Lady Vols basketball’s losing streak continued on Thursday night. In the penultimate game of the 2025-26 regular season, Tennessee lost 89-73 at LSU.
Here are three quick takeaways from the loss.
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Things Slip in the Third and Fourth Quarters
The Lady Vols almost let things slip away in the second quarter. LSU went on a 14-0 run, taking an eight-point lead with just under six minutes to play. However, Tennessee fired back with a strong end to the frame. The result was just a one-point deficit at the half.
In the third quarter, it began as trading shots, but the Tigers piled on. Over the course of a 23-7 run, with a 9-0 stretch in the middle, LSU took a 14-point advantage. After the brutal run, the Lady Vols cut the lead back down to 11 by the time the third quarter expired.
In the fourth, the Tigers ran away with it. LSU got out to a 9-2 start to create an 18-point advantage. That deficit proved to be about the margin that would last for the rest of the game.
Another Fantastic Game for Freshman Jaida Civil
This is now a second-straight game where the Lady Vols’ bright spot was freshman Jaida Civil. The former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American led the team in scoring with 17 points on 50% shooting from the field and three.
Civil also produced eight rebounds and an assist in her 27 minutes on the floor. The result was a +/- of +10 for Civil in a 16-point loss.
To get this version of Civil is huge. Not only could it be a reason that Tennessee wins a game or two in the SEC Tournament, but maybe a surprise win in the NCAA Tournament, as well. With three years of eligibility left, that’s also a massive bright spot for the future.
Five-Straight Losses, One Regular Season Game Left
This now marks five-straight losses for the Lady Vols. Starting with a loss to No. 4 Texas, Tennessee then fell to No. 17 Ole Miss on the road on a short turnaround. Last Thursday, UT suffered its worst loss of the stretch to Texas A&M at home. Then, it was a loss at No. 11 Oklahoma before this defeat at No. 6 LSU.
Really, just the loss to Texas A&M stands out as inexcusable in a vacuum. However, dropping five games in a row, no matter the competition, isn’t acceptable for this program.
There’s a good chance it could slip to six-in-a-row, too. The Lady Vols host No. 5 Vanderbilt to round out the season. A loss in that game would also mark losses in nine of the past 11 games.
Final Stats
Up Next
The Lady Vols have one final regular-season game on the schedule. On Sunday, Tennessee will host in-state rival Vanderbilt, also marking Senior Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
Then, it’ll be the SEC Tournament. UT doesn’t know its seeding or opponent yet, but it has likely done enough to earn one bye to the second round. This would mean the Lady Vols’ first game would be on Thursday.
More to follow: Tennessee Sports Betting
