For once, Connecticut did not quite measure up with the best in women’s basketball.

Tennessee earned the top overall seed in the NCAA women’s tournament Sunday and will play in the Midwest Regional. Duke (Mideast), Penn State (East) and Texas (West) received the other No. 1 seeds.

And what of Connecticut, winner of the last two NCAA championships and three of the last four? No. 2 in the East.

“We didn’t win enough games, I guess,” coach Geno Auriemma said.

Tennessee and Duke, the top-ranked team in the Associated Press poll, had been considered locks to be seeded No. 1. Penn State and Texas edged Purdue and Connecticut for the two other spots.

“It was exciting this year because we had more teams to consider for No. 1s,” said Cheryl Marra, selection committee chair. “For the first time we had a larger pool, which is exciting for the game, but made it very difficult for the committee.”

In the end, Marra said Connecticut could not match the credentials of the four who were seeded No. 1.

The Huskies (25-4) had been in line for a No. 1 until losing to Villanova in their next-to-last regular-season game and then losing to Boston College in the semifinals of the Big East tournament.

Duke was ranked second among the No. 1 seeds, followed by Penn State and Texas. Purdue was the top No. 2, with Connecticut next.

This is the first time that UConn has not been a No. 1 seed since 1998, when as a No. 2 it was upended by North Carolina State in the East Regional final.

“Taking a look at (Connecticut’s) full body of work, when you put it up to the other schools being considered, the other four we believe had a better overall performance this year,” said Marra, senior associate athletic director at Wisconsin.

Tennessee (26-3) received its 15th No. 1 seed in 17 years after winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship at 14-0 and playing the nation’s toughest schedule. The Vols have 18 victories over teams that made the NCAA Tournament, including a 72-69 win at top-ranked Duke.

It was a banner year for the Big East, which got a record-tying eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. UConn will be joined by Boston College, Miami, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Villanova, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

The Southeastern Conference had eight teams in 1999 and 2002. Seven SEC teams made it this time: Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi and Vanderbilt.

The Big 12 also had seven and the Big Ten six.