Tamari Key of Lady Vols leaves with ankle injury before halftime vs Kentucky
The Tennessee Lady Vols went down a starter just before halftime for the second time this season.
With 2:32 left in the second quarter against No. 20 Kentucky on Sunday, Tamari Key hit the floor hard and left the court without putting weight on her right ankle. Key went back into the locker room at Thompson-Boling Arena and did not return after halftime. No. 6 Tennessee led 38-27 at halftime.
The television broadcast said she would not return for the second half.
Tennessee lost starter Rae Burrell in the first game of the season with a knee injury. Burrell missed 12 games and has returned to play for Tennessee, scoring 11 against Vanderbilt. Burrell had 11 points by halftime against Kentucky.
LIVE UPDATES: No. 6 Tennessee Lady Vols basketball vs. No. 20 Kentucky: Live updates, score
Key played 14 minutes in the first half, scoring six points. The junior center added six rebounds, two assists and a block in that time.
Key has been a staple of Tennessee's offense and defense this season and leads the nation in shots blocked with 67 blocks (3.9 per game). She's averaging career-bests of 10.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season.
Cora Hall: Covering UT women's athletics
Twitter | cora.hall@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols' Tamari Key ankle injury vs. Kentucky women's basketball
