Tennessee uses late run to beat No. 17 Iowa 78-68 in inaugural Women's Champions Classic

Tennessee uses late run to beat No. 17 Iowa 78-68 in inaugural Women’s Champions Classic

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Iowa guard Lucy Olsen (33) shoots over Tennessee forward Zee Spearman (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Iowa center Ava Heiden, left, and Tennessee forward Tess Darby battle for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Tennessee guard Samara Spencer, left, defends Iowa guard Teagan Mallegni during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Iowa guard Lucy Olsen, left, and Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper, right, battle for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Tennessee guard Ruby Whitehorn, left, is defended by Iowa guard Kylie Feuerbach during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Tennessee forward Zee Spearman, left, fouls Iowa guard Lucy Olsen, who is shooting over Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Iowa guard Lucy Olsen, left, dribbles past Tennessee hard Samara Spencer during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper (55) shoots over Iowa forward Addison O’Grady (44) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Iowa guard Kylie Feuerbach, left, defends Tennessee guard Samara Spencer during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Iowa guard Sydney Affolter, left, defends Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Iowa forward Addison O’Grady, left, passes over Tennessee forward Alyssa Latham, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Iowa guard Sydney Affolter, left, is defended by Tennessee forward Tess Darby, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Tennessee forward Jillian Hollingshead, left, and Iowa center Ava Heiden battle for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Tennessee’s Ruby Whitehorn (2), Talaysia Cooper (55) and Kaniya Boyd (4) celebrate their win over Iowa in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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Tennessee’s Ruby Whitehorn (2) Talaysia Cooper (55) and Kaniya Boyd (4) celebrate after their win over Iowa in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

By DOUG FEINBERG

NEW YORK (AP) — Talaysia Cooper scored 19 of her 23 points in the second half to help Tennessee beat No. 17 Iowa 78-68 on Saturday night in the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic.

Her jumper with 3:04 left in the fourth gave the Lady Vols (7-0) a 68-67 lead and sparked a 12-1 run to close the game away. Cooper scored four straight in the spurt including one off a steal on the inbounds with 1:23 left to seal the victory.

Lucy Olsen scored 23 points for Iowa (8-1), which committed a season-high 30 turnovers.

No. 2 UConn routed 22nd-ranked Louisville 85-52 in the second game of the doubleheader.

It was a matchup of two first-year head coaches at their schools. Jan Jensen took over for Lisa Bluder, who retired in the offseason after leading Iowa to two straight national championship games. Jensen, who was an assistant at Iowa for the previous 24 years, was the first coach in school history to begin her career 8-0.

Kim Caldwell came to Tennessee after a successful stint at Marshall and before that at Division II Glenville State. She brought her fast-paced pressing style to Tennessee as well as her hockey line changes. The Lady Vols constantly sub players in and out every minute or two to keep them fresh.

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Iowa struggled against the frantic pace and committed 18 of its turnovers in the first half as the game was tied at 35 at the break.

Neither team could build much of a lead in the second half until Cooper sparked the game-changing run in the final few minutes.

Chamique Holdsclaw, Diamond DeShields, Rickea Jackson, Andraya Carter and Sue Bird were all in attendance at Barclays Center, sitting courtside along with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

This was the first meeting between the storied programs since 1993 when Pat Summitt and C. Vivian Stringer were coaching the schools.

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