Lady Vols Seize Junkadoo Title, 73-69, Over UAB

No. 11/11 Tennessee came from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime and seize a hard-fought victory over UAB, 73-69, on Saturday in the Junkanoo Division title game at the 2018 Women’s Junkanoo Jam.

Sophomore forward Rennia Davis, who was named the tournament MVP, led the Lady Vols (5-0) with 18 points, including three huge second-half three-pointers at Gateway Christian Academy Gymnasium. Sophomore point guard Evina Westbrook tossed in 16, followed by sophomore center Kasiyahna Kushkituah, who registered her first career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Senior Meme Jackson, who had 14 points in Thursday’s win over Clemson, had eight points and eight boards vs. UAB and joined Davis on the all-tournament team.

UAB, which led by 10 points entering the fourth frame, fell to 4-1 with its first setback of the season. The Blazers were paced by junior forwards Katelynn Thomas and Rachael Childress, who tallied 19 points each. Junior guard Miyah Barnes chipped in 13, while senior guard Deanna Kuzmanic had 10.

(more to come…)

LADY VOL NOTES

Up Next: Tennessee will travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face Oklahoma State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge at 4 p.m. ET next Saturday. The game will be carried on FS1, UT’s first linear TV broadcast of the season.

Second-Half Sophomores: Davis, Westbrook and Kushkituah combined for 33 of UT’s 44 second half points after scoring just 14 in the first half. Additionally, Davis hit three fourth-quarter threes while Kushkituah pulled down 11 boards in the second half.

Kasi’s Career Day: Kushkituah logged her first career double-double, scoring a career-high-tying 13 points while pulling down a career-high 13 boards vs. the Blazers.

Warlick’s Junkanoo Jam Success: This is Head Coach Holly Warlick‘s second Junkanoo Jam Championship, having also won the Lucaya Division in 2013. The win moves her record to 4-0 at the Junkanoo Jam tournament while advancing her record in international games to 10-0.

UT in OT: The overtime win over UAB moves Tennessee’s all-time record in OT to 32-20 and improves Warlick’s OT record as a head coach to 5-4. UT also went to overtime during last year’s holiday tournament, defeating No. 20 Marquette, 101-99, in its opening game at the Cancun Challenge.