Georgia
Tennessee
ATHENS, Ga. (02/04/2026) — The No. 19 Tennessee Lady Volunteers secured a hard-fought SEC road victory Wednesday night, outlasting the Georgia Lady Bulldogs 82-77 in a back-and-forth overtime thriller at Stegeman Coliseum.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The contest was a tightly contested affair from the opening tip, with neither team establishing a significant lead early on. Tennessee built a slight four-point advantage in the first quarter before Georgia battled back to take a 12-11 lead. The Lady Volunteers closed the opening period with a narrow 15-14 edge. The second quarter saw the Lady Bulldogs create some distance, using an 8-2 run to build their largest lead of the game at 27-19. However, Tennessee responded and kept the game within reach.
The second half mirrored the first, with both teams trading baskets and defensive stops. The game remained a one-possession battle deep into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. With just five seconds remaining in regulation, Georgia's Dani Carnegie was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly sank all three free throws to tie the game at 68 and force overtime.
TURNING POINT
Tennessee seized control in the extra period, opening with a decisive 5-0 run that the Lady Bulldogs could not overcome. The Lady Volunteers' execution on both ends of the floor in overtime proved to be the difference. They hit 10 of their 12 free throws in the final frame, sealing the critical conference win on the road. Freshman guard Mia Pauldo scored the game's final points from the free-throw line to put the contest out of reach.
STAR OF THE GAME
Senior forward Zee Spearman was the standout performer for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. In her return to her home state of Georgia, Spearman poured in a team-high 23 points, scoring eight of Tennessee's 14 points in overtime. She was a consistent offensive force throughout the game, shooting 7-for-15 from the field. Freshman Mia Pauldo also had a significant impact, finishing with 21 points, including a crucial 9-for-10 performance from the free-throw line. For the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, Dani Carnegie led all scorers with an impressive 25 points before fouling out in overtime.
WHAT IT MEANS
The victory improves the Tennessee Lady Volunteers' record to 15-5 on the season and a strong 7-1 in Southeastern Conference play, keeping them among the league's top teams. The gritty road win in a hostile environment demonstrates the team's resilience as they continue their push for an SEC championship. For the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, the tough overtime loss drops them to 18-5 overall and 4-5 in the conference. Despite the loss, their performance against a ranked opponent shows they can compete with the best in the SEC.