Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Two Backs and a Shoulder

Tennessee has won back-to-back NCAA basketball championships on the women's side despite their best player's injured shoulder. Candace Parker wore a windbreaker underneath her uniform to protect her dislocated shoulder. Parker is one of the best college players of all time in the women's game and managed 17 points and 9 rebounds while enduring the pain.

Parker had plenty of help from her teammates. Nicky Anosike added 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals to go along with her three majors. A triple major and a basketball star? Marry me, Nicky. Little Shannon Bobbit poured in 13 points.

Except for a couple of rough patches, Tennessee played well throughout the ball game. They execute efficiently on the offensive end and their ferocious defense forced Stanford into an astounding 25 turnovers. Stanford looked like a grade school rec team in the second half. Their performance included a missed layup and three airballs, which seem to plague the women's game. Two of the airballs were from three-point range by their best player Candice Wiggins and the other may have been the worse shot I've ever seen in my life. Wiggins ended with 14 points. Jayne Appel scored 16, but she missed 5 free throws in a row and shot 4-10 from the line.

Tennessee won 64-48. Coach Pat Summitt captured her 8th title. Candace Parker is expected to go first in the WNBA Draft later today.

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