Hoops Central: NCAA First Round: No. 5 Seed Lady Vols vs. No. 12 Seed South Florida

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Hoops Central: NCAA First Round: No. 5 Seed Lady Vols vs. No. 12 Seed South Florida

​The No. 5 seed Tennessee Lady Volunteers (22-9) are set to face the No. 12 seed South Florida Bulls (23-10) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. The game is scheduled for Friday, March 21, at 8 p.m. ET, taking place at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. ​BVM Sports+1University of Tennessee Athletics+1BVM Sports+3WIVK-FM+3WNML+3

Tennessee Lady Volunteers: Season Overview

The Lady Vols, ranked No. 20 nationally, have had a season marked by resilience and competitive play. They finished tied for eighth in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with an 8-8 record and hold an overall record of 22-9. Their journey in the SEC Tournament saw them secure a commanding 77-37 victory over Texas A&M before falling to Vanderbilt, 84-76, in the subsequent round. ​WNML+2University of Tennessee Athletics+2WIVK-FM+2

A standout player for Tennessee is Talaysia Cooper, who has been instrumental in both offensive and defensive plays. Cooper averages 16.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.1 steals per game, shooting 45% from the field. Her consistent performance has earned her spots on the John R. Wooden, Naismith, and Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year Watch Lists, as well as the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. She also secured a place on the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team. ​BVM Sports+1University of Tennessee Athletics+1University of Tennessee Athletics

Other key contributors include fifth-year guard Jewel Spear, averaging 13.1 points per game with 74 three-pointers this season; junior guard Ruby Whitehorn, contributing 11.6 points per game; junior forward Zee Spearman, adding 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game; and senior point guard Samara Spencer, who averages 10.5 points and 4.7 assists per game, with 60 three-pointers made. ​University of Tennessee Athletics

South Florida Bulls: Season Overview

The South Florida Bulls enter the tournament with momentum, having won 10 of their last 12 games. They clinched the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament title with victories over Tulane, North Texas, and Rice. The Bulls finished third in the AAC regular season with a 13-4 conference record and hold an overall record of 23-10. ​WNML+3University of Tennessee Athletics+3The American+3

Offensively, the Bulls are led by Sammie Puisis, a transfer from Florida State, who averages 14.8 points per game and has made 101 three-pointers this season. Another significant contributor is Vittoria Blasigh, averaging 10.5 points per game with 47 made three-pointers. ​University of Tennessee Athletics+1BVM Sports+1

NCAA Tournament History

Tennessee holds a storied history in the NCAA Tournament, being the only program to appear in all 43 tournaments. They have amassed a record of 131-34 in NCAA play, securing eight national championships. The Lady Vols have played the most games (165) and have the second-most victories (131) in tournament history. ​WIVK-FM+2WNML+2WIVK-FM+2WIVK-FM+1WNML+1

South Florida is making its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and its first since 2023. The Bulls earned the AAC’s automatic NCAA bid this season by winning the conference tournament with a 69-62 victory over Rice in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 12. ​WIVK-FM+3WIVK-FM+3WNML+3WNML+1WIVK-FM+1

Head-to-Head Matchup

This game marks the second meeting between Tennessee and South Florida. The Lady Vols won the first encounter, edging out a 52-49 victory in Knoxville on November 15, 2021. ​BVM Sports+3WNML+3University of Tennessee Athletics+3WNML+2University of Tennessee Athletics+2WIVK-FM+2

What’s Next

The winner of the Tennessee vs. South Florida game will advance to the second round to face the winner of the matchup between No. 4 seed Ohio State (25-6) and No. 13 seed Montana State (30-3). The second-round game is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, at the Schottenstein Center. ​WIVK-FM+1WNML+1University of Tennessee Athletics+2WNML+2WIVK-FM+2

This first-round matchup promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams bringing strong performances and key players to the court. Fans can anticipate a competitive game as the Lady Vols and Bulls vie for a spot in the next round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.​SBNation.com

 

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