Tennessee could miss its 1st women’s NCAA Tournament after closing season with 7 straight losses

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Tennessee has never failed to qualify for the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Whether the Lady Vols make a 43rd consecutive appearance remains to be seen.

The program that coach Pat Summitt built into a national powerhouse has fallen on tough times, culminating in Thursday night’s 76-64 loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Tournament — Tennessee’s seventh straight defeat.

The Lady Vols (16-13) have lost 10 of their last 12 games under second-year coach Kim Caldwell ...