KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 22 Tennessee delivered a dominant performance on Thursday night, defeating Missouri 98-53 at Food City Center. The victory, witnessed by a crowd of 10,489, saw the Lady Vols shoot 52 percent from the field and outscore the Tigers 54-24 in the paint.
The win improves Tennessee’s record to 16-6 overall and 8-2 in Southeastern Conference play, placing them among the top three teams in the league with two or fewer losses. Senior forward Janiah Barker led the scoring with 22 points, while redshirt junior guard Talaysia Cooper contributed 17 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
Junior forward Alyssa Latham, senior guard Nya Robertson, and freshman guard Deniya Prawl also made significant contributions, scoring 15, 14, and 13 points respectively. Prawl recorded her first career double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her 13 points, matching the rebounding total of fellow freshman Jaida Civil.
Missouri (16-11, 4-8 SEC) was led by Grace Slaughter, who scored 20 points, and Shannon Dowell, who added 11. However, the Tigers struggled to contain Tennessee’s offensive firepower and were forced into 21 turnovers.
Tennessee quickly established control of the game, opening with a 5-0 run fueled by a three-pointer from Barker and a layup from Civil. Robertson added a pair of three-pointers as the Lady Vols extended their lead to 11-4 by the 6:57 mark. A three-pointer from Cooper and subsequent baskets from Mya Pauldo and Barker pushed the lead to 18-9 with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Barker closed the quarter with a pair of free throws and a last-second three-pointer, giving Tennessee a commanding 29-13 lead.
The second quarter saw Tennessee further extend its advantage. Quick baskets from Barker, Cooper, and Latham forced a Missouri timeout early in the period. Following the timeout, a 9-0 run, with contributions from four different players, pushed the lead to 44-14. A layup from Prawl, a three-pointer from Cooper, a put-back by Barker, and a layup from Latham helped Tennessee build a substantial 53-22 cushion by halftime.
The third quarter saw Tennessee continue its dominance. An 8-2 burst extended the lead to 61-24, with Barker continuing to drive the offense. A subsequent 10-3 surge pushed the lead to 71-27, as the Lady Vols demonstrated their all-around offensive prowess. Tennessee entered the final quarter with a commanding 76-34 advantage.
The fourth quarter saw both teams exchange baskets, but Tennessee maintained its significant lead. Layups from Pauldo and Prawl extended the advantage to 45 points, 84-39, with just over seven minutes remaining. Three-pointers from Robertson in the closing minutes sealed the victory, improving Tennessee’s record to 9-1 at home this season.
Looking Ahead
Tennessee will next face a significant challenge on , hosting No. 4 Texas at 3 p.m. ET. The game, televised nationally on ABC, will be a key test for the Lady Vols, who have now faced each of the top four teams in the AP Poll and the same squads that participated in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four. Audio streaming will be available on UTSports.com.
Strong Start and Efficient Offense
Tennessee’s first quarter performance, scoring 29 points, matched their highest-scoring opening quarter of the season, previously achieved against Arkansas on January 11. The Lady Vols shot 55 percent from the field in the first quarter, with Barker scoring 12 points in the frame.
High-Scoring Half
The 53 points scored by Tennessee in the first half against Missouri marked their highest-scoring opening half since January 22, 2017, when they scored 57 points against Vanderbilt.
Defensive Intensity
Tennessee’s defensive effort was also noteworthy, recording a season-high 15 steals against an SEC opponent. The Lady Vols have now recorded double-digit steals in 14 of 22 games this season and have forced opponents into 20 or more turnovers in 13 games this season. They held Missouri to under 60 points, marking the fifth time they have achieved this against an SEC opponent.
First Career Double-Double
Freshman Deniya Prawl’s performance, with 13 points and 10 rebounds, resulted in her first career double-double. Fellow freshman Jaida Civil also matched Prawl’s rebounding total, recording a career-high 10 rebounds.
Barker Leads the Way
Janiah Barker’s 22 points marked the fifth time this season she has led the team in scoring. It was her fourth game with 20 or more points this season and the ninth of her career. She also grabbed eight rebounds, just two shy of a double-double.
Three-Point Shooting
Tennessee connected on 10 of 29 three-point attempts (34.5 percent), marking the fourth consecutive game they have made 10 or more three-pointers and the ninth time this season.
