KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Lady Volunteers are off to a 3-0 start to the 2026-27 season after picking up another convincing victory Tuesday night, defeating New Haven 83-40 inside Food City Center.
It was another strong performance for Tennessee, especially on the defensive side of the basketball, as the Lady Vols forced 26 turnovers and held the Chargers to just 28% shooting from the field.
Tennessee had four players finish in double figures, with Aaliyah Moore leading the way with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
Gabby Minus also had a big night, finishing with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals in just 20 minutes of action.
The Lady Vols got things going early, taking a 17-10 lead after the first quarter before outscoring New Haven 20-14 in the second to take a 37-24 advantage into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Tennessee continued to build its lead.
The Lady Vols held New Haven to just 9 points in the third quarter while scoring 18 of their own, extending the lead to 55-33 heading into the fourth.
And that's when Tennessee really put the game away.
The Lady Vols dominated the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Chargers 28-7 to secure the 43-point victory.
Several Lady Vols Step Up in the Win
One thing that stood out in this game was how many different players contributed for Tennessee.
Moore led the team with 14 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the field while also grabbing 7 rebounds and blocking 2 shots.
Minus was another major factor in the win, especially defensively.
Along with her 13 points and 8 rebounds, Minus recorded 6 of Tennessee's 13 steals on the night.
Kennedy Fauntleroy provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Kaylene Smikle added 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Fatmata Janneh also made her presence felt on the glass, pulling down a team-high 9 rebounds.
Tennessee had 12 different players score in the victory, showing the depth this Lady Vols team has early in the season.
Tennessee's Defense Was the Difference
If there was one thing that stood out more than anything else Tuesday night, it was Tennessee's defense.
The Lady Vols forced New Haven into 26 turnovers and turned those mistakes into 29 points.
Tennessee also finished with 13 steals and 4 blocks while holding the Chargers to just 16 made field goals.
New Haven especially struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 1 of its 18 three-point attempts.
The Lady Vols also won the rebounding battle 53-43, including 23 offensive rebounds that helped create additional scoring opportunities.
Offensively, Tennessee knocked down 15 three-pointers on 40 attempts, shooting 38% from deep.
While the Lady Vols shot just 36% overall from the field, their defense and ability to create extra possessions more than made up for it.
Kelley Leads the Chargers
For New Haven, Teaira Kelley was the biggest bright spot.
Kelley finished with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds, recording a double-double in the loss.
Tanavia Turpin added 9 points and 4 rebounds, while Jasmine McKay finished with 5 points.
The Chargers simply couldn't get much going offensively against Tennessee's defensive pressure.
New Haven falls to 1-1 on the season following the loss.
Lady Vols Continue Their Strong Start
Tennessee is now 3-0, and while there are certainly some things this team can continue improving on, there were plenty of positives to take away from Tuesday night's performance.
The Lady Vols had four players score in double figures, forced 26 turnovers, knocked down 15 three-pointers, and finished with a 10-rebound advantage.
One area Tennessee will want to clean up moving forward is its free-throw shooting, as the Lady Vols connected on just 16 of their 28 attempts.
Still, it's hard to complain about a 43-point victory.
Tennessee continues to take care of business early in the season, and the Lady Vols will look to keep that momentum rolling as they move forward.
For now, it's another win in Knoxville, and the Lady Vols remain undefeated.
