USA Basketball Records 95-59 Exhibition Win over Lady Vols

06 November 2023

USA 95, Tennessee 59

The USA Basketball Women's National Team were hosted by the Tennessee Lady Vols in Knoxville and recorded a 95-59 exhibition win. The game is the first of two exhibitions the USA will play as they are set to face Duke Women's Basketball next Sunday at noon ET in Durham, North Carolina. The U.S. will head to Atlanta for a three-day training camp before traveling to Durham.

USA Basketball, in pursuit of its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal, continues to evaluate the 2021-24 USA Women’s National Team player pool prior to naming a team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

View the USA-Tennessee box score here.

TEAM NOTES

We’ve Got History: Tonight’s exhibition marked the fourth time the Lady Vols have hosted the USA Women’s National Team. With the win, USA is now 3-1 in these contests.

Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper was a freshman in 1995-96 when the USA took an 82-58 win over the Big Orange. On Nov. 7, 1999, Tennessee upset the USA 65-64. On Nov. 4, 2007, Diana Taurasi, who was also in tonight’s lineup, scored 26 points for the red, white and blue in an 83-72 win over the Vols.

Long Distance Romance: The USA hit half of its shots from 3-point range, connecting on 11-of-22 (.500) and 7-of-12 before half. Overall, USA Basketball shot 54.7% (35-64) from the floor, while the Volunteers shot 32.8% (21-64 FG, 9-23 3FT).

10 Outta 10: All 10 members of the USA scored in tonight’s game, with Aliyah Boston posting her first points of the night with 2:50 to go in the third quarter. Five players had 10+ points including Betnijah Laney (14), Jackie Young (13), Kahleah Copper (12), Taurasi (11) and Brittney Griner (11).

Can I Help You?: USA Basketball recorded assists on 29 of their 35 made field goals, led by nine from Sabrina Ionescu, who also had seven points and three steals.

PLAYER NOTES

Mercury Rising: Phoenix Mercury teammates Taurasi and Griner played their first USA Basketball game since winning their respective fifth and second Olympic gold medals at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo (played in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic).

Must See DT: Taurasi’s USA Basketball career has spanned 23 years and includes 10 gold medals. Tonight, in her 145th game in a USA uniform, Taurasi recorded 11 points (3-5 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes through three quarters. She opened the game by connecting on three consecutive 3-pointers.

Forever Young: Young made her USA Basketball 5-on-5 debut tonight on Rocky Top. The 2020 Olympic 3x3 gold medalist scored 13 points (4-7 FG, 5-7 FT) and added one rebound, six assists and three steals.

Volunteering for the Red, White and Blue: Over the summer, Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson and Jewel Spear were members of the 2023 USA Women’s AmeriCup Team that earned silver at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Leon, Mexico. Jackson averaged a team-high 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in seven games and was named to All-Star Five. Spear added 5.6 points and 1.4 assists.

Remembering Nikki McCray-Penson: USA Basketball and University of Tennessee honored the life of Nikki McCray-Penson, who passed away July 7, 2023, at age 51. McCray-Penson was a 1996 and 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 1998 Women’s World champion. McCray Penson, a member of both the Women’s Basketball and Tennessee Sports halls of fame, led the Volunteers to three SEC regular-season championships, two SEC Tournament titles and a 1995 Final Four appearance.