Lady Vols basketball achieved a significant milestone by winning its first true road game, yet the journey wasn't without its difficulties. No. 16 Tennessee emerged victorious with a 90 - 75 score against the Tigers at FedExForum on Wednesday. However, they had just one day to rest before facing Richmond on Friday and Tulsa on Saturday at the West Palm Beach Classic. Let's delve into the key takeaways from this remarkable win.

Jewel Spear: The Pivotal Force in Lady Vols' Success

After missing the previous game due to a lower right leg injury, senior guard Jewel Spear made a spectacular comeback on the road. She showcased her prowess by scoring 18 points on 6 - for - 11 shooting and sinking three 3 - pointers. Additionally, she contributed six rebounds and four assists without committing any turnovers. In the first half alone, she amassed 14 points and had a plus - minus of +11, despite Tennessee leading by just one point at halftime.Jewel Spear is a player who seamlessly integrates into the team without causing any harm. She defends tenaciously and makes wise shot selections. Her mere presence on the court elevates the performance of the Lady Vols. As Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell remarked, "She's telling people what to do, she's talking, she's calming people down when maybe we were playing a little bit too fast. And she did a really good job of putting her head down and getting to the rim tonight as well. So just all around, great game. Feels good for me to have her back on the floor."

Challenges on the Road

From the very start of the game, Memphis played with remarkable energy and took a seven - point lead at one point in the second quarter after an 11 - 0 run. Their aggressive ball pressure in the half - court significantly hampered Tennessee's offense, as the Lady Vols committed 16 turnovers while only forcing 17 from the Tigers.Memphis outplayed Tennessee in an aspect that Coach Caldwell emphasizes as the team's identity - being the hardest - working team in the country. "I think Memphis definitely outplayed us today," she said. "They played harder than us, they had more of a sense of urgency."

Tennessee's Pressing Woes

Tennessee faced difficulties in creating turnovers with its full - court press. Tigers point guard DeeDee Hagemann proved to be a tough opponent, easily breaking the press. Moreover, they were able to dictate the pace more effectively in the first half with their fresh legs.Going into the matchup, Tennessee averaged 42.8 points off turnovers. However, in this game, they scored only 20 points from 17 Memphis turnovers and gave up 14 points from their own 16 turnovers. This was the fewest points off turnovers all season, as they had previously scored 21 against Florida State. As Coach Caldwell expressed, "We didn't do a very good job of executing our press, and that was disappointing, because we've worked on it a lot."

Zee Spearman's Rebounding Prowess

Zee Spearman achieved a significant milestone by recording her first double - double of the season and her first game with more than six rebounds. She was highly efficient, shooting 6 - for - 11 and 6 - for - 8 from the free - throw line. With 18 points, 12 rebounds (including seven offensive), and three blocks, she made a substantial impact.Her increased rebounding is a positive sign for Tennessee, especially as they prepare for SEC play. As Coach Caldwell emphasized, "It's huge. I think we got 47% of our offensive rebounds today and she was a really big part of that. And when we couldn't find a bucket, she would just go get one."