WOMENS BASKETBALL
Tennessee 86, Florida 78
ASSOCIATED PRESS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Talaysia Cooper scored 18 points, Zee Spearman had 16 points including a key three-point play, and No. 15 Tennessee rallied in the second half to defeat Florida 86-78 on Sunday.
The Lady Vols scored 21 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter, erasing a nine-point halftime deficit and going ahead 49-45. Jewel Spear had one 3-pointer and two three-point plays in the surge.
By the end of the quarter, Tennessee had scored 37 points, including 17 points following nine Florida turnovers. The Lady Vols led 65-57 heading to the final period.
A 3-pointer by Cooper gave Tennessee an 11-point lead to open the fourth, but Ra Shaya Kyle and Laila Reynolds combined for 16 points and Florida got within four points several times, the last at 82-78 with 56 seconds remaining.
Spearman then completed a three-point play with 44 seconds left and grabbed the defensive rebound after a missed 3-pointer by Florida. Tennessee’s Samara Spencer made one free throw with 13 seconds left and Florida missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
Spencer had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Tennessee (21-6, 8-6 SEC). Spear and Ruby Whitehorn scored 10 points each.
Kyle had 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Florida (14-14, 5-9). Reynolds and Liv McGill scored 17 each and Jeriah Warren finished with 11 points.
Florida led 16-12 after one quarter and the Gators' lead was 27-26 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half. A 10-0 run helped Florida lead 37-28 at halftime.
February 23, 2025