Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (11/04/2026) — Kaylene Smikle poured in a game-high 18 points and four Lady Volunteers reached double figures as Tennessee rolled past Coppin State 98-60 on Wednesday at the Physical Education Complex, delivering a commanding performance before 1,619 fans to open the 2026 season.
How It Happened
Tennessee established control immediately, with Aaliyah Moore converting a layup on the game's opening possession. The Lady Vols never surrendered the advantage, holding firm despite two early ties. Jada Eads drained a 27-foot three-pointer off a Kennedy Fauntleroy assist to push the lead to 12-8 at the 1:03 mark of the first quarter, and Arly Zapata's layup trimmed it to 12-10 with 40 seconds remaining — the closest Coppin State would get.
Tennessee widened the gap throughout the second quarter. Gabby Minus opened the period with a 16-foot jumper, and while Coppin State responded with long-range contributions — Seimone Newton and Naomi White each connected on three-pointers to keep the Eagles within reach — the Lady Vols answered every run. Aaliyah Moore capped the half with a 25-foot three-pointer with 31 seconds left, off a Fauntleroy assist, sending Tennessee into the break with a 42-27 advantage.
Turning Point
The third quarter is where Tennessee made it a rout. Smikle stepped into back-to-back three-pointers within the first three minutes — a 26-footer at 9:52 and a 27-footer at 7:20 off a Minus assist — extending the lead to 52-27. The Lady Vols then reeled off a 16-0 run that put the game out of reach entirely. Moore drained a 23-foot three-pointer, Rylie Theuerkauf knocked one down from 25 feet off a Fauntleroy assist, and Riley Makalusky buried a 26-footer with 22 seconds left in the third to push Tennessee's lead to 75-39.
The turnover differential proved decisive: Tennessee committed just 15 turnovers while forcing 29 from Coppin State — a 14-turnover edge that generated repeated second-chance opportunities and fueled multiple extended scoring runs throughout the night.
Star of the Game
Kaylene Smikle delivered Tennessee's most impactful individual performance, finishing with 18 points and 3 rebounds. Her consecutive three-pointers to open the third quarter ignited the decisive stretch, and she added a Jada Eads-assisted layup at the 9:44 mark of the fourth to push the cushion to 77-39. Smikle's ability to create shots from deep gave Tennessee's offense an immediate gear Coppin State had no answer for.
What It Means
Tennessee's depth was a defining characteristic of this opener. Each of the four Lady Vols who reached double figures contributed in distinct ways: Smikle provided perimeter firepower; Gabby Minus anchored the interior with a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds); Kennedy Fauntleroy orchestrated the offense with 12 points and 7 assists; and Aaliyah Moore supplied scoring punch and playmaking with 11 points, two three-pointers, and two assists. The Lady Vols connected on 16 three-pointers as a team, shooting 37% from deep, and dominated the glass 50-36.
For Coppin State, Anya George led the Eagles with 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists — including a pair of 26-foot three-pointers that showed genuine perimeter range. Jayleen Jones added 12 points and Samari Taylor contributed 8 points with 7 rebounds in a steady effort. The Eagles shot 40% from the floor but managed only 20% from three-point range as a team, and the turnover disadvantage made recovery impossible against a Tennessee squad that capitalized efficiently at every opportunity.
