By james art 
That was the shot that rang out in the basketball world the last time South Carolina and Tennessee women’s basketball met.
On March 9, 2024 former Gamecocks star center Camila Cardoso hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds on the clock to beat the Lady Vols in the SEC Tournament semifinals, preventing Tennessee from handing South Carolina its first loss.
Now with a new coach, Kim Caldwell, the No. 17 Lady Vols (15-4, 3-4 SEC) host No. 2 Gamecocks (19-1, 7-0) at Knoxville on Monday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) at Food City Center.
The Lady Vols are coming off a four-point loss at No. 7 Texas on Thursday. South Carolina beat No. 4 LSU 66-56 on Friday, ending the Tigers’ undefeated start to the season.
Here’s what you need to know about Tennessee ahead of the game:
Will Tennessee’s Kim Caldwell practice against South Carolina?
Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell gave birth to her first child, a boy named Connor, on Jan. 20, three days before the players and team were in Austin, Texas. Assistant coach Jenna Burdett filled head coaching duties in Caldwell’s absence.
On Sunday afternoon, Caldwell addressed the media and said he plans to coach Monday night, according to Cora Hall of The Knoxville Sentinel.
Kim Caldwell says she plans to practice tomorrow for No. 17 Lady Vols vs. No. 2 South Carolina.
Caldwell gave birth to her son Connor last week on Monday. She missed just one game, Tennessee vs. Texas, because of the delivery and returned to practice on Friday
– Cora Hall (@corahalll) January 26, 2025
Talaizia Cooper: Tennessee’s leading scorer started at South Carolina
Talaizia Cooper began her college career at South Carolina and averaged 8.4 minutes and 2.9 points per game as a freshman during the 2022-23 season. She transferred to Tennessee outside of the portal window, which meant she had to sit out the 2023-24 season, and is now a sophomore leading the Lady Vols.
She is averaging 17.8 points per game with 5.7 rebounds. She scored more than 20 points in eight games, including a season-high 33 points on Nov. 16 against Liberty.
South Carolina, Tennessee two of the top scoring offenses
South Carolina and Tennessee rank 6th and 14th in the nation, respectively, in scoring margin. In terms of points per game, the Lady Vols are the best in women’s college basketball with an average of 93.4.
Tennessee is allowing opponents an average of 69.4 points per game, while South Carolina is averaging 81.8 points per game and allowing an average of 55.1 points per game.
The Lady Vols have struggled with close games this season
The Lady Vols have struggled to close out tight games lately.
Tennessee lost to Texas 80-76 on Thursday night after leading late in the fourth quarter. Last Sunday, the Lady Vols lost by one score to Vanderbilt on a punt return with 1.8 seconds left. LSU similarly beat them 89-97 on Jan. 9 with a great shot with seconds left. The game before that, Tennessee lost 87-86 to Oklahoma after missing a 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds left.
Who beat South Carolina women’s basketball?
The Gamecocks fell to UCLA, 77-62, on Nov. 24 in Los Angeles for their first and so far only loss of the season. The Bruins are the only undefeated basketball team in the country and are No. 1 in the polls after beating South Carolina.
South Carolina vs. Tennessee injury updates
The SEC’s injury report will be released Sunday night, but as of Friday:
South Carolina
Tennessee
RAVEN JOHNSON: How South Carolina’s Raven Johnson did just what Dawn Staley needed to beat LSU, Kim Mulkey
South Carolina vs Tennessee Score Prediction
South Carolina 95, Tennessee 83: The Lady Vols are scoring high, but the Gamecocks’ discipline and defensive effort is too strong a wall to break through.
Lulu Kessin covers South Carolina track and field for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X formerly known as Twitter @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared in the Greenville News: South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs. Tennessee Score Prediction