UT in NCAA Regionals
Overall: UT leads 38-9
Sweet 16: UT leads 22-4
Elite 8: UT leads 16-5
Home: UT leads 12-0
Away: tied 1-1
Neutral: UT leads 25-8
Overtime: UT leads 2-1

THE COACHES
UT's Pat Summitt is 944-180 (33 yrs)
UM's Carol Ross is 324-170 (16 yrs)

RECENT RESULTS
NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN
3-25-07 #3/4 UT def. Marist, 65-46
3-20-07 Ole Miss def. #11 Oklahoma, 90-82

NEXT GAME
NCAA Final Four
April 1 vs. Purdue/North Carolina winner

• Season Highlights
• NCAA Selection Show Highlights with Coach Summitt's Comments
  Parker's Comments | Spencer's Comments | Redding's Comments

• Selection Show Photo Gallery
• Quotes From Coach Summitt and the team
• Tennessee's NCAA History (PDF)
• Lady Vols get 'gut check' in practice after SEC loss
• Spencer's 3-pointers a key to Lady Vols' NCAA run

• Ticket Information
• Petersen Events Center
• 2006-07 SEC Standings | 2006-07 SEC Statistics | 2006-07 SEC Tournament
• Big Orange Tailgate Tour

• Media Schedule of Events (PDF)

Dominique Redding

GAME 35 - NCAA ELITE 8

The number one-seeded and #3/4-nationally ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (31-3 overall, 14-0 SEC) have advanced to its 22nd NCAA Elite 8 contest and will face the seventh seeded Mississippi Lady Rebels (24-10, 9-5 SEC) at 7:00 p.m. on Tues., Mar. 27, 2007 in Dayton, Ohio, at the University of Dayton Arena. The winner advances to the NCAA Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio. and will meet the winner of the Dallas Regional (Purdue or North Carolina) on Sun., April 1.

LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE

This is the Lady Vols' 33rd season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 944-180 overall record... Is just 56 wins away from a remarkable 1,000 career victories...Collected her 900th coaching win with a 80-68 decision over #19-ranked Vanderbilt on Jan. 19, 2006... She passed Dean Smith (879 wins) for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 victory over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005 ...Her 2005-06 squad advanced to the NCAA Elite 8...Finished with a 31-5 overall record and were the SEC Tournament Champions...

LOVE US, HATE US ... GOTTA R-E-S-P-E-C-T US

The #3/4-ranked and #1-seeded Tennessee Lady Vols continues play in their 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament - the only team to have garnered an invitation to every "Big Dance." All-time, UT has received 12 automatic bids and been selected as an at-large team 14 times. The Lady Vols' 2007 number one seed marks the 18th time Tennessee has earned a top billing. UT has never been seeded lower than fourth (1986) and has been seeded in the #2 slot four times (1982, 1987, 2002, 2006) and #3, three times (1984, 1985, 1997). Tennessee has a phenomenal 95-19 record in 114 NCAA Tournament games - all under head coach Pat Summitt.

UT IN THE 2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT THE SEC RULES IN DAYTON

The Tennessee Lady Vols traveled to its 26th consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 - a feat unchallenged in the women's game. In the Dayton Regional with the Lady Vols, Marist made its inaugural trip to the Sweet 16. The Red Foxes were a 14th seed in 2004 (losing to Oklahoma, 58-45), a 14th seed in 2006 (losing to Georgia, 75-60). Before losing to Tennessee. 65- 46, Marist won two games in the 2007 Tournament as a #13-seed knocking off Ohio State, 67-63, and Middle Tennessee State, 73-59. Oklahoma was in its sixth Sweet 16 (1986, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007) and advanced from the West Regional in 2002 to the NCAA Championships in San Antonio with Tennessee, UConn and Duke. Tennessee has never faced Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament but did play on the Sooners home floor in the 2004 NCAA Midwest Regionals in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma was upset by Stanford, 68-43, in the NCAA Second Round game. Ole Miss is attending its 10th Sweet 16 (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 2007) and has played in four Elite 8 contests. Ole Miss and Tennessee have faced each other in two Sweet 16 games over the years...in 1983, UT defeated Ole Miss, 90-83 (3OT - longest game in Lady Vol history) while the Lady Rebels returned the favor in 1985 knocking UT out of the tourney, 63-60. Tennessee has been to 26 Sweet 16's and captured 16 Regional titles to date. The Lady Vols won the East in 1988, 1989, 1996; the Mideast in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, and the Midwest in 1997, 2002 and 2004. In 2005, UT won the Philadelphia Regional. After advancing from 16 regional championships, Tennessee captured NCAA titles in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

NEVER BEEN TO DAYTON

The Tennessee Lady Vols have played far and wide over the years but has incredibly visited the state of Ohio only six times. UT has traveled to Cincinnati (1987 Communiplex Classic and 1997 NCAA Final Four), Cleveland (2000 Women's College Basketball Classic and the 2006 NCAA Cleveland Regional), Columbus (at Ohio State, W, 72-56, Jan. 31, 1980) and Youngstown (at Youngstown State, W, 78-54, Feb. 9, 1993). Tennessee has taken on eight state of Ohio schools including Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton, Miami of Ohio, Ohio State, Toledo, Xavier and Youngstown. Dayton traveled to Knoxville and faced the Lady Vols on Dec. 4, 1986 and took home a 66-40 loss. UT's "Cinderella Season" of 1997 found the Lady Vols winning NCAA title number five in Cincinnati at the Riverfront Coliseum. Last March in Cleveland, UT was denied a trip to the 2006 Final Four losing to North Carolina, 75-63, in the Cleveland Regional Championship game.

2007 NCAA TOURNEY TIME FOR TENNESSEE

The Lady Vols are playing in the postseason for the 32nd time in Coach Pat Summitt's 33-year career at Tennessee. Tennessee started the tournament on the road in Pittsburgh, Pa., for the NCAA First/Second Rounds and collected wins over Drake (76-37) and host Pittsburgh (68-54). This marked just the third time in 26 years that UT was on the road for the opening rounds. The Lady Vols also traveled in 2004 (Tallahassee, Fla.) and 2006 (Norfolk, Va.). The University of Tennessee served as host for NCAA First /Second Rounds from 1982-2003 and 2005. The Lady Vols then moved on to the Dayton Regional and took a 65-46 win over Marist in the Sweet 16. Tennessee will now face a familiar foe in SEC sister school Ole Miss for a chance to advance to the 2007 Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio.

AGAINST THE 2007 TOURNAMENT FIELD

This season, Tennessee has faced in 18 teams in 21 games from the 63- team (plus UT) NCAA bracket. Overall, the Lady Vols have turned in a 18-3 record. UT has defeated: Chattanooga (102-72), Arizona State (83-74), Stanford (77-60), Middle Tennessee (88-64), George Washington (85-62), West Virginia (66-51), Old Dominion (75-59), Notre Dame (78-54), Connecticut (70-64), Georgia (52-41, 73-57), Vanderbilt (67-57 and 73-53) Mississippi (81-69), LSU (56-51) Drake (76-37), Pittsburgh (68-54) and Marist (65-46). The Lady Vols' three losses came against Duke 70-74, North Carolina 57-70 and LSU 54-63.

TENNESSEE EARNS RECORD #1 SEED

The University of Tennessee has earned 18 number-one seeds all-time in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. UT has been seeded number two on four occasions, number three, three times and number four just once. From 1988-96, the Lady Vols had nine consecutive number one seeds. Only 28 schools have ever received number one seeds over the years. Teams with the most number one seeds through the years: 1. Tennessee 18, 2. (tie) Louisiana Tech and Connecticut 10, 4. Stanford and Duke, 6, 6. (tie) Texas, Old Dominion 5, 8. (tie) Georgia, USC 4, 10. (tie) Penn St., Vandy, Auburn, Virginia, Long Beach 3.

2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK

LAST TIME VS. OLE MISS

On Feb. 15, 2007, the Lady Vols won their 11th straight Southeastern Conference game with an 81-69 triumph over Ole Miss. Sophomore Candace Parker had another double-double, as she accumulated 25 points and 10 rebounds in the contest. Tennessee took the lead going into the locker room after an 11-0 run which sharted with a three-pointer by junior Shannon Bobbitt. Bobbitt's shot was in response to a jumper by Carla Bartee which Ole Miss ahead 20-17 with 5:56 to go in the half. UM got to 42-36 in the second half before Sidney Spencer started a 7-0 Tennessee run. The Lady Vols never looked back and led by 19 with 5:56 left in the game. The Rebels' leading-scorer, Armintie Price, contributed only 13 tallies, as she was on the bench most of the first half with two early fouls. Price's performance was not up to par, as she came to Knoxville averaging 18.7 points per game. Bobbitt had 15 points for UT, while classmate Alexis Hornbuckle added 12. Five Rebels reached double digits in the game, including Price, Danetra Forrest with 11 and Ashley Awkward, Bartee and Bianca Thomas with 10 points apiece. The two teams produced a total of 43 turnovers, 23 of them coming at the Rebels' expense. The win marked Tennessee's 14th straight victory over Ole Miss.

THE SERIES

Tennessee leads the series with SEC foe Ole Miss, 30- 7, dating back to 1977. The Rebels are the only SEC team which can claim they defeated the Lady Vols four times in a row (1985-87).

COMMON OPPONENTS

Tennessee and Ole Miss share many common opponents in the SEC. UT went 13-0 in regular season versus these opponents, and 1-1 in the postseason. The Rebels boast a 9-4 season conference record against common opponents and match the Lady Vols' postseason SEC record.

Tennessee has advanced to 22 of 26 Elite 8 Rounds dating back to 1982. UT did not make the Elite 8 in 1985, 1992, 1994 and 2001. The Lady Vols have an unmatched record of 16-5 in Elite 8 games. Tennessee's five losses in the Elite 8 were all heartbreakers. In 1983, after surviving a triple overtime victory against Ole Miss in the Sweet 16, the Lady Vols had nothing left in the tank for Georgia in an Elite 8 match-up in South Bend, Ind., and lost 67-63. Perhaps the most heartbreaking loss in Tennessee women's basketball program history was the 1990 Elite 8 overtime defeat to Virginia, 79-75, in Norfolk, Va., denying the Lady Vols the chance to play for an NCAA title on their home court in Knoxville. Instead, the Lady Vols helped to serve as hostesses at the event billed as "Tennessee and the Final Three." In 1993, Tennessee lost an Elite 8 game to a team on a mission. Playing on the Iowa Hawkeyes home floor, Tennessee lost 72-56 to Coach C. Vivian Stringer's team, Earlier that season, Stringer had lost her husband and the Hawks were on a mission. Another Elite 8 heartbreaker was in 1999 against Duke in Greensboro, N.C. Tennessee had won consecutive NCAA titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and were going for four in a row before Duke knocked off UT, 69-63, ending the outstanding careers of four time All- American Chamique Holdsclaw and Kellie Jolly. Last season, in a stacked Cleveland Regional, #1-ranked North Carolina took the Lady Vols out of a trip to the Final Four with a 75-63 beating. With the exception of the Iowa and North Carolina contests (16 and 12 points, respectively), the Lady Vols missed the Final Four by some close shaves of four points, four points in overtime and six points. UT played the first overtime game in the NCAA Tournament in 1982 in the Elite 8. Tennessee defeated the McGee twins and Southern Cal, 91-90. Tennessee averages 71.5 ppg in NCAA Elite 8 contests and holds its opponents to 65.3 ppg or an average winning margin of +6.2 ppg. UT has lost four Elite 8 games by an average of -7.4 (64.3 to 71.7). The Lady Vol high water mark for points in the Elite 8 game is 94 - scored against Long Beach State in 1989. The Lady Vols scored just 52 points in a miracle come-from-behind win over Virginia, 52-46, in Charlottesville, Va., in 1996. In 2003, Tennessee recorded its largest margin of victory in a Elite 8 game with a +24 point win over Villanova, 73-49. The narrowest win in this round was the one-point overtime victory, 91-90, over Southern Cal in 1982 to advance to the first-ever Women's NCAA Final Four in Norfolk, Va. Tennessee's Elite 8 opponents through the years have included: Southern Cal, Georgia (twice), LSU, Auburn (twice), Iowa, Texas Tech (twice), Virginia (three times), Long Beach State, Connecticut, North Carolina (twice), Duke, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Stanford and Rutgers.

THE IRONY OF IT

A win for Tennessee over Ole Miss would send the Lady Vols to Cleveland, Ohio, for the 2007 NCAA Final Four. Last year at this time, UT was already in Cleveland...facing #1-ranked North Carolina in an the Elite 8 game. The Tar Heels whipped Tennessee, 75-63. The Ole Miss/Tennessee winner in Dayton will meet the Purdue/North Carolina winner at the Final Four in Cleveland.

OF INTEREST - 2007 NCAA

.. UT is averaging just 10.0 turnovers .. UT is connecting on 49% from the field .. Last year in three NCAA games, Tennessee had visited the charity stripe 81 times - this year, UT has made just 44 trips to the line. .. Notably, Candace Parker is just 7-11 at the free throw line. Last year, she was 20-25 at the same time. .. Tennessee has held opponents to under 25 points in the first half of all three NCAA Tournament games this season. .. UT has better scoring balance in the NCAA's this year with four players averaging nine or more points. In 2006, only Parker and Shanna Zolman scored more than nine points per outing thru three games. .. Parker has been a sure shot for the Lady Vols in 2007 NCAA action - the sophomore has connected on 74% of her shots from the field (26-35). FACING THE SEC IN THE NCAA The game versus Ole Miss in the 2007 NCAA Elite 8 will mark the 16th time the Lady Vols have faced a fellow Southeastern Conference opponent in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee is 13-2 all-time when facing an SEC opponent in the NCAA Tournament. UT is 1-1 vs. Ole Miss, 4-1 vs. Georgia, 1-0 vs. Alabama, 1-0 vs. Arkansas, 1-0 vs. Vanderbilt, 2-0 vs. LSU, and 3-0 vs. Auburn.

Tennessee had to get by an SEC team to go to the Final Four on six occasions. Georgia blocked the path in 1983 and won a 67-63 decision to advance to its first Final Four. Since then, the Lady Vols have defeated an SEC team to advance to the Final Four five times -- in 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991 and 2002. Entering the game versus Ole Miss in the Elite 8, Tennessee has knocked off its last 10 SEC opponents in a row in the NCAA Tourney.

SEC KNOWS THE WAY

The Southeastern Conference is no stranger to the NCAA Final Four. Seven of the 12 league teams have played in at least one Final Four since play started in 1982. Tennessee leads the pack with 16 Final Four appearances (6 titles, 5 runner-up spots, 5 times tied for third). The Lady Vols are followed by Georgia with five Final Four appearances (2 runner-up spots, three tied for third); Auburn has three trips and three runnerup finishes; LSU has three trips and three tied for third finishes, while Arkansas, Alabama and Vanderbilt have all appeared in the Final Four once each and have a tied for third finish.

THESE SEEDS SENT TENNESSEE HOME

Tennessee has played in an incredible 114 games in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. Six times the Lady Vols have brought home NCAA titles to Knoxville. On the 19 occasions when UT lost in the tournament, the number one seeded team provided the honors nine times. The Lady Vols have never lost to a team seeded lower than #4 all-time in the tournament.

The following seeds bounced the Lady Vols.

#1 seed--1982, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
#2 seed--1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 2004
#3 seed--1999
#4 seed--1992, 1994, 2001

READ THE SCOUTING REPORT

When the Lady Vols traveled to Ole Miss on Feb. 22, 2004, it appeared that the UT players missed the scouting report on a UM rookie by the name of Armintie Price. Price was virtually unstoppable canning 14-17 shots en route to 32 points in 36 minutes of play. Despite her performance, UT won 85-69. Since that time, Price has tagged the Lady Vols for just 19, 10 and 13 points during regular season meetings.

READ THE SCOUTING REPORT II

Ole Miss definitely read the scouting report on rookie Candace Parker last year. Parker's first trip to Oxford was not one of her better showings. In a foulplagued performance, Parker was just 2- 7 for a rookie season low seven points and four rebounds in 27 minutes of play in the 78-63 win. This season, Parker tossed in 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in UT's 81-69 win.

ROSS A BRIDESMAID

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt and Ole Miss coach Carol Ross have faced off in NCAA Tournament play in the past. Ross was a key assistant on the staff of former Auburn coach Joe Ciampi (1984- 90). Tennessee and Auburn battled in the 1987 Mideast Regional finals (won by UT, 77-61). Two years later, Tennessee defeated Auburn in the 1989 NCAA title game, 76-60. In the 1990 NCAA Final Four (hosted by the University of Tennessee), Auburn fell to Stanford in the title game, 88-81.

STATEMENT SENT TO SUMMITT

When Carol Ross took on her first head coaching job at Florida in 1990-91, she sent a message to Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt and her Tennessee team. The Gators, previously 0-15 versus the Lady Vols, took UT to overtime before losing, 71-70 on Jan. 16, 1991. Seven meetings later, the Gators took a "W" over the Lady Vols for the first time with a 71-62 win on Jan. 21, 1997.

BACK IN THEIR DAY

Entering the game with Ole Miss in the NCAA Elite 8 in Dayton, much of the media attention will center on Tennessee's Candace Parker and UM's Armintie Price. If you turned the clock back almost three decades, the attention would have been on #22 Holly Warlick and #11 Carol Ross. Warlick, UT associate head coach, and Ross were the preeminent SEC playmakers "back in the day." Warlick racked up 673 assists and 250 steals (1976-80) while Ross registered 531 assists and 333 steals (1977-81).

In 1980, Tennessee and Ole Miss, led by Warlick and Ross, met in the first Southeastern Conference Championship game. Tennessee prevailed over the Lady Rebs, 85-71. Both Warlick and Ross were named to the inaugural fiveplayer All-SEC Tournament Team.

LEAGUE DOMINANCE

The SEC is assured of having at least one team at the 2007 Final Four with Tennessee and Ole Miss facing each other in the Dayton Regional Championship game. LSU will battle UConn in the Fresno Regional final for a possible spot in the Final Four. There have only been two NCAA Final Fours contested without an SEC team in the field (1992 and 2001).

THE FINAL FOUR

The Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to 16 NCAA Final Fours dating back to 1982. Remarkably, the Lady Vols have played in 11 title games and won six NCAA Championships - 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, and 1998.

THIRTYSOMETHING AGAIN

With a win over Pittsburgh in the NCAA Second Round, Tennessee has garnered another 30-win season. Summitt has won at least 30 games in 17 years of her 33 at the helm of the Lady Vols.

95 FOR SUMMITT

Against Marist, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt collected her 95th all-time win in the NCAA Tournament (overall 95-19 .832). NCAA Tournament wins account for 1/10 of Summitt's all-time 944 wins.

THE ELITE 8

The Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to 22 of 26 NCAA Elite 8 Rounds dating back to 1982. UT did not make the Elite 8 in 1985, 1992, 1994 and 2001.

AND THEN THERE WERE 8

Of the remaining other seven teams in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the Lady Vols have played five of the other seven teams and posted a 4-2 record. Tennessee recorded wins over Connecticut (70-64), Ole Miss (81-69), Arizona St. (83-74) and LSU (56-51). The Lady Vols lost to North Carolina (57- 70) and LSU (54-63).

UT TOOK CINDERELLA'S SLIPPER

The Lady Vols ended Marist's Cinderella run through the 2007 NCAA Tournament with a 65-46 win on Mar. 25. The victory improved UT to 31-3 on the season and marks the 14th 31+ win season in 33 years under head coach Pat Summitt. UT has a 1-0 lead in the series with Marist and a 2-0 all-time record against teams from the Metro Atlantic Conference. Including the Marist contest, Tennessee has held opponents to under 25 points in the first half of all three NCAA Tournament games this season. Tennessee had a 21-point halftime lead over the Red Foxes, its largest since a 23-point margin at the break against Kentucky on Feb. 11, 2007. Entering the game, Marist led the nation in fewest turnovers per game (11.5). The Red Foxes had 10 first-half turnovers and 15 for the game - their most in the NCAA Tournament this season. Individually, Nicky Anosike...Started in her 92nd career game, tying Loree Moore for the 15th-most by a Lady Vol; Alexis Hornbuckle...Moved into a tie for fifth place with Michelle Marciniak for singleseason steals (107) in the UT record books; Candace Parker...Moved past Latina Davis and Tonya Edwards into 21st place in the UT career scoring (1,273) record books...Scored in double figures for the 31st time this season and the 64th time of her career...Was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in the first half...Moved into a tie for first place with Teresa Geter for the UT single-season blocks record (93), Sidney Spencer...Scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and the 48th time in her career; Shannon Bobbitt...Scored in double figures for the third game in a row and the 14th time this season.

THE NCAA SWEET 16

The Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to 26 consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 Rounds dating back to 1982.

WHEN IT WAS 16

Tennessee had faced eight of the remaining 15 teams in the NCAA Tournament and posted an 7-3 record against the following schools: Arizona St., Connecticut, Duke, Georgia (two meetings), George Washington, LSU (two meetings), Mississippi and North Carolina.

68TH NCAA TOURNEY OPPONENT

With the games against Drake, Pittsburgh and Marist, the Lady Vols have now faced 68 different opponents all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

UT'S NCAA SWEET 16 NOTES

Tennessee has advanced to all 26 NCAA Sweet 16's since 1982 and has posted a 22-4 overall record. Broken down, that means that 84 percent of the time, the Lady Vols will advance to the Elite 8. Tennessee's four missteps in the Sweet 16 came against Mississippi (63-60) in 1985 at Bowling Green, Ky.; Western Kentucky (75-70) in 1992 at West Lafayette, Ind.; Louisiana Tech (77-68) in 1994 at Fayetteville, Ark., and Xavier (80- 65) in 2001 at Birmingham, Ala. With the exception of the Xavier contest (15 points), the Lady Vols missed the Elite 8 by some close shaves of three points, five points and nine points, respectively. UT played the longest game in its history, a triple overtime, in the 1983 Sweet 16 held in South Bend, Ind. Tennessee outdueled Mississippi to a 90-83 win. Tennessee averages 75.5 ppg in NCAA Sweet 16 contests and holds its opponents to 63.7 ppg or an average winning margin of +11.8 ppg. UT has lost four Sweet 16 games by an average of -8.0 (65.7 to 73.7). The Lady Vol high water mark for points in the Sweet 16 game is 92 - scored against Kansas in 1996 and Rutgers in 1998. The Lady Vols scored just 60 points in a loss to Mississippi in 1985. In 1989, Tennessee recorded its largest margin of victory in a Sweet 16 game with a +33 point win over Virginia. The narrowest win in this round was the infamous two-point victory, 71- 69, over Baylor in 2004. Tennessee's Sweet 16 opponents through the years have included: Memphis State, Mississippi (twice), Alabama, Georgia, Virginia (three times), James Madison, Clemson, Western Kentucky (three times), Louisiana Tech, Marist, North Carolina, Kansas, Colorado, Rutgers (twice), Virginia Tech, Xavier, BYU, Penn State, Baylor and Texas Tech.

Tennessee has advanced to 22 of 26 Elite 8 Rounds dating back to 1982. UT did not make the Elite 8 in 1985, 1992, 1994 and 2001. The Lady Vols have an unmatched record of 16-5 in Elite 8 games. Tennessee's five losses in the Elite 8 were all heartbreakers. In 1983, after surviving a triple overtime victory against Ole Miss in the Sweet 16, the Lady Vols had nothing left in the tank for Georgia in an Elite 8 match-up in South Bend, Ind., and lost 67-63. Perhaps the most heartbreaking loss in Tennessee women's basketball program history was the 1990 Elite 8 overtime defeat to Virginia, 79-75, in Norfolk, Va., denying the Lady Vols the chance to play for an NCAA title on their home court in Knoxville. Instead, the Lady Vols helped to serve as hostesses at the event billed as "Tennessee and the Final Three." In 1993, Tennessee lost an Elite 8 game to a team on a mission. Playing on the Iowa Hawkeyes home floor, Tennessee lost 72-56 to Coach C. Vivian Stringer's team, Earlier that season, Stringer had lost her husband and the Hawks were on a mission. Another Elite 8 heartbreaker was in 1999 against Duke in Greensboro, N.C. Tennessee had won consecutive NCAA titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and were going for four in a row before Duke knocked off UT, 69-63, ending the outstanding careers of four time All- American Chamique Holdsclaw and Kellie Jolly. Last season, in a stacked Cleveland Regional, #1-ranked North Carolina took the Lady Vols out of a trip to the Final Four with a 75-63 beating. With the exception of the Iowa and North Carolina contests (16 and 12 points, respectively), the Lady Vols missed the Final Four by some close shaves of four points, four points in overtime and six points. UT played the first overtime game in the NCAA Tournament in 1982 in the Elite 8. Tennessee defeated the McGee twins and Southern Cal, 91-90. Tennessee averages 71.5 ppg in NCAA Elite 8 contests and holds its opponents to 65.3 ppg or an average winning margin of +6.2 ppg. UT has lost four Elite 8 games by an average of -7.4 (64.3 to 71.7). The Lady Vol high water mark for points in the Elite 8 game is 94 - scored against Long Beach State in 1989. The Lady Vols scored just 52 points in a miracle come-from-behind win over Virginia, 52-46, in Charlottesville, Va., in 1996. In 2003, Tennessee recorded its largest margin of victory in a Elite 8 game with a +24 point win over Villanova, 73-49. The narrowest win in this round was the one-point overtime victory, 91-90, over Southern Cal in 1982 to advance to the first-ever Women's NCAA Final Four in Norfolk, Va. Tennessee's Elite 8 opponents through the years have included: Southern Cal, Georgia (twice), LSU, Auburn (twice), Iowa, Texas Tech (twice), Virginia (three times), Long Beach State, Connecticut, North Carolina (twice), Duke, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Stanford and Rutgers.

STATEMENT SENT TO SUMMITT

When Carol Ross took on her first head coaching job at Florida in 1990-91, she sent a message to Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt and her Tennessee team. The Gators, previously 0-15 versus the Lady Vols, took UT to overtime before losing, 71-70 on Jan. 16, 1991. Seven meetings later, the Gators took a "W" over the Lady Vols for the first time with a 71-62 win on Jan. 21, 1997.

BACK IN THEIR DAY

Entering the game with Ole Miss in the NCAA Elite 8 in Dayton, much of the media attention will center on Tennessee's Candace Parker and UM's Armintie Price. If you turned the clock back almost three decades, the attention would have been on #22 Holly Warlick and #11 Carol Ross. Warlick, UT associate head coach, and Ross were the preeminent SEC playmakers "back in the day." Warlick racked up 673 assists and 250 steals (1976-80) while Ross registered 531 assists and 333 steals (1977-81).

In 1980, Tennessee and Ole Miss, led by Warlick and Ross, met in the first Southeastern Conference Championship game. Tennessee prevailed over the Lady Rebs, 85-71. Both Warlick and Ross were named to the inaugural fiveplayer All-SEC Tournament Team.

LEAGUE DOMINANCE

The SEC is assured of having at least one team at the 2007 Final Four with Tennessee and Ole Miss facing each other in the Dayton Regional Championship game. LSU will battle UConn in the Fresno Regional final for a possible spot in the Final Four. There have only been two NCAA Final Fours contested without an SEC team in the field (1992 and 2001).

THE FINAL FOUR

The Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to 16 NCAA Final Fours dating back to 1982. Remarkably, the Lady Vols have played in 11 title games and won six NCAA Championships - 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, and 1998.

THIRTYSOMETHING AGAIN

With a win over Pittsburgh in the NCAA Second Round, Tennessee has garnered another 30-win season. Summitt has won at least 30 games in 17 years of her 33 at the helm of the Lady Vols.

95 FOR SUMMITT

Against Marist, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt collected her 95th all-time win in the NCAA Tournament (overall 95-19 .832). NCAA Tournament wins account for 1/10 of Summitt's all-time 944 wins.

THE ELITE 8

The Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to 22 of 26 NCAA Elite 8 Rounds dating back to 1982. UT did not make the Elite 8 in 1985, 1992, 1994 and 2001.

AND THEN THERE WERE 8

Of the remaining other seven teams in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the Lady Vols have played five of the other seven teams and posted a 4-2 record. Tennessee recorded wins over Connecticut (70-64), Ole Miss (81-69), Arizona St. (83-74) and LSU (56-51). The Lady Vols lost to North Carolina (57- 70) and LSU (54-63).

UT TOOK CINDERELLA'S SLIPPER

The Lady Vols ended Marist's Cinderella run through the 2007 NCAA Tournament with a 65-46 win on Mar. 25. The victory improved UT to 31-3 on the season and marks the 14th 31+ win season in 33 years under head coach Pat Summitt. UT has a 1-0 lead in the series with Marist and a 2-0 all-time record against teams from the Metro Atlantic Conference. Including the Marist contest, Tennessee has held opponents to under 25 points in the first half of all three NCAA Tournament games this season. Tennessee had a 21-point halftime lead over the Red Foxes, its largest since a 23-point margin at the break against Kentucky on Feb. 11, 2007. Entering the game, Marist led the nation in fewest turnovers per game (11.5). The Red Foxes had 10 first-half turnovers and 15 for the game - their most in the NCAA Tournament this season. Individually, Nicky Anosike...Started in her 92nd career game, tying Loree Moore for the 15th-most by a Lady Vol; Alexis Hornbuckle...Moved into a tie for fifth place with Michelle Marciniak for singleseason steals (107) in the UT record books; Candace Parker...Moved past Latina Davis and Tonya Edwards into 21st place in the UT career scoring (1,273) record books...Scored in double figures for the 31st time this season and the 64th time of her career...Was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in the first half...Moved into a tie for first place with Teresa Geter for the UT single-season blocks record (93), Sidney Spencer...Scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and the 48th time in her career; Shannon Bobbitt...Scored in double figures for the third game in a row and the 14th time this season.

THE NCAA SWEET 16

The Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to 26 consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 Rounds dating back to 1982.

WHEN IT WAS 16

Tennessee had faced eight of the remaining 15 teams in the NCAA Tournament and posted an 7-3 record against the following schools: Arizona St., Connecticut, Duke, Georgia (two meetings), George Washington, LSU (two meetings), Mississippi and North Carolina.

68TH NCAA TOURNEY OPPONENT

With the games against Drake, Pittsburgh and Marist, the Lady Vols have now faced 68 different opponents all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

UT'S NCAA SWEET 16 NOTES

Tennessee has advanced to all 26 NCAA Sweet 16's since 1982 and has posted a 22-4 overall record. Broken down, that means that 84 percent of the time, the Lady Vols will advance to the Elite 8. Tennessee's four missteps in the Sweet 16 came against Mississippi (63-60) in 1985 at Bowling Green, Ky.; Western Kentucky (75-70) in 1992 at West Lafayette, Ind.; Louisiana Tech (77-68) in 1994 at Fayetteville, Ark., and Xavier (80- 65) in 2001 at Birmingham, Ala. With the exception of the Xavier contest (15 points), the Lady Vols missed the Elite 8 by some close shaves of three points, five points and nine points, respectively. UT played the longest game in its history, a triple overtime, in the 1983 Sweet 16 held in South Bend, Ind. Tennessee outdueled Mississippi to a 90-83 win. Tennessee averages 75.5 ppg in NCAA Sweet 16 contests and holds its opponents to 63.7 ppg or an average winning margin of +11.8 ppg. UT has lost four Sweet 16 games by an average of -8.0 (65.7 to 73.7). The Lady Vol high water mark for points in the Sweet 16 game is 92 - scored against Kansas in 1996 and Rutgers in 1998. The Lady Vols scored just 60 points in a loss to Mississippi in 1985. In 1989, Tennessee recorded its largest margin of victory in a Sweet 16 game with a +33 point win over Virginia. The narrowest win in this round was the infamous two-point victory, 71- 69, over Baylor in 2004. Tennessee's Sweet 16 opponents through the years have included: Memphis State, Mississippi (twice), Alabama, Georgia, Virginia (three times), James Madison, Clemson, Western Kentucky (three times), Louisiana Tech, Marist, North Carolina, Kansas, Colorado, Rutgers (twice), Virginia Tech, Xavier, BYU, Penn State, Baylor and Texas Tech.

THIRTYSOMETHING --- AGAIN!

On Mar. 20, 2007, with the win over Pittsburgh, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt collected her 17th 30-win season in her 33-years at the helm of the Lady Vols. The previous 30-win years:

UT's NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY

CHECK OUT TENNESSEE'S NCAA RECORD

In the 1980s, Tennessee fashioned a 26-6 (.815) record in eight years of NCAA play highlighted by NCAA titles in 1987 and 1989. The Lady Vols put together a 38-6 (.863) winning record in the NCAA Tournament in the 1990s while winning four NCAA titles in 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Thus far in the 2000's, the Lady Vols have a 30-7 (.800) record in seven years of NCAA competition for an overall slate of 94-19 over 26 years of play.

16 FOR SUMMITT

Over the last several years, Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has passed legendary John Wooden of UCLA in a number of NCAA Tournament categories. Most significantly, Summitt has passed Wooden for most trips to the Final Four with 16 to Wooden's dozen.

UT IN NCAA TITLE GAMES

Tennessee has appeared in 11 NCAA title games (6-5 overall) since 1982 and won six championships. The Lady Vols have an overall 17-10 record in Final Four play. In the old AIAW days, UT made two title game appearances (1980 and 1981).

MOST PARTICIPANTS EVER

All-time, a total of 85 Lady Vol team members have participated/played in 16 Final Fours. That ranks first among all schools. Louisiana Tech is second with 65 participants all-time in 10 Final Fours.

NO PRESSURE, BUT EVERY LADY VOL HAS PLAYED IN ONE

Every Lady Vol hoopster (since 1976) has played in at least one Final Four during her career at Tennessee. Current Lady Vol seniors Dominique Redding and Sidney Spencer have gone to two Final Fours during their careers at UT -- the 2004 Final Four in New Orleans, La., (losing to UConn in the Championship game) and the 2005 Final Four in Indianapolis (losing to Michigan State in the semifinals).

3 LADY VOL CLASSES HAVE GONE FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS

There have now been three classes of players in Lady Vol history to go to the Final Four all four years of their Lady Vol careers. First to do it was the class of Sheila Frost, Bridgette Gordon and Melissa McCray (1986, 1987, 1988 and 1999) - that trio won NCAA Championships in 1987 and 1989. The next player to do it was Laurie Milligan (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998). Milligan was onboard for three consecutive titles, 1996-97-98. The latest group to do it was the class of Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson and Loree Moore - they went in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

SHE LOVES MARCH AND APRIL, TOO

Let's unite March and April Madness and coin it "Marpril Madness." Tennessee Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt loves to kick things up a notch in the months of March and April. Summitt, who has now coached in 1,123 collegiate contests and sports a 943-180 overall record in 33 seasons, has gone into battle 221 times in the months of March and April. She has come out a winner in 176 games losing just 45 basketball games (.795). Her teams are 60-2 at home, 10-1 away and 106-42 at neutral sites in the third and fourth months.

2007 LADY VOL SENIORS

Over the past four years, Tennessee's seniors Elizabeth Curry, Sidney Spencer and Dominique Redding have accumulated an overall record of 122 wins and just 17 losses - an 88 percent winning percentage. Against SEC opponents, they have a phenomenal 52-5 record! The seniors have made two trips to the NCAA Final Four, captured two SEC regular season crowns and the 2005 and 2006 SEC Tournament Titles.

FACING THE RANKED

Tennessee faced their 14th ranked opponent of the 2006-07 season in the loss to #11/10-ranked LSU on Mar. 3. UT is 11-3 in games versus ranked teams out of 32 total contests.

FACING THE UNRANKED

When taking on an unranked opponent such as Marist, the odds have typically tipped in Tennessee's favor. In her 33 years at the helm of the Lady Vols, UT head coach Pat Summitt has fashioned a 563-32 (.947) record when going up against unranked teams. The victory over Old Dominion this season was Summitt's 550th over an unranked foe.

UT'S NCAA FINAL FOUR HISTORY

SUMMITT GETS 200TH WIN ON A NEUTRAL FLOOR

UT coach Pat Summitt picked up her 200th win all-time on a neutral floor (against just 59 losses) when the Lady Vols defeated South Carolina in the second round of the SEC Tournament. Summitt has won 77.5 percent of her all-time games (1123 total) on neutral courts.

SEC DANCING 5 TEAMS ADVANCE THRU FIRST ROUND...VANDY DROPS

Five Southeastern Conference teams were invited to the "Big Dance" and four are dancing into the Sweet 16. SEC regular season champion Tennessee earned the No. 1 seed in the Dayton Regional, while SEC Tournament champ Vanderbilt was the second seed in the Greensboro Regional. Georgia is seeded third in the Dallas Regional while LSU is also a third seed - placed in the Fresno Regional. Mississippi joins the Lady Vols in the Dayton Regional as the seventh seeded team.

The Tennessee Lady Vols were selected as a No. 1 seed in the Dayton regional. The Lady Vols and defeated No. 16 seeded Drake, 76-37, and #8-seeded Pitt, 68-54, to advance to the Sweet 16. The Lady Vols are the only team to appear in every NCAA tournament. UT owns a 94-19 NCAA Tournament record including a record 16 Final Four appearances. The contest against Pittsburgh marked the first time the Lady Vols have faced a team on their home floor in the first two rounds. Over the years, UT benefited from 23 years of hosting NCAA First/Second Round games in Knoxville.

Vanderbilt received its ninth consecutive berth to the NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 2 seed in the Greensboro region. The Commodores defeated Delaware State on Mar. 18, 62-47, and lost to No. 7 Bowling Green, 59-56, in East Lansing, Mich. .

The Georgia Lady Bulldogs received the No. 3 seed in the Dallas Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Georgia earned its 24th invitation in 26 editions of the NCAA Tournament, the second-best tally of any school in the nation behind only Tennessee. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Belmont the region's No. 14 seed, 53-36, on Mar. 17 and No. 6-seeded Iowa State, 76-56, on Mar. 19 in Minneapolis. The Lady Bulldogs will now face #2-seeded Purdue in the Sweet 16.

LSU is the No. 3 seed in the Fresno Region and advanced the 2007 NCAA Tournament with wins over No. 14 seed UNC-Asheville, 77-39, and #11-seeded West Virginia, 49-43, in Austin, Texas. The Lady Tigers made the field of 64 for the 17th time in the program's history and for the eighth straight season. The Lady Tigers advance to the Sweet 16 in Fresno where they will meet #10-seed Florida State.

Ole Miss, who earned a No. 7 seed in the Dayton Region, traveled to Hartford, and took wins over the No. 10 seed Texas Christian, 88-74, and defending NCAA Champion Maryland, 89-78. This marks the 17th trip for Ole Miss to the NCAA Tournament and the third time under head coach Carol Ross. Ole Miss now faces #3 seeded Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 at the Dayton Regional.

2006 NCAA TOURNEY REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Last season, despite having the Best Strength of Schedule (SOS) and Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and winning the 2006 SEC Tournament, the Lady Vols were a controversial #2 seed in the Cleveland Regional. Tennessee started the NCAA Tournament by traveling to Norfolk, Va., for the First/Second Round games, Mar. 19 & 21. On March 19, #2-seeded Tennessee defeated #15-seeded Army, 102-54, in what would turn out being Army coach Maggie Dixon's last collegiate game (Dixon passed away suddenly on April 6, 2006 of heart arrhythmia at the age of 28). In NCAA Second Round action, Tennessee took a 66-53 win over #7-seeded George Washington on Mar. 21 to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for an incredible 25th consecutive year. At the Cleveland Regional, the #6-ranked Lady Vols defeated #9-ranked and #3-seeded Rutgers, 76-69. Tennessee's Elite 8 game resembled what could have been an NCAA title game, as the Lady Vols fell to top-seeded and #1-ranked North Carolina, 75-63.

http://s159447050.onlinehome.us/utvols/PARKER'S DUNKS SET NCAA HER-STORY On Mar. 19, 2006, UT rookie sensation Candace Parker wrote a chapter of NCAA history when she finally slam-dunked after a season of anticipation. The stage was the First Round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament at the Ted Constant Center on the Old Dominion campus. The opponent was Army, as Lady Vol junior Sidney Spencer blocked a shot, collected the rebound and fired an outlet pass to Parker. CP3 raced the length of the court with Army's Margaree King in close pursuit but Parker finished the break with a rim-shaking, one-handed slam with 13:48 left in the half. Not only was it the first dunk of Parker's college career, it was the first dunk by a woman in the NCAA Tournament. T'was fitting that another women's hoops milestone be provided by the Lady Vols. Parker's next dunk came with 14:18 to go in the second half of the same game. Parker was in the right corner and worked a give-and-go with Nicky Anosike, taking the return pass with a clear lane to dunk again as she drove the baseline and finished strong in moderate Army traffic. The dunks were a big deal but Parker was pretty proud of her career high seven assists against the Black Knights of Army.

AIAW "FINAL FOUR" HISTORY

FINAL FOUR MVP

FINAL FOUR ALL-TOURNAMENT

LADY VOLS BY DOUBLE DIGITS