There is another side to the struggles the Tennessee women’s basketball team has endured this season. Some other Southeastern Conference programs are enjoying success against the Lady Vols they haven’t known in a very long time.
Alabama beat Tennessee 54-46 Thursday night in Tuscaloosa, ending a streak of consecutive wins in the series for the Lady Vols at 42. The Crimson Tide’s previous win was March 3, 1984, in that season’s SEC tournament.
Tennessee (16-12, 7-8) fell below .500 in conference play three days after dropping out of The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 1985.
The Crimson Tide (15-13, 4-11) – who beat the Lady Vols for just the third time in 52 all-time meetings between the programs – were led by Karyla Middlebrook’s 13 points and Hannah Cook’s double-double (10 each in points and rebounds).
Tennessee had three players who scored in double figures – Bashaara Graves (15 points), Jaime Nared (13) and Mercedes Russell (10), who also had 11 rebounds.
The Lady Vols trailed 15-14 after the opening period but were held to three points in the second quarter. They came up short despite holding a 46-44 advantage in rebounds and committing 13 turnovers to the Crimson Tide’s 19.