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Adams: Lady Vols 'found a way to win'
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TAMPA, Fla. - Tennessee All-American Candace Parker had missed 21 shots before her team prepared for its last shot with seven seconds to play in the NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game at the St. Pete Times Forum Sunday night. But UT had no doubts that it wanted the ball in her hands.
"The first thing (assistant coach) Nikki Caldwell said, 'We've got to get the ball in Candace's hands,' " Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt said of her strategy during the last timeout. "I didn't disagree with her.
"I think when you have the best player in the game, you've got to get the ball in her hands in that situation."
Following the timeout, Parker got the ball as planned. But she never got the shot.
After LSU All-American Sylvia Fowles double-teamed Parker as she dribbled within shooting range, Parker passed to Nicky Anosike. When Anosike missed the shot, LSU was within seconds of its first Final Four victory.
And that was just enough time for UT senior Alexis Hornbuckle to be an unlikely hero.
She rebounded Anosike's miss and scored on a follow-up with seven-tenths of a second remaining to give UT a 47-46 victory and a berth in Tuesday night's national championship game.
Maybe it's just as well Hornbuckle didn't have time to think about the last shot. Until she took it, she was 0-for-7 from the field.
And that didn't account for all of her mishaps.
After shooting an air-ball on UT's previous possession, Hornbuckle fouled LSU point guard Erica White, who then made two free throws to put the Lady Tigers up 46-45 with seven seconds to play.
But Hornbuckle righted all her wrongs in that last precious second.
"Of course, I realized (I hadn't made a shot)," Hornbuckle said of her struggles. "It was frustrating. I knew I couldn't give up on myself or my team. I just wanted to stay positive."
Her last shot was positively perfect.
"I was fearful it was over with," Summitt said. "Then Lex comes up and makes a tremendous play.
"She's one of the most athletic guards I've ever coached. She struggled tonight. I felt it would be hard for us to win (without Hornbuckle playing well offensively)."
Not only did UT win with Hornbuckle making only one shot. It won with Parker going 6-for-27 from the field.
Parker wouldn't use her injured left shoulder as an excuse. But it obviously affected her.
Or, as LSU coach Van Chancellor put it, "She hadn't ever been 6-for-27 in her life. She had a gutty performance."
Although Parker didn't shoot well, she excelled in other areas. She had 15 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
"I thought Candace was struggling emotionally," Summitt said. "Just what she's been through. I don't think Candace has had a lot of sleep."
Since suffering a dislocated left shoulder in UT's Elite Eight victory against Texas A&M last Tuesday night, Parker has spent hours each day rehabilitating the injury with the help of Lady Vols athletic trainer Jenny Moshak.
"I think she took some possessions off (on defense) because of fatigue," Summitt said. "I was a little demanding on her at first, but I know she was frustrated."
Despite the injury and the frustration, Parker dribbled the ball up court strongly and quickly on UT's last possession.
"We wanted to turn her," Chancellor said. "But we couldn't do it. In seven seconds she had time to get the ball to the other end, (and UT had time to) miss a shot and get the rebound.
"It was a tough way to lose a basketball game."
And a great way to win one.
"I'm just thankful Alexis came up and we found a way to win," Summitt said. "I'm not sure how when I look at the stat sheet."
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by tenn32rebel on April 7, 2008 at 2:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go, Lady Vols!!!! Pat has always said it is "survive and advance." Well, that proved to be the case Sunday night. Rest and enjoy your win. Get ready for Stanford because they positively think (know) they can beat you a second time. Ah, but it is the NCAA Championship game and I know you will play like the defending champs! UT 65 Stanford 60. Pat gets #8 in '08!!! GO LADY VOLS!!!!
Posted by rusty_shackleford on April 7, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
johnny boy does much better when he writes as a reporter rather than an editor. The opinion pieces are awful. This, however, is good to read for those of us who can't stay up until midnight for the end of the game.
Posted by andefromtn on April 7, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We will have to play much better Tuesday night if we are to win against Stanford. They were awesome against UConn. I will be glue to my chair and hoping the whole game for another miracle.
Posted by CrankE on April 7, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How does Sylvia Fowles "double" Parker. Doesn't it take two to double team? Or is Sylvia Fowles now two people?
Posted by johnlg00 on April 7, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CrankE, Fowles certainly played like two people at times last night! She is one tough, hard-nosed gal! If she had made just one of about six point-blank shots or even half of her free-throws, we would have lost. With her defense and rebounding, she could be the Bill Russell of the WNBA by the time she is finished. Some have criticized her (overly) physical play, but it was her job to play as hard as she possibly can; it is up to the (often clueless) refs to call her on it. andefromtn, we will surely have our hands full against Stanford. Their offense was incredibly efficient against a very good UConn defense and they also defended well. The Lady Vols will have to play as a whole team at a level they have seldom reached this year to bring home the eighth trophy!
Posted by camoman270 on April 7, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yep, sylvia had one on parker and fowles had another on her.......
hehheheheheheheh
good point!
Posted by etsuvol99 on April 7, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Didn't Fleser just write a "this is what happened" article? I thought Adams does more opinion stuff? Why copy Fleser?
Posted by Pullingguard on April 7, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All is well and good if you win, even if ugly, however.... The lady vols will have to step it up verses Stanford if they hope to win... It was an ugly game for both teams, primarily a 2 player conformation, Fowles and Parker... Stanford has more guns than either the Vols or Tigers had or have so Pat better have a great game plan for defense if the L/V are to win.
Posted by janchattn on April 7, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The way Candace glided up the court at the end was beautiful to see. It was smart and unselfish of her to get it to Nicky. Nicky may well have gotten her own tip back in but Lex is SO quick, another big beautiful game-changing play by #14. The Lady Vols are a joy to watch, glad we get to see one more game! Go girls, you're the best!!!
Posted by johnnyboy on April 7, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did you guys not see the play? Candace had a guard on her as she brought the ball up the court. When she got to the paint Fowles left Anosike and double teamed Parker thinking she was going to take last shot. That's when pass was made to Nikki and the rest is history.
Posted by dburgin0114 on April 7, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow!!! and double Wow
Posted by mad_poly_uct on April 7, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Conrats on last night's win Vol fans!Yeah, I'm disappointed Uconn lost, but very proud of what they accomplished this year. Came up a bit short, but lost to a better team. Stanford is playing some real good ball right now. It's been fun going back and forth with you guys this year. Good luck tomorrow, and we'll see ya next year!Well, Nov. at least...
Posted by CrankE on April 7, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, I didn't get to watch any of the game. So I'm relying on John Adams (LSU homer) report here. But I know that Fowles can play like 2 people.
Would this be similar to Phillip Fulmer getting double teamed by John Adams?
Posted by TheVolMan on April 7, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great LV win! Too bad a JA-bashing weenie or two can't stick with their "boycott"... LOL...
Posted by BigOrangeVol on April 7, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tremendous win for the Lady Vols! It may not have been pretty but that was one hard fought game by both team. It looked like Ali-Frasier in Manila!
Too bad UConn got beat. I guess Auriennema won’t have to answer those “Pat” questions anymore this year so he should at least be happy about that. Seems like the game has passed ole Geno by. After 22 years of beating up on every New England Sisters of the Poor school they could find, the parity in ladies basketball now days has caught up with him. In '05 they didn't get past the Sweet 16, in '06 they didn't advance past the Elite Eight and this year they fall in the Final Four. UConn only has a winning percentage of 62% over Top 10 teams under Geno. They haven't been to the Championship game since 2004! He just doesn't have the answers anymore. Maybe he needs to retire and let a young coach with fresh ideas take over at Storrs. They need a coach that can relate to the players! :-)
Posted by rrvolfan on April 7, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
john adams BYLINE - I SKIP THE ARTICLE!!!!
Posted by aspenvol on April 7, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fire John Adams.
Posted by volroadwarrior on April 7, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know the refs see Fowles as a physical player, but they let her get away with wayyyyy too much without calling a foul. She knocked Candace flat on her back once and they called the foul on Candace. I don't believe Fowles had but 3 or maybe 4 fouls called on her, but she commited way more than that.
Posted by westkyvolfan on April 7, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If they hada called all the Fowles on Sylvia, she woulda been gone early in the second half.
Posted by 02champs on April 7, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hornswaggle will not be missed next year, obviously, as evidenced by her stats dropping off considerably the last three years, but at least she finally hit a lay-up..!!!
Posted by writer on April 7, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Naw she would have been gone in the first half. And some of those fouls looked like they were designed to hurt Parker--who also got deliberately tripped going down the court. LSU didn't play basketball, they played street brawl. But we won anyway, great way to hang in there with the street toughs, Lady Vols. Beat Stanford who probably at least will play basketball!
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