The Lady Vols trailed by two points with six seconds left. Cooper inbounded to Zee Spearman, who passed to Cooper inside the arc. Cooper tried to drive past Rori Harmon, but Bryanna Preston stole the ball as the clock expired.
Cooper finished with 29 points, 12‑19 shooting and 4‑7 from beyond the arc, plus two assists, a steal and a rebound. Coach Kim Caldwell said the team should have kept the ball and that the loss was not a single player’s fault. She also noted the need to relieve pressure on Cooper, especially with freshman guard Mia Pauldo out injured.