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Postseason surge gives Lady Vols reason for optimism

Tennessee's Meme Jackson, left, Mercedes Russell, center, and Te'a Cooper, right, react on the bench at the end of a regional final women's college basketball game against Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2016, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Syracuse won 89-67.
Tennessee's Meme Jackson, left, Mercedes Russell, center, and Te'a Cooper, right, react on the bench at the end of a regional final women's college basketball game against Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2016, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Syracuse won 89-67.

By Associated Press 3 min read

Tennessee wanted to put together the type of NCAA Tournament run that could erase memories of a disappointing regular season.

The Lady Volunteers came close, but their goal ended one step shy of the Final Four.

After setting a single-season record for losses and falling out of the Top 25 for the first time since 1985, theLady Vols produced an impressive postseason that finally concluded Sunday with an 89-67 loss to Syracuse in the Sioux Falls Regional final.

photo Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick looks on during the second half of a regional final women’s college basketball game against Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2016, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Syracuse won 89-67.

“To have such a rough season and (then) to get so far, no one expected us to be here,” guard Andraya Carter said. “And it’s still not good enough. After the way our season went, it’s kind of like Final Four or bust. I’m just proud of us. We held it together.”

Tennessee (22-14) couldn’t earn its first Final Four appearance since its 2008 national championship, but the impressive finish at least quelled concerns about the direction of the program after such a turbulent season.