and the final period (9 of 15, 60 percent).
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) One person is dead after a house fire early this morning on Pilleaux Drive in North Knoxville.
Knoxville Fire Department officials say the call came in around 6:00 a.m.
They say responding firefighters had to cut a hole in the floor of the home to gain access to the fire which was determined to be below the floor in a crawlspace. Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly.
Fire crews found the homeowner dead inside the residence. No other injuries were reported.
The home suffered significant smoke and water damage.
An investigation is underway to determine a cause.
Knoxville Fire Department crews respond to a house fire on Pilleaux Drive in Knoxville. (Courtesy: KFD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Investigators are now learning how a body ended up in a landfill in Anderson county.
Knoxville Police say 47-year-old Mark Denton was in a dumpster on Broadway for unknown reasons when the dumpster was emptied into a trash truck and dropped off at the Chestnut Ridge landfill.
His body was found December 11; that sparked an investigation with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.
The medical examiner determined his death was accidental and occurred in Knoxville.
The Knoxville Police Department will now take over the investigation.
It began on Dec. 11 when ACSO found a man’s body at the Chestnut Ridge Landfill on Fleenor Mill Road. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Posted on December 24, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
(Story courtesy of WVLT News) Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Highway Patrol said it is ramping up efforts to ensure safety on the state’s roadways during the holiday season. As a part of the Holiday Safety Enforcement Campaign, state troopers will be out in full force in an effort to prevent serious crashes and fatalities.…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 23, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Union County man is charged after shooting a person Friday at a Walmart in Halls. According to charging documents, four men who knew each other were arguing inside the store. The report says one of the men, 23-year-old Joshua Bailey of Luttrell, pulled out a gun and shot the victim in…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 23, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Sweetwater, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office revealed that officials with the City of Sweetwater made questionable credit card purchases totaling more than $130,000 over the course of nearly a decade. According to the investigation, city officials made purchases totaling $132,680.03 from December 2014 through June 2023, including at least…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 23, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Knoxille police have identified the suspect in a deadly Knoxville shooting. Officers responded to Washington Pike early Thursday morning, December 19. Investigators say 21-year-old Kevin Martinez shot and killed the victim, 38-year-old Ernest Glenn. Nashville police arrested Martinez as he was boarding a Greyhound bus there. He is now being charged…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 22, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
Game Recap: Football | December 22, 2024 COLUMBUS, Ohio – The seventh-ranked Vols fell to No. 6 Ohio State, 42-17, at Ohio Stadium Saturday night in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff. Tennessee finished the season 10-3, earning its second 10-win campaign in the past three seasons under head coach Josh Heupel. The Vols’ 30…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 22, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | December 21, 2024 WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Senior forward Sara Puckett scored 12 of her season-high 17 points in the second quarter, aiding a 41-11 Big Orange blitz in that period that sent No. 18/16 Tennessee on its way to a 102-61 victory over Tulsa on Saturday at the West Palm Beach Classic.…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 21, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
Read Online | Watch (ABC/ESPN) | Listen (Vol Network) | Live Stats | UT Game Notes | Digital Game Program | CFP Bracket COLUMBUS, Ohio – After three weeks of rest and preparation, the time has finally arrived for No. 7 Tennessee’s College Football Playoff debut as it takes on No. 6 Ohio State tonight in primetime at Ohio Stadium. Tonight’s showdown in Columbus will mark the…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 21, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | December 20, 2024 | Eric Trainer WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper scored 15 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter, propelling No. 18/16 Tennessee past RV/NR Richmond, 92-67, on Friday afternoon at the West Palm Beach Classic. With a partisan orange-clad crowd cheering them on, the Lady Volunteers…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 20, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) One person is dead after a house fire early this morning on Pilleaux Drive in North Knoxville. Knoxville Fire Department officials say the call came in around 6:00 a.m. They say responding firefighters had to cut a hole in the floor of the home to gain access to the fire which was…… Continue Reading
Posted on December 20, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Investigators are now learning how a body ended up in a landfill in Anderson county. Knoxville Police say 47-year-old Mark Denton was in a dumpster on Broadway for unknown reasons when the dumpster was emptied into a trash truck and dropped off at the Chestnut Ridge landfill. His body was found December…… Continue Reading
