Tennessee repeats as women's NCAA champ

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Apr 08, 2008 10:46 PM

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TAMPA — Tennessee didn't need Candace Parker to be the best player in college basketball Tuesday night, as her supporting cast stepped up to lead the Vols to a repeat national championship, beating Stanford 64-48 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

As much as the final was billed as a showdown between Parker and fellow All-American Candice Wiggins of Stanford, the Vols won because of lesser-known players, with 5-foot-2 guard Shannon Bobbitt scoring 13 first-half points and 6-4 center Nicky Anosike keying a stifling Tennessee defense that forced a season-high 25 turnovers from Stanford.

Tennessee (36-2) led the entire second half, with Stanford (35-4) getting no closer than six points. Up 53-44 with seven minutes to play, Tennessee scored the next five points, including a jumper by Parker, who finished with a game-high 17 points.

Wiggins finished with 14 points, but went 6-for-16 from the field. Center Jayne Appel added 16 points, but went 4-for-10 on free throws.

Tennessee is the first repeat women's champion since Connecticut won three straight from 2002-04.