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‘Grateful’ Lady Vols look to avoid early NCAA tourney exit

Tennessee women's basketball coach Holly Warlick will take the Lady Vols into the NCAA tournament for the seventh time in as many seasons leading the program. The Lady Vols are the Albany Region's No. 11 seed, though, and have the worst RPI of any at-large team in the bracket.
Tennessee women's basketball coach Holly Warlick will take the Lady Vols into the NCAA tournament for the seventh time in as many seasons leading the program. The Lady Vols are the Albany Region's No. 11 seed, though, and have the worst RPI of any at-large team in the bracket. Tennessee women's basketball coach Holly Warlick will take the Lady Vols into the NCAA tournament for the seventh time in as many seasons leading the program. The Lady Vols are the Albany Region's No. 11 seed, though, and have the worst RPI of any at-large team in the bracket.

By Associated Press 4 min read

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee breathed a sigh of relief after receiving one of the last at-large spots in this year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament to remain the only program that has never missed the event in its 38-year history.

Now that they’re in, the Lady Volunteers hope to avoid an early exit.

That could be a challenge for Tennessee, which has the worst Rating Percentage Index of any team to earn an at-large berth this year. The Lady Vols were ranked in the top 10 before struggling through the second half of the season.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity,” coach Holly Warlick said in a statement released by the school Monday night.

Tennessee (19-12) is the 11th seed in the Albany Region and faces sixth-seeded UCLA (20-12) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in College Park, Maryland.