'She's really frickin' strong': Sara Puckett came up big for Lady Vols basketball in SEC opener

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Sara Puckett fought for post position with Kentucky's Saniah Tyler at the end of the third quarter.

Tyler was doing anything she could to get Puckett, who has eight inches on her, off balance. Puckett couldn't get a whistle, and kept fighting to shake the guard from her side. When junior guard Kaiya Wynn's layup got blocked, Puckett was the first to the loose ball.

She tipped the ball out to Tess Darby on the arc, her momentum sending her to the floor. The Lady Vols only led by seven points, and Puckett's effort on every play was crucial for them to pull away.

Tennessee opened the SEC Tournament with a 76-62 win over Kentucky  (12-20) on Thursday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, led by Puckett's 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting. She added eight rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes.

"I think she was due for this game, she's always doing the little things," said senior guard Jewel Spear. "Everybody saw it today because of her scoring – but she always does it, whether she's scoring or not."

Tennessee (18-11) will face No. 4 seed Alabama (23-8) on Friday (2:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network) in the quarterfinals.

What sets Sara Puckett apart in her role for Tennessee

Puckett has been one of the most consistent players for the Lady Vols all season.

It's not always the junior forward's scoring, though she has put up double figures in 14 games. Puckett is a consistent rebounder and is efficient offensively, and it's her efforts that don't show up on the stat sheet that set her apart in her role.

She always runs the floor, often putting herself in position to get layups in transition at full speed. She gets quality post touches in the paint, she seals the lane for guards and she's always one of the first to dive for a loose ball.

"A lot of the things that we were able to do and that we're able to create are because she's already down the floor, running the floor, holding her defender off, or getting open," Wynn said.

Doing the little things is something Puckett takes personally, and it's a role she has embraced since she was young.

"I know that those things are not done by everybody, so I want to be one of those people that’s going to do that consistently for the team, because I know it’s going to give back to us," Puckett said. "And tonight it gave back to me as well.”

Tennessee coach Kellie Harper has called Puckett one of the fittest players they have had. On Thursday, Puckett put herself in the right position often, and she worked for post-ups more than usual.

"That was really good to see, even the ones we didn’t hit her, it opened up some other opportunities elsewhere," Harper said. "So I was proud of her for being able to stick her nose in it down there and not just rely on outside shots."

How Sara Puckett has improved this season

Puckett stepped into a starting role this season, and her development on the court has been invaluable.

She's stronger defensively, she communicates at a higher level and she plays through mistakes better, with more poise – which might be the most important improvement. Puckett faces a lot of physicality in the post, often not getting foul calls, but she never lets it shake her.

Senior center Tamari Key credited Puckett's strength to her ability to handle physicality.

"She's strong – she's really frickin' strong," Key said. "I don't know if people realize how strong she is, but she's so strong. She can take it."

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There were a couple plays early in the game Thursday that Harper thought Puckett could have been better in, so she subbed her out. When she sent Puckett back in, she was even more focused. Harper said it was a "huge moment" for Puckett to self-correct and go back in and be productive – because Tennessee needed her Thursday with star forward Rickea Jackson in foul trouble most of the game.

Key said Puckett's growth mentally has stood out.

"Just not being so hard on herself and not getting frustrated as easily, because we do need her head to be in the game," Key said. "We need her on the court."

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How Sara Puckett 'doing the little things' was important for Lady Vols