April 4, 2007

By Lara Boyko
Special to CSTV.com

CLEVELAND- The Tennessee Lady Volunteers had one thing on their mind tonight and not only did they come ready to play, they sent Rutgers packing back to New Jersey with a 59-46 loss.

The All-Tournament Team has been announced and with few surprises, here it is:

Junior Matee Ajavon from Rutgers
Junior Nicky Anosike from Tennessee
Junior Shannon Bobbitt from Tennessee
Sophomore Kia Vaughn from Rutgers

Most notable is the Most Outstanding Player in sophomore Candace Parker from Tennessee. While she has already earned many accolades during her two years at Tennessee, the big prize for her was to fulfill a dream she has head for almost 21 years.

"I can't even describe it, this is something I have dreamed of since I was little kid and it's what we dream about when we come to play at Tennessee," said Parker of how it felt to win the National Championship. "This is so sweet to win. Not many people get to say they won a National Championship, much less at Tennessee. We're just going to try to enjoy this."

With Parker's MOP distinction, she becomes the fifth Lady Volunteer to earn the honor and joins an elite company of former standout Tennessee players that include two-time winner Chamique Holdsclaw (1997 and 1998), Michelle Marciniak (1996), Bridgette Gordon (1989) and Tonya Edwards (1987). Yet unlike the honor of winning the title, the MOP award means nothing to Parker who finished with 13 rebounds and 14 points in the semifinal game against North Carolina and 17 points and seven rebounds against Rutgers tonight.

"It really doesn't mean anything to me," said Parker, of how the win was a team effort. "Anosike brought 16 rebounds to the table and Shannon hit some big threes. Obviously there was some great defense that got (Rutgers') Matee Ajavon and Essence Carson to get out of their flow. It could have went to a number of people, but I'm just excited about winning a National Championship."

Part of her ability to lead her team to this title comes from Parker's calm intensity on the court that helps her and her teammates stave off any challenge.

"It was a difficult game because Rutgers is good defensive team and they try to take you out of things that you are comfortable doing, but our team did a good job of hanging tough and staying in there," said Parker.

The Lady Vols won their first National Championship 20 years ago in 1987. This is the seventh national title for Tennessee in the last 20 years and earns coach Pat Summitt the honor of being second to former UCLA coach John Wooden's 10 titles. Yet Summitt is more taken with the character of her team then the recognition she gets for herself.

"I am so proud of this basketball team," said Summitt. "It's hard for me to put into words what they have meant to me personally, to our coaching staff, to the university and to our fans. They have just been one of the best groups because they decided they wanted to be good in the off season and worked really hard. I just felt like they were a team that did not want to be denied and they did what they had to do to make it happen."

Along with winning the championship, Summitt should be quite happy with her star player professing her desire to return to wearing orange and white next season instead of entering tomorrow's WNBA draft.

"I think Parker is the best player in the country," said Summitt. "She makes everyone else better. Having Parker gives you a chance to win a National Championship, but it's not because she's the only player on our team. It's because she makes everyone else better."

While the Lady Volunteers will have new goals to set for next season and it is too early for them to start thinking about a repeat, tonight it's just about enjoying the moment of being the National Champions.

We are going to enjoy this, that's what's next," said Parker. "I don't want to think about anything else."