The Lady Vols celebrate after beating Kentucky on Sunday in championship game of the SEC women’s basketball tournament.
Tennessee guard Meighan Simmons (10) reacts after a Kentucky turnover in the final moments of their NCAA basketball game in the finals of the Southeastern Conference women’s tournament on Sunday, March 9, 2014, in Duluth, Ga. Tennessee won 71-70.DULUTH, Ga. – Tennessee’s late-season surge has produced another Southeastern Conference tournament championship and perhaps a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Meighan Simmons scored 17 points, including two go-ahead free throws with 1:45 remaining, and No. 6 Tennessee edged 12th-ranked Kentucky 71-70 on Sunday to win its 17th SEC tournament title.
The Lady Vols (27-5) have won seven straight, including a win over No. 5 South Carolina to close the regular season.
“I think we’ve come on strong at the end of the year,” said second-year coach Holly Warlick after her first SEC tournament title.
Asked if she thought her team deserved consideration as a No. 1 NCAA seed, Warlick said “I would think so.”