Lady Vols come together toclaim 8thtitle

NEWS SENTINEL | SUNDAY,APRIL 13,2008
Lady
Vols
come
together
to claim
8th title
LADYVOLSCHAMPIONSHIPEDITION
Champs,
again!
LV2
Sunday, April 13, 2008
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
knoxnews.com | NEWS SENTINEL
SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL
Tennessee seniors, from left, Alberta Auguste, Nicky Anosike, Alexis Hornbuckle, Shannon Bobbitt, Candace Parker and coach Pat Summitt at a press conference on March 31 in Oklahoma City.
‘Big Three’ battle cries produce winner
Nicky Anosike, Alexis
Hornbuckle and Candace Parker
put the coarse in discourse.
Oddly enough, it turned out
to be a gift for gab for which the
Tennessee women’s basketball
seniors, commonly known as
“The Big Three”, didn’t receive
enough credit.
There were reasons, such
as the absence of capable
translators. Parker described
her relationship with Anosike
as “special” but conceded that
the sound track could be utterly
confusing.
“We talk
to each other
in ways
some people
might not
understand,’’
Parker said.
“That’s just
how we
communicate.”
Likewise,
DAN
there’s
FLESER
no way to
quantify these
exchanges. They don’t add up
like Parker’s points, Anosike’s
rebounds or Hornbuckle’s steals.
Unless, you attribute the two
national championships they
helped win for the Lady Vols
to their ability to pound each
other’s eardrums.
Understand this: The bond
between these three players
was vital to UT’s achievements
the past two seasons. So if
the dialogue wasn’t always
diplomatic in nature, well so be
it. That just adds a little mystery
to the magic this power trio was
able to create.
“If you’re a complete outsider
and just listening to them for the
first time,” Lady Vols assistant
coach Dean Lockwood said, “it
would sometimes sound like
anger, even derision versus a
helpful exchange of information
or give and take.”
The decibel level of their
dialogue gradually built during
their first two seasons. It didn’t
approach full volume until their
junior year, when they had a
better understanding of each
other and knew, as Hornbuckle
said, “it’s all out of love.”
By then, Anosike had
established herself as an initiator.
The 6-foot-4 center yearned for
a leadership role as early as her
sophomore season. Why stand
by and watch an older teammate
struggle with the responsibilities.
If something needed to be said,
she was willing to say it.
“She is amazing,’’ Parker said.
“She’s told me everything that
I need to hear, not what I want
to hear. I feel like that’s the most
important thing and that’s why
I respect her so much, and vice
versa.”
Hornbuckle evolved into
a mediator. If the 5-11 guard
wouldn’t put her hand over
Anosike’s mouth, at least she
could explain what was coming
out. She began sizing up her role
in earnest before last season,
repeatedly emphasizing the
constructive nature of criticism.
“That works wonders to
be honest because when you
know that your teammates are
communicating with you and
it’s not how they’re saying it but
what they’re saying and you can
take it like that,’’ Hornbuckle
said. “Instead of saying, ‘Why
THROUGH THE YEARS
AlookatTennessee’sfinishessincethe
startofNCAAplay:
1981-82
22-10, lost in Final Four semifinals
1982-83
25-8, lost in Mideast Regional finals
1983-84
23-10, lost in national championship
game
1984-85
22-10, lost in Mideast Regional finals
1985-86
24-10, lost in Final Four semifinals
1986-87
28-6, national champions
1987-88
31-3, lost in FInal Four semifinals
1988-89
35-2, national champions
1989-90
27-6, lost in East Regional championship
1990-91
30-5. national champions
1991-92
28-3, lost in Mideast Regional championships
1992-93
SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL
29-3, lost in Mideast Regional championships
Tennessee’s Alexis Hornbuckle, Candace Parker and Nicky Anosike, from left, arrive at a press conference before an NCAA tournament game 1993-94,
31-2, lost in Mideast Regional champiwith Purdue at West Lafayette, Ind.
onships
are you screaming at me?’ and
getting defensive now you’re
getting productivity out of it.
Like ‘Why didn’t you get on
the boards?’ I’m thinking ‘OK I
need to rebound because they’re
seeing a weakness in my game.’ ”
Lest you think Parker
was hopelessly caught in the
crossfire, think again. Perhaps
the 6-foot-5 forward, a twotime national player of the year,
wasn’t as naturally outspoken as
she was gifted. But she definitely
had a verbal presence.
“By no means was she any
wallflower when the exchanges
were going,’’ Lockwood said.
“She could give and take with the
best of them.”
These three could verbally
spar with each other and come
away unscathed. But what about
their teammates? How were they
interpreting the crackle of these
exchanges? Is this really love
talking?
Lockwood said the subject
came up several times among
the coaches. With the freshmen
in mind, Anosike was advised by
assistant coach Nikki Caldwell
to cool it at the beginning of this
season.
The subject ought to come up
again as these players depart,
leaving a huge leadership void
in their wake. Just because their
interaction worked for them, and
ultimately for the team, doesn’t
mean it’s a useful blueprint for
everyone.
Better to emphasize the
importance of relationships
rather than the nature of them.
One of the first things to be
learned from the bond between
Anosike, Hornbuckle and Parker
is one of the best things. They
took the time to get to know
each other, creating a wellspring
for the qualities necessary to
flourish as teammates.
“You find a way to get along,
you find a way to communicate,’’
Lockwood said. “You must
1994-95
34-3, lost in national championship
game
1995-96
32-4, national champions
1996-97
29-10, national champions
1997-98
39-0, national champions
1998-99
31-3, lost in East Regional finals
1999-2000
33-4, lost in national championship
game
2000-01
31-3, lost in Mideast Regional final
2001-02
29-5, lost in Final Four semifinals
2002-03
33-5, lost in national championship
game
2003-04
31-4, lost in national championship
game
2004-05
30-5, lost in Final Four semifinals
2005-06
31-5, lost in Cleveland Regional finals
2006-07
SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL
34-3, national champions
From left, Alexis Hornbuckle, Candace Parker, Shannon Bobbitt, Alberta Auguste and Nicky Anosike hud- 2007-08
36-2, national champions
dle after a game against Florida on Feb. 28 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
respect and trust each other and
above all you must be loyal to
each other.”
Lockwood hopes that the
“Big Three” made themselves
perfectly clear on these values
— to the point where there’s no
mystery to their magic.
Source: Lady Vols media guide
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VR
Sunday, April 13, 2008
LV3
LV4
Sunday, April 13, 2008
First Round
1 Connecticut 89
16 Cornell 47
9 Minnesota 55
5 Old Dominion 82
12 Liberty 62
13 UC Santa Barb. 52
6 G. Washington 66
11 Auburn 56
Connecticut 78
3 California 77
7 Iowa St. 58
10 Georgia Tech 55
15 Robert Morris 42
1 Maryland 80
16 Coppin St. 66
9 Xavier 58
5 West Virginia 61
12 New Mexico 60
Old Dominion 63
Greensboro
13 Montana 47
6 Pittsburgh 63
11 Wyoming 58
14 Fresno St. 67
7 UTEP 92
10 Western Ky. 60
15 Cleveland St. 47
9
Kansas St. 63
Kansas St. 69
Chattanooga 59
12
Oklahoma St. 52
Championship
Game
Rutgers 56
Rutgers 53
LSU 56
Marist 49
LSU 67
Stanford 48
Rutgers 69
Maryland 76
Tennessee 64
Tennessee 74
Nebraska 64
Tennessee 53
West Virginia 46
Notre Dame 79
Vanderbilt 66
Oklahoma 75
Spokane
Stanford 82
Tennessee 47
Oklahoma City
Pittsburgh 67
Arizona St. 59
Pittsburgh 53
Duke 63
Baylor 59
Texas A&M 45
Hartford 39
UTEP 54
Stanford 72
AP
Marist 76
7
DePaul 57
10
Tennessee 94
Oral Roberts 55
2
15
1
16
Utah 59
Purdue 66
8
9
Notre Dame 75
5
So. Methodist 62
12
Oklahoma 69
4
Illinois St. 61
13
Arizona St. 61
6
Temple 54
11
Duke 78
3
Murray St. 57
14
Syracuse 55
7
Hartford 59
10
Baton Rouge, La.
Texas A&M 77
Stanford 88
3
East Tenn. St. 73 14
College Park, Md.
Duke 67
Stanford 98
Oklahoma St. 85
West Lafayette, Ind.
Notre Dame 64
Vanderbilt 64
6
11
West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue 52
Maryland 87
Ohio St. 49
Florida St. 60
Jackson St. 32
Tennessee 78
Maryland 80
4
13
Baton Rouge, La.
Tampa Bay
Tennessee
Louisville 81
Miami (Ohio) 67
LSU 66
LSU 68
Tampa Bay
5
Des Moines, Iowa
Oklahoma St. 73
Tampa Bay
Iowa St. 58
8
Bridgeport, Conn.
Florida St. 72
California 53
Stanford, Calif.
2 Stanford 85
Georgia 66
New Orleans
LSU 46
G. Washington 42
Albuquerque, N.M.
3 Baylor 88
Connecticut 73
First Round
North Carolina 85 1
Bucknell 50
16
Norfolk, Va.
Louisville 80
G. Washington 55
knoxnews.com | NEWS SENTINEL
Georgia 67
Iowa 61
Louisville 74
Virginia 85
Albuquerque, N.M.
4 Vanderbilt 75
North Carolina 78
Old Dominion 88
College Park, Md.
8 Nebraska 61
North Carolina 80
North Carolina 50
Connecticut 66
Des Moines, Iowa
2 Rutgers 85
Regionals Second Round
Texas 55
Stanford, Calif.
14 San Diego 60
National
Semifinals
WOMEN’S DIVISION I
BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Connecticut 89
Norfolk, Va.
4 Virginia 86
National
National
Semifinals Championship
Regionals
Second Round
Bridgeport, Conn.
8 Texas 72
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Texas A&M 63
Texas A&M 91
2
Texas-San Ant. 52
15
LADY VOLS STATISTICS
Player
GP-GS
Parker, Candace 38-37
Bobbitt, Shannon 38-38
Hornbuckle, A. 37-37
Anosike, Nicky 38-38
Bjorklund, Angie 38-30
Fuller, Alex
37-1
Auguste, Alberta 38-9
Baugh, Vicki
38-0
Smallbone, S.
29-0
Team
Total
38
Opponents
38
Min
1132
1230
1160
954
905
583
836
496
329
Avg
29.8
32.4
31.4
25.1
23.8
15.8
22.0
13.1
11.3
7625
7625
2008 RESULTS
Regularseason
Date
Opponent
Results
Nov 4 USA Team (Exh.) L, 83-72
Nov 6 C-Newman (Exh) W, 91-30
Nov 11 UT-Chattanooga W, 76-56
Nov 15 Okla. (Tampa)
W, 70-67
Nov 18 Texas
W, 92-67
Nov 21 West Virginia
W, 67-49
Nov 26 Louisiana Tech W, 81-60
Dec 2 North Carolina
W, 83-79
Dec 5 Old Dominion
W, 83-51
Dec 13 MTSU
W, 84-61
Dec 16 Gonzaga
W, 96-73
Dec 19 UCLA
W, 82-70
Dec 22 At Stanford L, 73-69 (OT)
Jan 2 At DePaul
W, 102-68
Jan 5 At Notre Dame W, 87-63
Jan 10 Auburn
W, 85-52
Jan 13 At South Carolina W, 71-48
Jan 17 At Kentucky
W, 65-40
Jan 20 Vanderbilt
W, 79-63
Jan 24 Arkansas
W, 98-55
Jan 28 At Duke
W, 67-64
Jan 31 At Ole Miss
W, 68-44
Feb 3 Kentucky
W, 79-51
Feb 7 At Mississippi St. W, 87-69
Feb 11 Rutgers
W, 59-58
Feb 14 LSU
L, 78-62
Feb 17 At Vanderbilt
W, 81-68
Feb 21 At Alabama
W, 85-58
Feb 24 Mississippi St.
W, 72-46
Feb 28 Florida
W, 88-61
Mar 2 At Georgia
W, 72-63
SECTournament
Nashville
Mar 7 Florida
Mar 8 Vanderbilt
Mar 9 LSU
NCAATournament
WestLafayette,Ind.
Mar 23 Oral Roberts
Mar 25 Purdue
OklahomaCity
Mar 30 Notre Dame
Apr 1 Texas A&M
Tampa,Fla.
Apr 6 LSU
Apr 8 Stanford
W, 92-61
W, 63-48
W, 61-55
W, 94-55
W, 78-52
W, 74-64
W, 53-45
W, 47-46
W, 64-48
FG-FGA
300-560
124-307
141-318
124-272
115-298
88-186
85-231
79-143
27-86
Pct
.536
.404
.443
.456
.386
.473
.368
.552
.314
1083-2401
856-2224
.451
.385
3FG-FGA
8-30
78-195
39-92
0-0
68-185
22-68
3-14
0-0
19-63
Pct
FT-FTA
Pct ROff RDef RTtl RAvg
PF
.267 201-288 .698 87 235 322 8.5 67
.400
51-63 .810 32 79 111 2.9 69
.424
47-70 .671 83 122 205 5.5 87
.000 85-136 .625 124 153 277 7.3 99
.368
20-23 .870 42 78 120 3.2 79
.324
29-39 .744 43 70 113 3.1 30
.214
28-45 .622 46 64 110 2.9 56
.000
42-54 .778 56 96 152 4.0 73
.302
10-12 .833
9 22
31
1.1 18
50 64 114 3.1
237-647 .366 513-730 .703 572 983 1555 40.9 578
169-537 .315 346-557 .621 488 860 1348 35.5 649
FO
A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
0 96 91 90 88 809 21.3
0 125 106 5 63 377 9.9
1 134 85 31 104 368 9.9
5 81 70 40 65 333 8.8
3 52 62 5 31 318 8.4
0 23 42 13 20 227 6.1
0 50 71 8 42 201 5.3
4 23 64 29 20 200 5.3
0 27 22 2 12 83 2.9
0
9
13 611 622 223 445 2916 76.7
- 441 784 96 330 2227 58.6
SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL
Tennessee’s Angie Bjorklund relaxes in the locker room before the start
of practice March 24 for an NCAA regional game against Purdue.
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Sunday, April 13, 2008
LV5
LV6
Sunday, April 13, 2008
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
knoxnews.com | NEWS SENTINEL
THE
FACES
OF A
CHAMPION
Nicky Anosike and Alexis Hornbuckle teamed up in the semifinal game against LSU to put in the
In the Final Four games, Shannon Bobbitt made 6 of 13 3-pointers, averaged 12 points and made winning basket with less than a second to play. Top: Candace Parker, who injured her shoulder
the All-Tournament team.
during the fourth game of the tournament, was named the Most Outstanding Player.
Above: “Don’t ever,
ever bet against the
Big Orange; you will
lose,” associate head
coach Holly Warlick
said at the team’s
celebration bash in
Knoxville.
Right: Alberta Auguste
held Stanford star
Candice Wiggins to
14 points, nearly half
of Wiggins’ tournament average.
Parker, center, and Angie Bjorklund, right, combined for five steals against Stanford in the championship game.
PHOTOSBYSAULYOUNG | NEWS SENTINEL
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CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Fabulous five leaving with two national crowns
Nicky Candace
Anosike Parker
Distinction:Anosike, a member of
the 1,000-point career scoring
club, could’ve been named MVP
of the Final Four last season
with 14 points and 7 rebounds
against North Carolina and then
16 rebounds against Rutgers. She
made the all-tournament team
this season, recording 12 points,
eight rebounds and six steals in
the national championship game
against Stanford.
WorthNoting:She is pursuing
a major in sociology/criminal
justice as well as majors in
political science and legal studies.
Next school year, she will teach
in Newark, N.J., as part of the
“Teaching Across America”
program.
Quotable:“No one does it worse
than I do. Nobody gives it to me
worse than I give myself,” Anosike,
who’s her harshest critic.
Distinction: Last season, she
became the youngest player to
win both the State Farm Wade
Trophy and the John R. Wooden
player of the year. Added the
Associated Press, Naismith and
Wooden national awards this
season. She was named the Final
Four’s most outstanding player the
past two seasons.
WorthNoting:Parker became
the only Lady Vol to reach 2,000
points and 900 rebounds in three
seasons. She holds the career
blocks record (275).
Quotable:“You’re Marshal Dillon
and Dodge City better get cleaned
up pretty soon. They’re not looking
at Doc. They’re not looking at
Festus. They’re looking at you.
She’s established that. You can’t
erase that,’’ assistant coach Dean
Lockwood on Parker playing a
big part in helping UT end a nineseason drought with last season’s
national championship.
CAREER STATISTICS
Nicky Anosike
Year
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
G FGM FGA PCT.3PM 3PA PCT. FTM FTA PCT. Reb-Avg. PF-DQ TP-Avg.
35 57 155 .368 0
0 .000 119 181 .657 214-6.1 104-5 233-6.7
36 78 153 .510 0
0 .000 99 139 .712 194-5.4 104-3 255-7.1
37 100 234 .427 0
0 .000 78 130 .600 229-6.2 104-6 278-7.5
38 124 272 .456 0
0 .000 85 136 .625 277-7.3 99-5 333-8.8
AS
50
55
60
81
TO
60
63
72
70
BK
33
47
41
40
ST
48
51
49
65
Min.
709
844
1001
954
Shannon Bobbitt
Year
2006-07
2007-08
G FGM FGA PCT.3PM 3PA PCT. FTM FTA PCT. Reb-Avg. PF-DQ TP-Avg. AS TO BK ST Min.
36 98 265 .370 69 167 .413 49 62 .790
56-1.6 47-0 314-8.7 97 68 0 52 931
38 124 307 .404 78 195 .400 51 63 .810 111-2.9 69-0 377-9.9 125 106 5 63 1230
Alberta Auguste
Year
2006-07
2007-08
G FGM FGA PCT.3PM 3PA PCT. FTM FTA PCT. Reb-Avg. PF-DQ TP-Avg.
37 62 143 .434 5 21 .238 55 82 .671
85-2.3 50-0 184-5.0
38 85 231 .368 3 14 .214 28 45 .622 110-2.9 56-0 201-5.3
AS TO BK ST Min.
51 70 11 54 585
50 71 8 42 836
Alexis Hornbuckle
Year
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
G
35
29
37
37
FGM
116
102
150
141
FGA
261
244
341
318
PCT.3PM 3PA PCT. FTM FTA PCT. Reb-Avg. PF-DQ
.444 9 27 .333 60 99 .606 190-5.4 90-3
.418 9 38 .237 73 98 .745 155-5.3 72-1
.440 29 84 .345 49 67 .731 190-5.1 92-1
.443 39 92 .424 47 70 .671 205-5.5 87-1
TP-Avg.
301-8.6
286-9.9
378-10.2
368-9.9
AS TO
110 80
113 79
146 100
134 85
BK ST
21 64
14 91
17 114
31 104
Min.
301
802
1138
1160
Candace Parker
Year
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
G
36
36
38
FGM
230
267
300
FGA
417
505
560
PCT.3PM 3PA PCT. FTM FTA
.552 3 12 .250 159 218
.529 6 18 .333 166 232
.536 8 30 .267 201 288
PCT. Reb-Avg. PF-DQ
.729 298-8.3 73-1
.716 352-9.8 73-0
.698 322-8.5 67-0
TP-Avg. AS TO BK
622-17.3 103 82 86
706-19.6 88 89 99
809-21.3 96 91 90
ST
56
64
88
Min.
1126
1101
1132
LV7
LV8
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Alexis Hornbuckle
Distinction: She became Tennessee’s all-time steals leader with 373.
She saved Tennessee’s postseason with a last-second, game-winning
rebound basket against LSU in the national semifinals.
WorthNoting:She’s the only Lady Vol to reach 1,000 points, 550
rebounds, 400 assists and 275 steals during her career.
Quotable:“I wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to handle or be ready
for the type of leadership she’s already demonstrated this year,” coach
Pat Summitt on Hornbuckle.
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Shannon Bobbitt
Distinction:She was named to all-tournament teams at the Final Four
and at the Dayton Regional last season. She made the all-Final Four team
this season.
WorthNoting: In just two seasons, Bobbitt finished in the top five for
Tennessee’s career 3-point shooters in terms of treys made (147) and
career percentage (40.6 percent).
Quotable: “Here’s what’s incredible about it. First of all, she’s a midget on
the floor. So all you had to do was be relatively close. So that’s disturbing.
But it might speak to the respect she commands also because she
is so little and then so quick with the ball,’’ Rutgers coach C. Vivian
Stringer, after the 5-foot-2 Bobbitt burned the Scarlet Knights with four
3-pointers in last season’s national championship game.
RETURNING CAST
PHOTOS BY SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL
Top: Lady Vols Angie Bjorklund,
Cait McMahan, Kelley Cain and
Sydney Smallbone, left to right,
wait for the start of practice on
March 29 before their regional game against Notre Dame in
Oklahoma City.
Right: Vicki Baugh, Alex Fuller and
Kelley Cain, left to right, wait for
practice March 22 for the Oral
Roberts game at West Lafayette, Ind.
knoxnews.com | NEWS SENTINEL
Alberta Auguste
Distinction:Her 10 points and five rebounds in last season’s national
championship game were vital to Tennessee’s 59-46 victory. Her
defensive play against Stanford All-American Candice Wiggins was
instrumental to this season’s national championship victory.
WorthNoting:Before Auguste committed to Tennessee, the Lady Vols
had not had a junior college player in 28 years.
Quotable:“When I think about her, I think about how she stepped up in
postseason,’’ Summitt on Auguste’s NCAA play.
NEWS SENTINEL
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CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Sunday, April 13, 2008
LV9
Other Voices: Writers sing UT praises in chorus
What other newspapers said
about the Lady Vols championship:
Tennessee in as underdogs,
then out as top dogs
Last time Tennessee checked,
the Lady Vols were the team
with the winningest coach of
women’s basketball in Pat Summitt, and the best player in Candace Parker, and the fancy title as
defending national champions.
So what did they do with this
surplus of hyperbole? What great
championship teams do best at
the first whiff of disrespect: They
flashed the underdog card.
“I like that most people were
picking Stanford to win this
game,” said Summitt, who apparently caught all those pro-Stanford picks on ESPN before tipoff. “It really motivated our team.
“I said we were going to go in
as underdogs and come out as
top dogs.”
That the Lady Vols did, for a
record eighth time, with a 64-48
victory over the second-seeded
Cardinal.
David White
San Francisco Chronicle
Parker’s title dream
accomplished in duplicate
With the game in hand and
a minute left, Candace Parker
went to the Tennessee bench for
the final time, holding up four
fingers on each hand to signify
the eight titles the Lady Vols
have won.
Parker came to Tennessee
four years ago with one goal in
mind: Restore the Lady Vols
back to the Rocky Top.
A bruised and braced Parker
scored 17 points and grabbed
nine rebounds to help Tennessee
capture its eighth NCAA women’s basketball title with a 64-48
victory over Stanford on Tuesday night. The Lady Vols also
became the first repeat champs
since Connecticut won three
straight from 2002-04.
“One is disputable, but two,
you can’t stumble onto two national championships, so we’re
pretty good.
“We got two championships
together,” Parker said. “It’s a remarkable feeling to walk off the
court for the last time and hug
your coach. I’m completely different than I was when I came
in.”
Doug Feinberg
The Associated Press
Two great players, but only
one national title
Each came out last for pregame introductions, the order
changed to have Tennessee’s
Candace Parker, a forward, meet
at halfcourt with Stanford’s
Candice Wiggins, a guard, acknowledging two of the biggest
stars ever to play in an NCAA
women’s title game.
Their greeting was more than
the usual perfunctory handshake, with Parker saying a few
words and wrapping an arm
around the woman who succeeded her as Wade Trophy national player of the year.
“We just said congratulations
and how great it was for us to
meet here,” Parker said.
But the final congratulations
would go to Naperville’s Parker,
who got the trophy she wanted
in her last game as a collegian,
helping Tennessee succeed itself
as national champion.
Philip Hersh
Chicago Tribune
Despite the pain, Parker
wanted the ball
Where there’s a will, there’s a
way. When it is Tennessee star
Candace Parker’s will, she usually has her way.
With Parker playing with a
left shoulder tender from the
two dislocations she suffered a
week ago, the Lady Vols (36-2)
knocked off Stanford 64-48 at St.
Pete Times Forum on Tuesday
night to win the women’s NCAA
title.
Parker added a second consecutive college title after winning
back-to-back championships her
last two years in high school at
Naperville Central.
With 16:19 to play, Parker
thought she was fouled on a
drive to the basket, but didn’t get
a call. The Vols maintained possession and Parker stepped out to
the free throw line, called for the
ball and put on enough moves for
a clinic with a three-point play
that put Tennessee up 46-35.
“The world turned orange again. They’re back. And
now they’re back to back.”
Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune
“When the girl on my right
(Nicky Anosike) whispers in my
ear that it is time to take over, I
listen,’’ Parker said. “I just wanted to bring energy to the offense.
If the defense wants to take me
away, I know I can kick it and my
teammates will make shots.’’
“I won’t tell you exactly what
I said,’’ Anosike said. “But I will
tell you that it worked.
“I wasn’t going home without a national championship. If
we lost, I was going to be living
here.’’
Steve Tucker
Chicago Sun-Times
Defense obvious difference
in whom takes crown
Offense attracts attention, defense wins championships.
The Tennessee women’s basketball team demonstrated that
Tuesday night in the NCAA
championship game against
Stanford, holding the high-scoring Cardinal to a season-low
point total while forcing it into a
season-high 25 turnovers.
Dan Arritt
Los Angeles Times
Getting back to what they
do best — winning titles
“No sir, we got beat.”
“By how much?”
“One point.”
There was a long pause, and
as Summitt feared that her father
would blame her, he said: “Let
me just tell you one thing, Trisha.
Don’t take donkeys to the Kentucky Derby.”
The message was a valuable
one: The best coaches had the
best players. Tennessee (36-2)
clearly did Tuesday night in winning its second consecutive national championship and eighth
overall.
Jeré Longman
New York Times
Lady Vols know their way
up the ladder by heart
You’d think by now they’d
bring their own ladders.
That was Tennessee at the FoTennessee is back to doing
Support made difference
rum
on Tuesday night, making
what
it
does
so
well
—
winning
against Stanford
its familiar climb, to the rocky
national championships. With
top of women’s college basketa 64-48 victory over Stanford in
“Ace” got the support that
ball. For the eighth time, Pat
both she and “Ice” agreed would Tuesday night’s final, the Lady
Summitt’s Lady Vols ended their
Vols won back-to-back titles for
be the difference.
season by hitting nothing but
the first time since they won
Tennessee All-America fornets, and cutting them down.
ward Candace “Ace” Parker and three in a row from 1996 to ‘98.
Remember two years ago,
Before a sea of bright orangeStanford All-America guard
when some thought Tennessee’s
Candice “Ice” Wiggins each had clad fans — St. Pete Times Forun was done? They’d gone
said last night’s NCAA women’s rum looked more like Thompeight seasons without adding
son-Boling Arena in Knoxville
national championship game
to their six national championwas going to about the best team, than a neutral court — Tennessee (36-2) used a smothering de- ships. UConn had seized the
not the best player.
fense to stagnate Stanford’s fluid high ground with title after title.
It was going to swing on
which supporting players would offense and earn its eighth title in UConn coach Geno Auriemma
circled Summitt’s throne like a
make Tennessee or Stanford the 13 championship appearances.
Kathy Orton shark. Everyone seemed to be
better team.
Washington Post gaining. Purdue, Notre Dame,
With Parker struggling due to
Baylor and Maryland won titles,
an injured shoulder, her teamtoo.
mates — Alberta Auguste, Nicky Dad’s advice on recruiting
Then a funny thing happened.
Anosike, Shannon Bobbitt and
sunk in with Summitt
The world turned orange
Alexis Hornbuckle — did what
again.
Thirty-four seasons ago, afyou would expect of four senior
They’re back.
ter Pat Summitt had coached
starters who already had won a
And now they’re back to back.
her first game at Tennessee, she
national championship.
Martin Fennelly
SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL
John Smallwood phoned home.
The Tampa Tribune Tennessee Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt talks about her team’s pend“Did you win?” her father,
Philadelphia Daily News
ing game with Stanford in Tampa, Fla.
Richard Head, asked.
LV10
Sunday, April 13, 2008
VR
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