Lady Vols loss to Virginia Tech in Sweet 16 reminds you they aren't elite program | Adams

The Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament turned sweeter for the Tennessee Lady Vols before they even took the floor Saturday at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Third-seeded Ohio State knocked off longtime Tennessee nemesis Connecticut in the opening half of the regional doubleheader.

But a UConn loss was as good as it got for the Lady Vols.

No. 1 seed Virginia Tech wasted little time in setting the tone for a game that oddsmakers rated even. There was nothing even about it in the opening minutes when Hokies 5-foot-6 point guard Georgia Amoore hit a 3-pointer, and her teammates followed with a couple of layups. They were off and running to a 73-64 victory.

The fourth-seeded Lady Vols spent the rest of the game playing catchup. They even cut an 18-point disadvantage to one in the fourth quarter.

Virginia Tech faltered. But it didn’t fold.

The game was indicative of Tennessee’s 25-12 season, which proved disappointing given its top-five ranking in preseason. It often was competitive against the nationally ranked teams on its schedule, but only against LSU in the SEC Tournament could it close the deal.

That successful comeback from a 17-point deficit gave credence to the possibility of another rally when Tennessee had a shot at its first Elite Eight appearance since 2016. Virginia Tech’s lack of reliance on its bench breathed more life into a late Lady Vols charge.

Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks used only six players, and some of them were cramping up at the end. Conversely, Tennessee coach Kellie Harper went to her bench early and often, relying on 10 players for much of the game.

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