Tennessee Lady Vols basketball score vs. No. 4 UConn: Live updates

The stage is set for Lady Vols basketball.

The UConn Huskies are in town, ESPN's "College GameDay" is here and Thompson-Boling Arena is set to have its largest attendance of the season. Thursday has all the energy brewing for an instant classic.

Tennessee (16-6, 8-0 SEC) faces No. 4 UConn (18-2, 11-0 Big East) on Thursday. "College GameDay" will air live from the arena at 7 p.m. on ESPN for the hour preceding tipoff, hosted by Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck and Holly Rowe.

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The Lady Vols are on a hot streak in SEC play. After taking six nonconference losses to ranked opponents, Thursday's matchup with UConn is significant as March approaches. It matters for the Huskies, too, who have lost both of their true road games in nonconference play.

Thursday will be the first time the historic rivalry has visited Knoxville without COVID-19 restrictions limiting attendance since 2006. The 24,653 attendance record set for women's basketball at Thompson-Boling Arena that night still stands.

Tennessee Lady Vols basketball vs. UConn: Game time, TV info

The game will tip off at 8 p.m. ET and be televised on ESPN.

Tennessee Lady Vols basketball score vs. UConn: Live updates

Fourth quarter

FINAL: UConn 84, Tennessee 67. Jordan Horston had 27 points and 7 rebounds, but the Huskies had four double-digit scorers including 26 points from Lou Lopez Senechal and 25 points from Aaliyah Edwards.

3:25 left: UConn's lead is up to 82-65. Timeout Huskies, and Jordan Horston is slow walking to the bench with a clear limp.

6:18 left: Jordan Horston has 25 points, but Lady Vols down 77-63.

7:05 left: Lady Vols down 74-61. Same story as the third quarter; cleaning up on the offensive glass but can't string together enough stops to make a run.

Third quarter

End of the third quarter: UConn leads 68-55 after 30 minutes. Lady Vols with 18 offensive rebounds, but it would be nice to see some of those missed shots turn into made ones. UConn shooting 56%.

1:34 left: Rickea Jackson and Aaliyah Edwards called for intentional fouls after a little jostling on the floor following a rebound attempt.

Officials reviewing. Call confirmed. That is the fourth foul for Jackson, who has 11 points tonight.

4:33 left: UConn on a 12-3 run, with a Lopez Senechal 3 to put the Huskies up 55-44. Lady Vols are 3 for 11 in the quarter but are up to 14 offensive rebounds tonight.

6:20 left: Sara Puckett finally gets one to fall. Big 3-pointer to halt a 7-0 UConn run. Huskies lead 50-44.

8:38 left: A Jillian Hollingshead offensive foul is reversed upon review.

INTERESTING: Geno Auriemma rips officiating at halftime of Lady Vols' game against UConn

Second quarter

HALFTIME: UConn 40, Lady Vols 36. Tennessee wins the second quarter 19-7.

1:47 left: Jordan Horston rebounds her own miss and lays it in. UConn 40, Lady Vols 35. We have a ball game now, y'all. UT with 9 offensive rebounds.

3:11 left: UConn's Lou Lopez Senechal is called for her third foul on a 50-50 block/charge call that goes UT's way. She has 11 points.

3:39 left: Jordan Horston open 3, and the UConn lead is 9.

4:07 left: Lady Vols with another offensive rebound, as a Sara Puckett missed is tipped to Rickea Jackson for a lay-in. Lady Vols within 11. UT with 8 offensive rebounds in the first half.

4:59 left: UConn has neutralized the Lady Vols' run to this point and leads 37-23 at the 2Q media timeout. Lady Vols' turnover count now at 9.

7:35 left: Horston to Jackson in transition for a basket. Lady Vols defense looks much better in the second quarter. UConn's lead now 33-21. Huskies have five turnovers in the quarter.

First quarter

End of the first quarter: Huskies lead 33-17 after one quarter. Aaliyah Edwards has 10 points, and Nika Muhl already has seven assists. UConn shot 15-of-21 in the first 10 minutes.

Lady Vols getting on the offensive glass, but guessing Kellie Harper's concern in the huddle right now is defense.

1:00 left: UConn has 31 first-quarter points, the most given up by the Lady Vols this season in a quarter.

1:52 left: Lady Vols keep forcing contested shots, while UConn taking open shots or getting good looks at the rim.

2:35 left: Kellie Harper with the timeout after a wide open 3-pointer from Dorka Juhasz. UConn leads 27-13 and has made 9 of its last 10 shots.

3:11 left: Jillian Hollingshead has six early points off the bench for the Lady Vols.

UConn out to an early lead

4:46 left: UConn leads 17-9. The difference? 3 early turnovers for the Lady Vols. Can't keep that pace going.

5:40 left: UT's Jordan Horston into the game.

6:30 left: Aaliyah Edwards has six early points, and UConn leads 13-5.

7:45 left: UConn leads 5-2 early. Lady Vols having trouble getting clean looks on offense.

10:00 left: It is loud in Thompson-Boling. Let's do this.

Pregame: Jordan Horston will play

College GameDay is inside Thompson-Boling Arena, setting the stage for tonight's game on ESPN.

How much have the Lady Vols really improved? We should find out tonight.

Jordan Horston, who missed Sunday's win at Mizzou, is dressed and will play tonight. That's important news.

It's a live blog day! We'll have live updates throughout the night, with tipoff set after 8 p.m. ET inside TBA.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Live score updates for Tennessee Lady Vols basketball vs UConn