The dance comes to an end for both the Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers in the NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers, who exceeded expectations this season, made it to the Sweet 16 before being defeated by #1 Texas in a close game. In Kim Caldwell’s first season on Rocky Top the Lady Vols finished with a record of 24-10 with a SEC record 8-8 and a 7th place finish in the conference. Tennessee picked up marque wins against Iowa, #22 Florida State, Memphis, and a rivalry win over #UConn. Greenfield, TN native Tess Darby wrapped up a 5 year career at UT. Darby is in the record books at the prestigious program being tied 2nd for most games played at UT and tied for 3rd with Most 3-pointers made at Tennessee with 228.
Back-to-back Elite Eights for the Tennessee Volunteers end with the same results as the Vols fail to make their first Final Four for the second year in a row. #2 Tennessee fell to #1 Houston with a final 69-50. Tennessee will end the season with a record of 30-9 and a SEC record of 12-6 with an appearance in the Conference Championship game. The Vols picked up key wins over #10 Louisville, Baylor, Illinois, Arkansas, #3 Florida, #23 Missouri, #19 Texas A&M, #7 Alabama, and tournament wins over UCLA and Kentucky. Tennessee seniors Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack end their UT career as the winningest duo in Tennessee basketball history with a record of 109-36.