March Madness 2022: Lady Vols escape Belmont for 1st Sweet 16 berth since 2016

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A freshman got Tennessee back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years, returning the Lady Vols to a spot they had been to so many times before in the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Sara Puckett hit a 3-pointer with 17.5 seconds left to put Tennessee ahead to stay as the fourth-seeded Lady Vols held off neighbor Belmont 70-67 on Monday night to advance to their first Sweet 16 since 2016.

"As soon as I got it, I knew what I was going to do with it," Puckett said of her lone 3-point attempt of the game.

Puckett wasn't the first option. Her teammates had no doubt about the shot from the player nicknamed Sara Bucketts.

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Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper celebrates with Sara Puckett (1) after Tennessee beat Belmont in a women's college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament Monday, March 21, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

"We all knew as soon as it left her fingertips that it was good," Lady Vols junior center Tamari Key said.

The Lady Vols (25-8) improved to 23-1 on their home floor in the second round. They earned the program's 35th Sweet 16 berth in the 40th women's NCAA Tournament, and they will meet top-seeded Louisville on Saturday in the regional semifinal in Wichita, Kansas.

Coach Kellie Harper wanted a Tennessee team that has fought through key injuries all season long to get rewarded with more basketball.

"This has been an amazing, amazing journey," Harper said. "And they have said it all year. They have said this is a special team, and this team can do some special things in March. Here we are."

Tennessee had to scrap for this win after blowing