By Greyson Calonge
The Tennessee Lady Vols started with a scary slow first quarter but quickly turned it around to beat the Coppin State Eagles 98-60 at PEC Arena in Baltimore.
The Lady Vols struggled to get anything going offensively in the first quarter, finishing 4-for-18 from the field. It took Tennessee until one minute remained in the first quarter to connect on a 3-point attempt. The Lady Vols ended the first quarter with a narrow 12-10 lead behind a fantastic defensive performance. Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell came out with a full-court press and barely let up on it throughout the game.
The shooting woes didn’t last long, as the Lady Vols lit up the scoreboard in the second quarter. They outscored the Eagles 30-17 in the quarter, fueled by an 8-0 run midway through the period. This gave the Lady Vols a 42-27 advantage going into halftime.
This would be the closest the Eagles came to the Lady Vols for the rest of the game.
The Lady Vols opened the third quarter on a 15-2 run, and it seemed like all hope was lost for the Eagles. The Lady Vols connected on six 3-pointers in the third quarter and continued to stifle Coppin State defensively and on the boards, entering the fourth quarter with a 75-39 lead.
The fourth quarter was a full-team showcase for Caldwell. The Lady Vols still played with intensity in the final quarter, putting the game further out of reach for Coppin State. After 40 minutes of chippy, high-powered basketball, the Lady Vols left Baltimore with a 98-60 win and a 2-0 record following their first road test.
Kaylene Smikle led Tennessee with 18 points, continuing her strong start after scoring 31 in the season opener against Duquesne.
Gabby Minus added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Fatmata Janneh contributed 13 rebounds and five points.
Nya Robertson made her season debut with 1:54 remaining after a court granted a temporary restraining order earlier in the week, allowing her to play amid an ongoing legal battle over a fifth year of eligibility.
Robertson is the Lady Vols’ only returning player from last season.
Tennessee’s consecutive 95-point starts are a first since 2001. The Lady Vols have scored 207 points in their first two games.
UP NEXT: Tennessee looks to continue its offensive dominance as it returns to Knoxville on Tuesday to face New Haven at Food City Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.