Ariel Massengale's sharp 3-point shooting in the second half helped Tennessee erase a nine-point deficit and mount a 60-51 comeback win over Arkansason Sundayat Bud Walton Arena.
Tennessee (14-2, 4-0 SEC) scored 42 points in the second half to remain undefeated in conference play. Arkansas fell to 10-5 and 0-3 in SEC games. Tennessee improved 26-2 in its all-time series with Arkansas and 13-1 in games played in Fayetteville.
Isabelle Harrison came through in a physical game in the paint. She posted her fourth double-double of the year and the 28th of her career with 13 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.
The Lady Vols matched their season-high blocks with nine.Cierra Burdick and Andraya Carter each recorded three. Harrison had two.
Massengale dished out four assists and finished with 16 points and was 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Burdick came alive in the second half, scoring 14 of her 17 points in the second half.
Jessica Jackson led Arkansas with 18 points. Melissa Wolff finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Tennessee's 3-point shooting came alive in the second half. After going 0-of-6 from long distance in the first half, the Lady Vols hit 6-of-7 after halftime to surge in the final 10 minutes of the game.
The Lady Vols clawed back from a nine-point deficit with a 16-3 run that featured outstanding play by Ariel Massengale. Massengale scored 11 points in that stretch and sparked the Tennessee offense back to life with a big trey from the left wing and then drained two free throws to pull the Lady Vols to within 37-33 with13:11left. Massengale hit another big 3-pointer from the right wing two minutes later to pull Tennessee to within 39-37 and then swished another triple from the left wing to knot the game at 40-40. Jordan Reynolds jumper from the left side with6:41on the clock gave the Lady Vols their first lead of the game at 42-40.
Jessica Jackson scored all eight points of an 8-2 Razorback run that gave Arkansas its largest lead of the game at 37-28 with11:48remaining.
After Arkansas scored six-straight points at the start of the second half, Tennessee answered with its own 6-0 run thanks to a Reynolds a 3-pointer with the shot-clock expiring and Cierra Burdick's and-1.
The Lady Vols worked the paint in the last five minutes of the first half, getting to the free throw line to climb back and trail just 21-18 at the halftime. Isabelle Harrison hit a jumper from the right side with four seconds remaining in the half to make it a one-possession game. UT shot just 21.4 percent (6-of-28) and Arkansas shot just 31.3 percent (10-of-32) in the first half. The Razorbacks had a 24-20 rebounding advantage heading into the break.
Tennessee's 18 points at halftime tied for its eighth-fewest first-half points in program history and the Lady Vols fewest since scoring 18 against Alabama on Feb. 2, 2014.
The game started slow with Tennessee shooting just 1-of-8 and Arkansas shooting 2-of-11 through the first six minutes. The Lady Vols pulled ahead, 9-8, with10:05remaining in the first half after Harrison scored five-straight points. The Razorback charged back in front with a 7-0 run.
Tennessee continues its three-game road swing onThursday, Jan. 15, when the Lady Vols take on Auburn at Auburn Arena at8 p.m. ETon Fox Sports Net. After aJan. 19road game against No. 4/4 Notre Dame, Tennessee returns to Thompson-Boling Arena onJan. 22to host LSU.