Announment’ Jewel Spear just announced her resignation due to poor…

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Senior guard Jewel Spear is one Lady Vol who has been putting on a show lately against her rivals. Tennessee has been greatly impacted by Spear. Spear is seen as a leader because of her adaptability as a shooter and her commitment to the group.

Spear was selected SEC Co-Player of the Week on Tuesday, demonstrating that the SEC has acknowledged her play as well.

Head coach Kellie Harper stated, “I believe Jewel has expanded her game.” She is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and I believe it has made a big difference in all facets of her game. She’s not content to settle. She is not one-dimensional, and she exhibits strong aggression when playing on the court.

The Lady Vols (14-7, 7-2 SEC) are on their way

Spear averages 44.9% in field goals, 36.7% in 3-pointers, 4.5 rebounds and has a season total of 45 assists. Spear has proved to be able to make shots all around the court, whether beyond the arc, in the perimeters or in the paint.

What makes Spear so good is her dedication to the sport. She puts in the extra work to support her teammates.

“Jewel wants to be good, and she’s going to do whatever she needs to do to give herself an edge in that area,” Harper said. “Whether that’s watching film, getting in the gym, shooting extra, asking questions, working on her mental game — she’s ready to utilize every resource she has. I think that’s somebody who is very dedicated to being successful. That, to me, is what is fun to watch.”

When Spear is scoring and playing well, so are her teammates.

The momentum builds when one player, such as Spear, can put away points in crucial moments. From there, each player can begin to contribute more and more.

“Anytime you have multiple players that can step up and score, it takes pressure off of teammates,” said Harper. “I think it causes some problems for the opponents. They have to make some decisions. Typically, you get a little bit better spacing on the court when you have multiple attacks. I think that’s what we’ve seen when Jewel’s scoring, (Rickea Jackson’s) scoring, our posts are scoring, our guards — it’s a snowball effect at times.”

The team chemistry has been evident among the Lady Vols. In their most recent win against Georgia, they fell into an intense rhythm in the first quarter, which set them up for a significant lead.

If Tennessee can get into this flow, a win is likely to come.

A look at the Crimson Tide

Alabama brings to the table senior guard Sarah Ashlee Barker. Barker averages 17.3 points per game and is a star player for the Crimson Tide.

“She is definitely their go-to player,” Harper said. “She is playing some excellent basketball. She is playing with great poise but aggressiveness as well. She plays so hard and so physical. She’s a competitive player. She’s versatile. … She’s going to be a handful to guard. We are going to have to have multiple people guarding her throughout the game.”

In addition to Barker, guards Aaliyah Nye and Jessica Timmons both bring an intensity to Alabama’s offense.

Tennessee will need to watch Alabama’s shots beyond the arc as the Crimson Tide has hit 179 three-pointers this season. As for notable wins, Alabama also boasts a win against No. 15 Louisville early in the season.

The Lady Vols will need to make sure to keep the energy and level of play consistent throughout the game.