Tennessee (16-10, 8-6 SEC) closes out the regular season this week with games against a pair of top-10 teams, beginning with a trip to Baton Rouge to face No. 6/6 LSU (24-4, 10-4 SEC) on Thursday evening. The Lady Vols and Tigers will meet at 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Tennessee is coming off a 100-93 loss at No. 11/9 Oklahoma on Sunday after being in a one-score game with 32 seconds remaining. UT challenged the Sooners despite its second-leading scorer, Janiah Barker, not making the trip to Norman because, according to coach Kim Caldwell, she didn't live up to program expectations.
LSU's last contest was a 108-55 home conquest of Missouri on Sunday, with seven players scoring in double figures.
This is the 75th all-time meeting in the series between these programs, with UT holding a 53-21 edge. The Tigers have won the past three clashes, and the Lady Vols are seeking their first win in the PMAC since 2021.
UT is ranked 22nd in the NET, 28th in the WAB and receiving votes in the AP & Coaches Polls. Tennessee is led by 6-0 redshirt junior guard Talaysia Cooper (16.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 3.8 apg., 2.8 spg., 53 3FGs), 6-4 senior forward Janiah Barker (14.4 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 34 3FGs), freshman guard Mia Pauldo (10.9 ppg., 56 assts./33 TOs, 40 3FGs) and senior forward Zee Spearman (10.2 ppg., 5.9 rpg., 22 3FGs).
The Lady Vols rank No. 7 nationally in threes made per game (9.6), with 14 games of 10+ treys (8x in SEC play). UT is No. 17 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (15.5) and No. 60 in total rebounds per contest (39.88). Tennessee is No. 26 in NCAA scoring offense (77.6), including 75.5 in SEC games.
The Big Orange is No. 32 nationally in turnover margin at 4.62. The Lady Vols are 38th nationally in steals per game (10.8), carding 10+ steals 14 times after grabbing an SEC-high 15 vs. Missouri. Tennessee is No. 42 in turnovers forced per game (20.12) and has caused 20+ turnovers 13 times this season.