SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 6, 2025

Kim Caldwell

Samara Spencer

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Postgame Press Conference

Vanderbilt 84, Tennessee 76

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Tennessee. We'll begin with an opening statement from Coach.

KIM CALDWELL: A very disappointing loss for us. I think we were inconsistent again. Same old story. We play good when the ball is going in the hole. Didn't do a very good job on the defensive end. We just weren't able to finish it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Samara.

Q. Felt like after halftime you guys kind of lost that momentum. Was that more on you guys or was Vanderbilt coming out with renewed energy?

SAMARA SPENCER: It was definitely just us again. Like coach said, we just have to learn how to play harder when the ball isn't going in the hole for us. I think that's what our biggest thing was. Third quarter not many shots fell. We couldn't get into our defense. We didn't have as much juice as we did in the second quarter.

Q. What gives you confidence this team can make a run in March Madness?

SAMARA SPENCER: The first game that we played here, we beat Texas A&M by 40 points. I feel that was what our brand of basketball is. We couldn't execute it tonight. There's still a lot of season left to play with NCAA around the corner. We have to focus on that now.

Q. What was working defensively so well yesterday that wasn't happening today?

SAMARA SPENCER: Pressure. Our pressure. Just our rotations after they broke the press, we had multiple efforts getting back. I think that's everything we lacked today.

Q. Felt this was like one step forward, two steps back. Anything that sticks out about why you can't sustain that momentum?

SAMARA SPENCER: No. It's just inconsistency honestly. We have to be better in being consistent.

Q. You've mentioned playing hard even when you're not hitting shots. What does it look like to change that?

SAMARA SPENCER: We just have to be able to do it more. We have spurts where we do it, we have spurts where we don't. We look like a completely different team. When we just lock in and know that's something we have to do for 40 minutes a game, I think we'll be fine.

Q. You were down 20, but pulled back. What positive can you take away from the comeback?

SAMARA SPENCER: We have a lot of fight in us. I think that's what showed, being down 20 and coming back within 7. We just have to be able to put our heads down and get to the basket in games like this. Because a lot of people doubt that that's what we can do and that's the strength that we have. And it obviously showed. We cut that deficit. We just have to be able to do it consistently throughout games.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Samara. We'll continue with questions for coach.

Q. It's been a pretty up-and-down week or two. What's stuck out about how your team has handled it? What is the next step for them to string together some consistent games?

KIM CALDWELL: It's been a really disappointing last week, week-and-a-half. I don't think we played well. Even some of the games we won, we didn't play well. We need to rest, get healthy and get back to it.

Q. What gives you confidence you can make a run in March?

KIM CALDWELL: Yeah, again, I think we need rest. I think we haven't really handled our load the way we should have in hindsight. I think we're tired and need a rest, get healthy, just get a reset.

Q. You've mentioned not playing hard on the defensive end after missing shots. What goes into changing that? Is it mental, physical?

KIM CALDWELL: It's human nature with young people. That's hard. That's growth, that's leadership. That's just continuing to show them on film, of you can put 15 points together in three minutes. Don't look at the scoreboard, get down on yourself. I think that comes with kind of experience. You have a lot of new players. You have to step up and lead. You have people that will command a huddle whether their shot is going in on not.

Q. Zee Spearman was such a big part of that first half effort to get you in control of that game. Looked like that injury was slowing her down the second half. How much is that bothering her?

KIM CALDWELL: Yeah, she was playing really, really well. She was ripping down rebounds. We were able to go to her on mismatches. I don't know what the injury stands like. But I do appreciate her coming back in the game.

Q. Kim, Alyssa got starts in both games this week. What do you like about what she's given you down the stretch?

KIM CALDWELL: She plays hard. She's a player that doesn't take selfish shots. She just plays hard. She knows her scout. She's good on defense. She starts the intensity the way we need to.

Q. The difference from the level you had on which you were very successful, what did you see that made you different in SEC?

KIM CALDWELL: I think the SEC is an absolute grind. I think again, like I said, in hindsight, we could have managed our load a little bit better. That absolutely takes a toll on you night in, night out. I think our last two weeks have shown we're a little fatigued, we're a little banged up and we need some rest.

Q. What have you learned about Kaniya?

KIM CALDWELL: She's the brightest part of our program right now. I've said it before, she's the future. She's out here having fun. She pushes. She plays hard. She's a dog. That's what we want in our program, we want dogs. I think she is the leader of that.

Q. Maturity was a big topic over the last few weeks. Have you seen any progress in that in your team? Is this a situation of where the ball is in their court?

KIM CALDWELL: I think absolutely the ball's in their court.

Q. You mentioned load management. What does that look like going forward, especially this week in particular?

KIM CALDWELL: Yeah, the nice thing about women's basketball is you have some time. We have a hefty break between now and when we start again. We'll be able to manage that load a little bit better. We have some players that are playing through minor injuries. Just letting them kind of heal and getting back to it.

Q. What's the biggest thing in your mind that you want to fix right away after this tournament?

KIM CALDWELL: I think our offense has been inconsistent. I think, again, like we said, when our offense is inconsistent, everything else goes down. I think we're best when we're sharing the ball and our offense is flowing and we play with a little juice.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, coach.