Second Half Pressure Powers Lady Vols Past Golden Grizzlies
Sunday afternoon the Lady Vols hosted the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in Thompson-Boling Arena. The game was toughly contested through the first half, but the Lady Vols full court pressure and upbeat tempo overpowered the Golden Grizzlies in the second.
The Lady Vols are yet to start any game with the passion that they bring in the second half. The Golden Grizzlies played a close game in the first half, bringing the Lady Vols’ lead to one point with two minutes left in the half. The Lady Vols hit two late three-pointers to escape the half with a 34-27 lead.
Holly Warlick must be an incredible motivator because the Lady Vols came out on fire in the second half. With a few tweaks to the starting lineup, the ladies opened the half with a 19-2 run would help them coast to victory. Bashaara Graves lead the team in scoring with 15 points and added 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Meighan Simmons had an excellent game as well, scoring 14 points and adding a multitude of other stats. Her three steals led to a widening of the deficit for the Golden Grizzlies. Freshman Mercedes Russell had a great game with 10 points and five rebounds. Her 6’6″ presence in the post proved to be too much for the smaller lineup for Oakland. She is quickly emerging as a star for the Lady Vols and will prove to be an asset for the team.
This marks the first time the Lady Vols have started their season a perfect 5-0 since their 2010 season. They head to the Junkaroo Jam in the Bahamas and face Virginia on Thursday and look to continue their hot win streak.
Edited by: Will Lomas
