The Tennessee Lady Vols continued the team's dominant SEC play winning streak Sunday, but were forced to do so without Janiah Barker on the court at the end of the game. Barker left the 70-59 match during the fourth quarter of the game — after making several attempts to stay in — and didn't return.
It wasn't immediate clear what happened to Barker and Coach Kim Caldwell wasn't forthcoming with information following the game. While speaking to reporters post game, Caldwell admitted that it was possible they knew more than she did because the injury happened so quickly. "I went back to the huddle, continued coaching, I didn't even know what the call was," Caldwell explained.
The injury comes as the Lady Vols stare down a crucial back half of conference play that will reveal just how much growth the team has experienced this season.
What happened to Janiah Barker?
Barker was hit in the face with just over six minutes left in Sunday's game against Alabama. She was knocked to the floor and clearly in distress and pain, but made a few attempts to continue to play before walking off the court of her own volition.
Before she left, Barker had already earned a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. She has so far played a crucial role in the success of the team and is averaging 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
The Lady Vols earned their first ranked win of the season
The 70-59 victory netted No. 20 Tennessee their first ranked win of the season against No. 21 Alabama, a strong showing the Lady Vols will soon be challenged to repeat. The team will next host No. 7-ranked Kentucky at home in Knoxville before meeting No. 16 Ole Miss.
They'll face even tougher challenges in February. The Lady Vols will face off against their longtime rivals, the UConn Huskies, in Storrs, Connecticut, on February 1. That game precipitates a series that will include matches against South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas — and the SEC Tournament will begin at the beginning of March.
If the Lady Vols hope to keep their SEC record strong, the team will need to come up with solutions for slow starts, such as the one they experienced Sunday. They'll also likely rely on the skills of freshman point guard Mia Pauldo, who has deftly emerged as a leader of a team that's beginning to show exactly what they — and second-year coach Kim Caldwell — can really do.