WOMENS BASKETBALL

Nared's free throws difference in Lady Vols' upset of South Carolina

Dan Fleser
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Holly Warlick didn't want to trade places with Jaime Nared on Monday night. Warlick's seat on Tennessee's bench was close enough to the Lady Vols junior forward. Even a few feet away was too close for comfort.

"That's tough," the Lady Vols coach said. "I wouldn't want to be at the line like that."

Nared was tough enough to hit five consecutive free throws in the final 33 seconds against South Carolina. The final two with five seconds left were the difference in Tennessee's 76-74 SEC women's basketball victory over the Gamecocks before a crowd of 13,690 at Colonial Life Arena.

For Tennessee (14-7, 5-3 SEC), the victory ended a five-game losing streak against top 5 teams that spanned two seasons. For No. 4 South Carolina (18-2, 8-1), the loss ended its 30-game conference winning streak (including tournament play) and a 30-game home win streak in league play.

Nared's winning free throws came after a foul by South Carolina freshman guard Tyasha Harris. Television replays confirmed minimal contact on the play.

"I saw what everyone else saw," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said.

As for Nared's perspective: "I tripped on her foot there. There's not much I could've done. I tripped. I'm a little clumsy."

Nared was 5-for-6 from the line in the final minute and 12-for-15 overall.

"We practice free throws a lot," she said. "It's thinking and focusing and knowing all the reps you put in in practice and the games before are going to pay off."

Nared's heroics capped her game-high 27 points. Diamond DeShields added 21 and Mercedes Russell had 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Vols shot 49.2 percent from the floor (29-for-59) and scored 38 points from close range. They also recorded 14 assists and committed only nine turnovers.

Bianca Cuevas-Moore led South Carolina with 18 points. She swished a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to erase the remnants of Tennessee's 11-point fourth quarter lead. Kaela Davis added 15 points.

Although South Carolina's A'ja Wilson scored 14 points, she and fellow post player Alaina Coates were limited to 46 combined playing minutes by foul trouble. They both missed nearly the entire second quarter. Wilson was whistled for a foul and a technical on the same third-quarter play and sat for nine more minutes.

"It was frustrating for me," Wilson said. "I never want to put my team in a situation like that."

The Lady Vols took advantage in the second quarter, turning a six-point deficit into a 39-36 halftime lead. They weren't so fortunate in the third quarter, scoring just six points in the final six minutes after Wilson went out with 6:13 left.

Tennessee led 62-56 when Wilson returned with 7:08 left but expanded its lead to 11 shortly thereafter. UT's advantage was 69-58 after DeShields' jumper with 5:06 left.

While the lead dwindled, DeShields said UT's resolve held steady.

"All we were telling each other is 'we're going to win this game,' " she said. "Never were shook. Never were rattled."

In the end, Nared personified the mindset.

South Carolina forward A'ja Wilson drives to the hoop against Tennessee center Mercedes Russell during the first half of Monday's game in Columbia, S.C.

"These kids have taken a lot of hits - from the media, just in general," Warlick said. "...I'm just happy for them."

More Lady Vols Headlines: