Lady Vols Secure Hard-Fought Victory Over Florida: Coach Kim Caldwell Calls for More Maturity as Postseason Nears
Gainesville, FL – In a thrilling SEC showdown, the Tennessee Lady Volunteers outlasted the Florida Gators in an 86-78 victory on February 23, 2025. The win showcased the Lady Vols’ offensive firepower and resilience, but head coach Kim Caldwell made it clear in her post-game comments that the team still has room for improvement as they push toward the postseason.
A Gritty Battle in Gainesville
Facing off at Exactech Arena, Tennessee entered the game looking to solidify their position in the SEC standings. The Lady Vols started strong, controlling the tempo early with dominant rebounding and efficient shooting. However, Florida refused to back down, mounting a late comeback attempt that tested Tennessee’s composure in the final minutes.
Leading the charge for the Lady Vols was star guard Rickea Jackson, who delivered a stellar performance with 25 points and 7 rebounds, while Jillian Hollingshead provided key defensive stops and a crucial late-game bucket to help seal the win.
Florida, led by Ra Shaya Kyle’s impressive 22-point effort, kept the game close with hot perimeter shooting and aggressive drives to the rim. But Tennessee’s ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities and control the paint ultimately proved to be the difference.
Coach Caldwell’s Post-Game Reaction: “We Need to Mature a Little Bit”
While pleased with the victory, Coach Kim Caldwell did not shy away from addressing the challenges her team faced during the game. In her post-game interview, Caldwell stressed the need for greater maturity and consistency, particularly as the team prepares for tougher competition in the SEC and beyond.
“We showed a lot of fight tonight, but we also showed that we have to mature a little bit before tournament play,” Caldwell said. “We need to be more disciplined, make better decisions, and execute under pressure. These are things we have to clean up if we want to make a deep run.”
Caldwell pointed to turnovers and defensive lapses as areas of concern, noting that Florida was able to capitalize on mistakes, particularly in the second half.
“I love the energy and effort, but we need to be smarter,” she added. “We can’t let teams hang around when we have a lead. We have to put them away.”
Key Takeaways from the Lady Vols’ Performance
The Lady Vols’ win over Florida provided several important insights into their strengths and areas for improvement:
Dominant Paint Presence: Tennessee controlled the boards, outrebounding Florida 42-30, which led to multiple second-chance points.
Clutch Performances: Rickea Jackson continued to be the team’s go-to scorer, while Jasmine Powell and Hollingshead stepped up in critical moments.
Turnover Woes: Sloppy ball-handling led to 15 turnovers, allowing Florida to stay within striking distance. Cleaning up these mistakes will be crucial moving forward.
Defensive Adjustments Needed: The Lady Vols struggled at times to contain Florida’s perimeter shooters, something Caldwell and her staff will likely address in upcoming practices.
What’s Next for Tennessee?
With the win, Tennessee improves to 20-6 overall and 10-3 in SEC play, keeping them in strong contention for a high seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament.
Their next challenge will be a high-stakes battle against the Georgia Bulldogs on March 2, 2025, at Thompson-Boling Arena. With the postseason looming, the Lady Vols will look to build momentum and refine their game before heading into tournament play.
As for Coach Caldwell, her message is clear: the Lady Vols have the talent, but they need to sharpen their focus and mature quickly if they want to compete for championships.
Fans can watch Caldwell’s full post-game press conference here.
#LadyVols #TennesseeBasketball #SECShowdown #KimCaldwell #RickeaJackson #MarchMadness #VolNation
Leave a Reply