Auburn, AL – Meighan Simmons carried Tennessee back from a double-digit deficit in the second half and helped the ninth-ranked Lady Volunteers escape Auburn Arena with a 75-66 victory over the Tigers.
Simmons scored 18 of her 29 points in the final 12 minutes and finished 10- of-14 from the field, including a 4-of-6 effort from 3-point range.
Taber Spani and Ariel Massengale chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively for Tennessee (14-3, 5-0 SEC), which has won seven straight overall and five in a row against Auburn.
The Tigers (13-5, 2-3) were 9-0 at home coming in and had all five starters score in double figures, but it wasn't enough in suffering their third loss in four games. Hasina Muhammad and Blanche Alverson each netted 15 points in a losing cause.
The Lady Vols trailed 45-33 early in the second half before embarking on a 16-2 run to take their first lead since making the first basket of the game.
Simmons scored a remarkable nine points in a matter of 71 seconds, first converting a three-point play then hitting twice from behind the arc in a three-possession span before a Kamiko Williams' layup at the midway point gave Tennessee a 49-47 edge.
Auburn scored the next six points, only to be answered by seven straight for Tennessee, which pulled away down the stretch via an 11-1 flurry, which was highlighted by another Simmons trifecta.
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