With Tennessee trailing by 12 points and just eight minutes remaining in the national semifinals, the winningest coach in NCAA history had a message for her team.
"At the eight-minute mark, I said, 'We don't want to go home, we're not leaving here, without a national championship,'" coach Pat Summitt said.
Her team responded, using a 20-2 run to defeat North Carolina 56-50, earning the team a spot in the national championship game.
Candace Parker led the comeback, scoring 14 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
Nicky Anosike produced her best game of the tournament with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. She also had four blocks and five steals on the night.
The Lady Vols shot just 27 percent from the field, but forced 29 turnovers to overcome the offensive struggles.
North Carolina's Ivory Latta was held to just 13 points, while Rashanda McCants added 13 of her own.
Even though the win over the Tar Heels was big, Parker said she knows there is still work to be done.
"Everyone wearing orange would say it's been way too long since Tennessee won a national championship," Parker said. "I'm tired of not seeing a banner that has all our names written all over it."
The title game will be Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Previewing the title game
In the other half of the bracket, Rutgers used the best defensive performance in Final Four history to defeat LSU 59-35.
LSU's 35 points was the lowest output in any Final Four game.
"We're not supposed to be here, but that's all right," Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer said.
The Scarlet Knights have four players averaging better than 12 points per game, but the team has advanced this far on the strength of a staunch defense.
Over the past 25 games, the team has allowed just 48 points per game.
If Rutgers were to win the national championship, it would be the school's first national title in any sport since the 1949 fencing squad.
Rutgers' Key Players
Kia Vaughn, Sophomore, Center 12.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Epiphany Price, Freshman, Guard 12.5 ppg, 2.5 spg
Essence Carson, Junior, Forward 12.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Matee Ajavon, Junior, Forward 12.1 ppg, 3.9 apg
Comments
vinson smith commented, on April 2, 2007 at 6:25 a.m.:
They have to play better than last night to win the
championship
idk commented, on April 2, 2007 at 11:09 a.m.:
Candace Parker is a rock star.
But yeah, they are definately going to have to make their effing shots tomorrow night to win.
Sharlene B commented, on April 2, 2007 at 11:18 a.m.:
T. E. A. M. means just this that Together Everyone Accomplishes More. I look forward to watching them win the entire championship. That's the way to go Big Orange Lady Vols. 2007 Champions!!!!!!!!
Paul Whitehead and Amy Russell commented, on April 16, 2007 at 3:26 p.m.:
We edited this story for Bonnie Hufford's JEM 333 Editing class. We found one fact error regarding the national championship game - the Lady Vols last played in the title game in 2004, not 1998. Other than that, just a couple of rewords and grammatical errors.
Also, we altered the headline for the other story to insert a verb.