Lady Vols win second straight title
TAMPA, Fla. – There’s defense, then there’s SEC-D.
Tennessee used stifling defense to defend its NCAA women’s basketball championship with a 64-48 victory over Stanford Tuesday night before 21,655 fans in the sold-out St. Pete Times Forum.
“They came out with a great mentality to play hard, especially on the defensive end,” Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said after accepting her eighth championship trophy. “On offense we got more people involved, but it was our defense that got it done.”
The Vols held the team that rang up 98 points on Maryland last week in Spokane and 82 on top-ranked Connecticut Sunday to its lowest point total of the season, two nights after holding SEC rival Louisiana State to 46.
Tennessee (36-2) hounded Stanford (35-4) into a season-high 25 turnovers that translated into 26 points and 39 percent shooting. The Cardinal compounded that making just 7 of 14 free throws and giving up 15 second-chance points as their 23-game winning streak ended at a most inopportune time.
“The game wasn’t indicative of the great season we had,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “We did not play well. We did not handle the pressure well. Obviously, the turnovers absolutely killed us.”
Tennessee, with five senior starters, kept Stanford off-balance from the beginning with a variety of presses.
“I’m so proud of our seniors,” said UT freshman reserve Angie Bjorklund, a University High School grad. “They showed me what it takes for the next three years. They showed what it takes to win. We wouldn’t be here without them. They deserve it, that’s for sure.”
The Lady Vols dominated every phase. Shannon Bobbitt, a 5-foot-2 guard, jump-started the offense with two early 3-pointers on her way to 13 points. Nicky Anosike, the 6-4 center, scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had six steals as the point on the press.
Then there was Candace Parker, the Most Outstanding Player for the second time.
“It was experience, but I also believe a lot of people underestimate our defense,” Parker said after a 17-point, nine-rebound, four-steal performance despite a shoulder injury. “When you get on the court with us it’s a little different than what you see on TV.”
Tennessee led 37-29 at the half on the strength of Bobbitt’s 13 points and Anosike’s 10, which matched the total of Stanford’s 6-4 inside tandem of Jayne Appel and Kayla Pedersen.
Bobbitt’s second 3-pointer broke a 7-7 tie and started an 8-0 run over a 5-minute Stanford drought. Her third 3-pointer provided the biggest lead, 30-19 with 3:51 to go. Only a desperation shot by Jillian Harmon just before the buzzer kept the difference under double figures, 37-29.
Tennessee slapped a press on at the 5-minute mark and never let up.
“I thought as soon as Connecticut went to the press it really bothered them,” Summitt said. “I felt that our size, having Nicky on the ball and being able to extend our defense would be a good open. When we dropped back to our half-court or three-quarter court we really just wanted to take time off the clock because they are such a pattern-oriented team and they do a great job.”
Stanford opened the second half with four points from Pedersen but then suffered a near 3-minute dry spell as the Vols pushed the lead back to 10, the last two baskets coming, fittingly, on a putback by Anosike and a Parker steal.
The Cardinal never got closer than eight the rest of the way and trailed by nine with 7:53 to play, only to go scoreless for 51/2 minutes so there was no comeback as there was when Stanford defeated the Lady Vols in December.
“I think they did the same thing, we just handled it a little bit better in the first game,” Appel said. “We played a lot better. It’s kind of tough having a bad night on a night like this.”
Appel led Stanford with 16 points and Candice Wiggins had 14. Pedersen had seven points and 10 rebounds.