The Tennessee Lady Vols have made it back to the Sweet 16 in the women’s NCAA Tournament, defeating fourth-seeded Ohio State 82-67 on Sunday night. Led by Talaysia Cooper’s 19 points and eight rebounds, Tennessee (24-9) forced 23 turnovers and advanced to play either No. 1 seed Texas or No. 8 seed Illinois on Saturday.
Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell praised her team’s hard work, saying they played the hardest game of the season. The Lady Vols’ huddles were tight, and they did a good job of playing through the runs by Ohio State. Caldwell also emphasized that this win shows Tennessee is growing as a team and playing together.
The Lady Vols have made it to the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons, with coach Caldwell saying it’s a big milestone for the program and the players who transferred in during her first year.
Tennessee’s victory marked Ohio State’s second straight season of missing the Sweet 16. The Buckeyes had a 20-2 run in the second half but ultimately came up short. Coach Kevin McGuff credited Tennessee’s defense, saying they played well and deserved to win.
With this win, Tennessee has secured its record 37th Sweet 16 appearance and will look to make a deep run in the tournament.
Source: https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401746028