Jan. 28, 2013

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THE SERIES

• With the loss to Notre Dame, the all-time series sits at 20-3. It was the first win for the Fighting Irish at Thompson-Boling Arena and their third-consecutive victory over the Lady Vols.
• Tennessee is now 16-4 on the season, while Notre Dame improves to 19-1.
• Today's attendance was 13,556, the largest home crowd this season.

FOR STARTERS

• Today's starters: freshman Bashaara Graves, senior Taber Spani, sophomore Isabelle Harrison, sophomore Ariel Massengale and junior Meighan Simmons.
• Simmons is the only Lady Vol to start every game this season.
• Simmons drained Tennessee's first bucket for the seventh time this year as she swished a three-pointer to start the game.
• Freshman Jasmine Jones was the first off the bench for Tennessee.

SPREADING THE OFFENSE

• Freshman Bashaara Graves led the Lady Vols' scoring effort with 19 points.
• Along with Graves, senior Taber Spani (12) and Meighan Simmons (11) also hit double digits in scoring.
• Spani has now scored in double-figures in seven of the last eight games.
• Graves also led the squad in rebounding, finishing the game with 13 boards. Spani grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady Vols, while Kamiko Williams finished with seven.
• Tennessee out-rebounded Notre Dame, 47-45.
• Tennessee dished out 16 assists in the game, with sophomore Ariel Massengale leading the way with a season-high nine helpers.

`BASH'ING THE COMPETITION

• Freshman Bashaara Graves led the team in scoring with 19 points and rebounding with 13 boards - one shy of her career-best.
• She recorded her team-leading eighth double-double, which is second-best in the SEC.
• Graves also hit a career-high nine free throws against the Fighting Irish, going 9-of-10 from the line.

TABER DRANI

• Senior Taber Spani's free throw streak was snapped at 22-straight this evening, as the guard missed from the line with 3:54 to go in the second half. She finished the game 5-of-6 from the stripe.
• Spani had not missed a free throw since Nov. 18 and has gone 22-23 from the charity stripe since then.

MASS PASS

• Sophomore point guard Ariel Massengale's nine assists were a season high and three off her career best.
• Massengale is averaging 4.55 assists per game this season.

TO THE LINE

• The Lady Vols shot 19-of-22 from the free throw line on the night.
• Tennessee has made 15 or more free throws in five-consecutive games.

SUMMITT HONORED

• Lady Vol head coach emeritus Pat Summitt was honored prior to the game as a banner was raised in her name.
• It is the 11th banner raised in Thompson-Boling Arena and sixth on the women's side.
• Lady Vol alumni Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings, Chamique Holdsclaw and Michelle Marciniak were in attendance of tonight's ceremony.

AT THE HALF

• At the half, UT trailed by four, 33-29. It was the sixth time this year the Lady Vols have been behind at the half way point.
• Freshman Bashaara Graves led the team in scoring and rebounds as she had nine points and eight boards. Sophomore Isabelle Harrison followed with six points and five rebounds.
• Notre Dame outrebounded UT 27-26 in the first 20 minutes of action.
• The Lady Vols shot 28.6 percent from the field compared to the Fighting Irish's 35.0 percent.
• UT tallied nine fast break points to Notre Dame's four, but was outscored in the paint 20-8.

UP NEXT

• Tennessee hosts the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Thompson-Boling Arena on Thursday, Jan. 31.
• The game - scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET tip - will be broadcast live on CSS and online on ESPN3.