Colleges

Volunteers avenge lone SEC loss, take tournament title

By PHIL KEGLER, Times Correspondent
Published March 10, 2008

NASHVILLE - With Rocky Top blaring, coach Pat Summitt cut the final strands of the net and held it up to a standing ovation.

Tennessee is on top again after claiming its 13th SEC tournament title Sunday night.

Tournament MVP Candace Parker scored a game-high 28 and Shannon Bobbitt added 12 as the No.3 Volunteers (30-2) avenged their only conference loss of the season, 61-55 against No.7 LSU (27-5). The Tigers' 78-62 victory Feb.14 in Knoxville gave them the SEC regular-season championship.

"We had something to prove," said Parker, the only player to play all 40 minutes. "We lost regular-season SEC to them, so I think we came in with a chip on our shoulders."

The crowd at the Sommet Center, 160 miles from Knoxville, predominantly wore Tennessee orange and made its impact felt throughout the game.

The loudest roar came with 1:56 left when Parker sank a jump shot as the shot clock expired to put Tennessee ahead for good in a game with 14 lead changes.

"That's the difference in the game," LSU coach Van Chancellor said. "They're in disarray, they just throw it to her and she makes a play."

Sylvia Fowles and Quianna Chaney scored 19 and 13, respectively, for LSU, which has held Tennessee to its two lowest point totals of the season.

The crowd of 12,392 - an SEC final record- came to see two of the nation's top teams and wasn't disappointed.

"Great game, if you don't care who wins or loses," Chancellor said. "Except I do."

[Last modified March 10, 2008, 00:34:20]