RALEIGH, North Carolina — In the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Tennessee defeated Green Bay 92-63 behind 26 points from Rickea Jackson.
As the only team to compete in all 42 women’s NCAA Tournaments, the sixth-seeded Lady Vols had Sarah Puckett with 14 points, Jewel Spear with 13, and reserve Tess Darby with 11. For Tennessee coach Kellie Harper, who coached North Carolina State for four seasons from 2009 to 2013, it was her first game back in Raleigh, North Carolina.
On the defensive end today, Jackson added, “we were just so connected and helping each other, talking.” “We were just going all out because we knew that was what we would have to do to beat them—they are a very effective offensive team.”
To earn a berth in the Sweet 16 in Portland, Oregon, Tennessee (20-12) will face either No. 14 seed Chattanooga or third-seeded North Carolina State on Monday.
With Maddy Schreiber scoring 13 points to lead 11th-seeded Green Bay (27-7) in the NCAA Tournament, the Phoenix lost by their largest margin of defeat of the year and did not win an NCAA Tournament since 2012. As he left the court, seasoned coach Kevin Borseth saluted the tearful-eyed supporters.
For the 47th time, including the fourth in Harper’s five seasons, Tennessee finished with 20 wins. Only twice have the Lady Vols been ranked lower than sixth.
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