KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –After their loss on Sunday to No. 9 Virginia Tech, Tennessee is seeking out their fifth win of the season against the Chattanooga Mocs in Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday night.
The last time they met on Dec. 27 of 2021, the Lady Vols won by exactly 50 points in a game where Tamari Key was the lead scorer for Tennessee with 18 points. Now, Key is coming off a strong performance after the Virginia Tech game, where she was met with Hokies’ 6’6 center Elizabeth Kitley, a senior of her same height. Key scored 11 points, accompanied by 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
“Tamari (Key) did a hell of a job against Kitley. She held her to… I don’t even know what she had, but she did a great job,” senior guard Jordan Horston said after Sunday’s game.
As far as offensive weapons, Horston will be in for the Lady Vols, unlike last season’s matchup when she was injured in the Chattanooga game. She scored 26 points against the Hokies on Sunday, as well as 11 rebounds, one of her many career double-double performances.
However, Jillian Hollingshead and Jasmine Franklin, two key forwards for Tennessee, still appear to be out due to concussion protocol. Additionally, Rickea Jackson is out indefinitely due to a coach’s decision. These disadvantages did not seem to be too apparent on Sunday, as Tennessee held their top-10 ranked opponent to only a 3-point lead by the final buzzer.
The Chattanooga Mocs are 6-4, and among their wins are teams such as Georgia State, Kennesaw State, and UNC Asheville. They have yet to lose to a team by more than 10 points, their greatest being a 9-point loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa last Saturday afternoon.
Senior guard Yazz Wazeerud-Din is definitely the offensive weapon for the Mocs and one that could keep Tuesday night’s game close, averaging 18.1 points per game so far this season. On the other hand, the game could serve as an opportunity for the Lady Vols to find their footing despite the loss of three key players in the games they have remaining before SEC play.
The match is set for 6:30 p.m. EST in Knoxville and will air on SECN+.