Tennessee waited 10 years for their last national championship. They made sure there would be no title drought this year.

The Tennessee Lady Vols (36-2) repeated as national champions by defeating the Stanford Cardinal 64-48 Tuesday night.

This marks the eighth time under coach Pat Summitt that the Lady Vols were the last team standing in April. They became the fourth team in women’s history to repeat.

The storyline of the game was the matchup between Tennessee's Candace Parker and Candice Wiggins of Stanford. Parker led all scorers with 17 points, and Wiggins had 14 points on 6-for-16 shooting.

After scoring only 47 points against LSU, Tennessee came out with energy in the first half, scoring 37 before the break. Coach Summitt and the Lady Vols improved on their full-court pressure, and it paid off. Tennessee pressed most of the game, forcing the Cardinal into 25 turnovers. The Lady Vols capitalized by scoring 26 points off the miscues. 

While Stanford was busy trying to prevent Parker from scoring, her teammates stepped up big. Nicky Anosike was the biggest contributor as she played her best basketball in her last collegiate game with 12 points, eight rebounds and a career high six steals.

Shannon Bobbitt hit three 3-pointers for the second game in a row and finished with 13 points.

This was the second game between both teams this season. On Dec. 22 the Cardinal beat Tennessee 73-69 in overtime at Stanford, the Lady Vols’ first loss of the season.

The Lady Vols will look to claim their third consecutive title next year without Parker and senior starters Bobbitt, Anosike, Alexis Hornbuckle and Alberta Auguste.

Parker has declared for the WNBA Draft despite having one more year of eligibility left. Virtually all observers pick her to be the first overall pick to be taken by the Los Angeles Sparks in tomorrow’s lottery pickings.

championship Celebration

Tennessee encourages fans to welcome the team back home Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. and festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.

Parking is available in the G-3, G-4, G-5 and G-10 garages.