#6 Tennessee used outstanding defense and superior post play to chalk up a 69-49 victory at Ole Miss' Tad Smith Coliseumon Thursdaynight. The Lady Vols stayed perfect in SEC play at 11-0 and moved to 21-3 overall. Tennessee has now won its last 18 games against SEC foes dating to Feb. 20, 2014.
The Lady Vols interior players Isabelle Harrison (21 points and 14 rebounds) and Bashaara Graves (17 points) combined for 38 of the team's 69 points. Graves made all seven of her attempts from the floor. Harrison's 14 rebounds were a new season-high.
Tennessee shot 52.8 from the floor including 56.0 in the second half.
Ole Miss (14-10, 4-7) did not have player score in double-figures as the Rebels shot 29.8 from the floor as Tennessee's defense caused them issues all night. Gracie Frizzell and Shandricka Sessom each had nine points to lead the Rebels.
The game was never in doubt for the Lady Vols as they won their 12th consecutive game at the `Tad Pad' and 27th in a row in the series. Ole Miss' last win vs. Tennessee came in 1996.
Tennessee built a 20-11 led midway throughout he first half as the Lady Vols kept Ole Miss scoreless for more than seven minutes. Tennessee's defense forced Ole Miss to miss eight field goals and five turnovers during that span.
The Lady Vols held a 34-17 lead at halftime as Harrison had a double-double in the first half alone with 15 points an 10 rebounds.
Tennessee held the SEC's second leading scorer Tia Faleru (15.0 ppg) without a point in the game.
The Lady Vols doubled the Rebels, 48-24, in the paint and outrebounded them 46-29, led by Harrison's monster game.
The Lady Vols return to actionon Sundayas they host #10 Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena at3 p.m. ET. That game airs on ESPN2 and can be heard on the Lady Vol Network.