UT Seniors Fuel 87-49 Win Over ETSU

Sunday, November 12

Knoxville

2:00 P.M.

University of Tennessee

1-0

ETSU

1-1

ETSU

Tennessee

November 12, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Photos Highlights Warlick Presser Players Presser Quotes

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-- Double-doubles from No. 14/18 Tennessee's All-SEC senior leaders Mercedes Russell and Jaime Nared helped the Lady Vols cruise to an 87-49 season-opening win over ETSU with 8,869 looking on Sunday afternoon in Thompson Boling Arena.

Members of preseason watch lists for the Lisa Leslie and Cheryl Miller Awards, respectively, Russell and Nared turned in solid efforts vs. ETSU (1-1). Russell scored 20 points and corralled 10 rebounds, while Nared chipped in 13 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Anastasia Hayes came off the bench to contribute 17 points, the majority of which came from her impressive 12-for-13 shooting at the free-throw line.

The Buccaneers got out to a 6-5 lead in the early portion of the first quarter, but the Lady Vols (1-0) played lock-down defense, forcing ETSU into 0-for-11 shooting from the field the final 7:28 of the period. A 17-0 run from Tennessee that spanned the end of the first period into the early second quarter provided the Lady Vols a lead they would not relinquish.

The Lady Vols continued their imposing defensive play in the second quarter, as ETSU entered the break shooting just 15.4 percent (6-39) from the field and trailing, 37-16. The Bucs would finish the day at 24.7 percent on 19-of-77 shooting.

Russell and Nared took over the game in the third quarter, combining to score 20 of the team's 30 points in the period as the Lady Vols offense started clicking. With a sizeable lead, Tennessee was able to get all 10 players on the roster into the game. Every player scored at least one basket from the field and grabbed at least one board.

Tennessee controlled the paint, scoring 44 of its 87 points there and combining for 59 rebounds and 12 blocks. In addition to the seniors' contributions, freshman Rennia Davis pulled down eight caroms, and redshirt junior Cheridene Green grabbed seven to go with seven points and three blocks in her Lady Vol debut. She missed all of last season due to a knee injury suffered in 2016.

Freshman Alayjah Sherer led the Bucs, scoring with 13 points, and three players, Sherer, Raven Dean and Britney Snowden, tied for the team lead with five rebounds.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols welcome James Madison to Thompson-Boling Arena Wednesday night in the second of three straight home matches. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. and is available for viewing on SECN+.

UT'S STINGY "D": The Lady Vols only allowed East Tennessee to score six points the first quarter of the game. That amount tied for the third-fewest points ever allowed in a quarter by UT and the second-least ever allowed in an opening quarter.

FRESHMAN STARTERS: Tennessee started two freshmen (Evina Westbrook and Rennia Davis), which marked only the fourth time that has happened in an opener in program history. Current Lady Volunteers assistant coach Bridgette Gordon was a part of the second pair of freshmen to start a season opener in the 1985-86 season. Before this game, coach Holly Warlick had only started three freshmen in her five season-openers as head coach. One of those players, Andraya Carter, did color commentary for SECN+ at today's game.

RACKING UP DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Senior leaders Mercedes Russell and Jaime Nared both recorded double-doubles on the night, carding their 31st and 10th, respectively. Russell's double-double moved her into a tie with South Carolina's A'ja Wilson for the most in the SEC among active players and a tie for sixth with Isabelle Harrison for a career at Tennessee.