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Parker's last dance a good one
Tennessee star leads Lady Vols to NCAA repeat
TAMPA, Fla. -- Though bruised and braced, an injured left shoulder hardly prevented Candace Parker from hoisting that championship trophy on high for one last time.
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.
"It's been an emotional last three days, obviously, just rehabbing my shoulder," Parker said, "but it was all worth it to win an eighth national championship."
The Associated Press player of the year will leave the Lady Vols (36-2) with a year of eligibility remaining, but has accomplished one of her goals by winning multiple national titles.
"You know, it's funny because some players don't get one, and I'm fortunate enough to have two," Parker said with both hands raised and two fingers up on each. "It's that simple. It's that simple."
Parker also became the fourth player to win back-to-back Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four honors. She joined Connecticut's Diana Taurasi (2003-04), Tennessee's Chamique Holdsclaw (1997-98), and Southern Cal's Cheryl Miller (1983-84).
Stanford's loss ended Candice Wiggins' remarkable run through the NCAA tournament. She scored 14 points and finished with 151 over the six games -- the fourth-best total in tournament history.Sheryl Swoopes holds the record with 177 points, when she led Texas Tech to the championship in 1993. Wiggins is the first player to have two 40-point games in the tournament.
Wiggins ended her stellar career by taking the Cardinal (35-4) further than they'd been since 1992, when the program won it all. Stanford hadn't reached the Final Four since 1997 or advanced to the championship game since the '92 team.
"I'm sad that it's over because of how much I love this program, this institution, this team, and my coaches teammates," Wiggins said, breaking into tears. "It's that amazing. This season, I could not ever have dreamed of this, so it's more than I could ever ask for."
She came in averaging 27.4 points in the tournament and opened the game with a 3-pointer, but couldn't find an open look after that. The All-American finished 6-for-16 from the field and left to a standing ovation with just over a minute left in her college career.
Parker struggled with her shooting in the semifinals when she went just 6-for-27 from the field, but gutted out the championship game -- not letting her injured shoulder bother her. For the second straight game, the All-American wore a long-sleeve shirt under her uniform to try, as she said, to not focus on the injury.
While still clearly not 100 percent healthy, the expected No. 1 pick in today's WNBA draft didn't shoot nearly as many jumpers as Sunday night, instead taking the ball to the basket on an array of moves.
With the game in hand and a minute left, 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.
"No. 8, it's all about this team," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "I've been very blessed with this team, these people I have around me."
Tennessee is 8-5 in championship games after barely making it to No. 13. The Lady Vols ended a nine-year drought with their championship last season. They won their other titles in 1987, '89, '91, '96, '97, and '98.
Tennessee 64, Stanford 48
STANFORD (35-4)
Pedersen 2-7 3-4 7, Appel 6-13 4-10 16, Hones 2-5 0-0 5, Wiggins 6-16 0-0 14, Gold-Onwude 1-2 0-0 2, Pierce 0-0 0-0 0, Donaghe 0-0 0-0 0, Pohlen 0-2 0-0 0, Cimino 0-0 0-0 0, Clyburn 0-1 0-0 0, Harmon 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 19-49 7-14 48.
TENNESSEE (36-2)
Parker 5-10 7-11 17, Auguste 3-7 1-2 7, Anosike 6-11 0-1 12, Bobbitt 4-12 2-2 13, Hornbuckle 1-7 4-5 6, Bjorklund 0-5 0-0 0, Smallbone 0-0 1-2 1, Baugh 3-4 2-2 8, Fuller 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-56 17-25 64.
Halftime--Tennessee 37-29. 3-Point Goals--Stanford 3-11 (Wiggins 2-5, Hones 1-2, Pohlen 0-1, Clyburn 0-1, Pedersen 0-2), Tennessee 3-9 (Bobbitt 3-8, Bjorklund 0-1). Fouled Out--Appel. Rebounds--Stanford 36 (Pedersen 10), Tennessee 38 (Parker 9). Assists--Stanford 8 (Appel, Hones 3), Tennessee 6 (Hornbuckle 3). Total Fouls--Stanford 21, Tennessee 14. A--21,655.


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