Deadspin | Women's Top 25 roundup: No. 12 Tennessee ekes past Belmont

The No. 12 Tennessee Lady Vols managed to secure a hard-fought 68-58 victory over the Belmont Bruins in a nonconference matchup held at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee. The game was tight throughout, with Belmont holding a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter. With under five minutes to go, Belmont was still clinging to a 56-54 advantage after Tuti Jones made one of two free throws. However, Tennessee's Deniya Prawl tipped in a basket to tie the game and ignite a pivotal 10-0 run that shifted momentum firmly in the Lady Vols’ favor. Kaniya Boyd was the hero late in the contest, hitting a clutch 3-pointer with 3:58 left on the clock to break the tie and put Tennessee ahead for good. Talaysia Cooper also played a huge role down the stretch, converting one of two free throws with just over a minute remaining to extend the lead to 64-56. Cooper finished the game with a dominant double-double, scoring 22 points and hauling in 14 rebounds. Supporting her efforts, Janiah Barker contributed 11 points while Zee Spearman chipped in 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds, helping Tennessee improve their record to 3-1. Belmont, now 1-2 on the season, was led by Avery Strickland with 14 points, Jailyn Banks with 13, and Hilary Fuller adding 10. Despite their efforts, the Bruins couldn't overcome Tennessee's late surge. The Lady Vols' resilience and ability to close out games will be critical as they continue to face tougher competition. In a separate game, No. 9 Maryland cruised to an 88-70 win over Towson at home in College Park, Maryland. Maryland took control early and never looked back, leading by 28 points at halftime and maintaining a lead of at least 16 points throughout the second half. Addi Mack was a key contributor, scoring 11 of her 15 points in the first half. Kaylene Smikle added 13 points, while Oluchi Okananwa, Yarden Garzon, and Breanna Williams each scored 10 points, contributing to Maryland’s undefeated 4-0 record. Towson fought hard, led by India Johnston who scored 23 points and Thalia Shepard with 20. Zoli Khalil also added 10 points for the Tigers, but Maryland’s depth and consistent scoring proved too much. The Terrapins’ strong start and sustained pressure helped them maintain control and secure a convincing victory. Both games highlighted the importance of clutch plays and team depth as ranked teams Tennessee and Maryland continue to establish themselves early in the season. Tennessee’s comeback and Maryland’s dominance are good indicators of their potential as the season progresses.