Sunday, March 26, 2006

Parker, Zolman Lead Vols Past Rutgers

CLEVELAND - Candace Parker showed she can do a lot more than dunk. Parker scored 29 points with six blocks, and Shanna Zolman hit five 3-pointers and added 29 points to lead Tennessee over Rutgers 76-69 Sunday in the semifinals of the Cleveland Regional.

Parker, who last Sunday became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game, scored 12 straight points during a critical run by the Lady Vols. The freshman hit jumpers, blocked shots and at times brought the ball up the floor, looking a little bit like NBA star LeBron James in his own building.

Tennessee (31-4) improved to 21-4 in the regional semifinals in its 25th straight appearance. The Lady Vols have not missed the regional finals since 2001.

Tennessee will play Tuesday night against the winner of the other semifinal between North Carolina and Purdue.

In a matchup of two of the three winningest coaches in women's basketball, Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer again couldn't get past her longtime friend Pat Summitt. The Scarlet Knights are 0-5 against the Lady Vols in the NCAA tournament, including a loss last season in the regional final.

As Summitt left the floor, she stopped to kiss her son and her mother, who is in a wheelchair.

"One more mom. One more," said Summitt, who is seeking her seven national title and first since 1998.

Matee Ajavon led Rutgers (27-5) with 24 points and Cappie Pondexter, a Naismith player of the year finalist, scored 22 in her final game.

Zolman, who has made three Final Four appearances and is Tennessee's career leader in 3-pointers, shot 10-for-14 and played all 40 minutes. Parker and Zolman accounted for all but 18 of the Lady Vols' points.

Rutgers' defense, which led the nation by holding teams to 51.1 points per game, disrupted Tennessee early, but the Lady Vols went on a 30-10 run to go up 54-41 with 10:46 remaining.

Rutgers twice got within seven but Parker hit two free throws and added a right-handed scoop in the lane with 1:15 left to seal it.

Parker went 11-of-13 from the foul line, had five rebounds and frustrated the Scarlet Knights inside.

Alexis Hornbuckle added some big hustle plays for the Lady Vols. Hornbuckle, who sustained a concussion in the second round game and was playing with a wrist she broke in February, scored 10 points and had five rebounds.

Rutgers opened up a 23-14 lead with 7:08 left in the first half behind a 15-1 run led by Ajavon. The Lady Vols' offense went nearly six minutes without a field goal.

But Parker and Hornbuckle responded with a 15-4 run to close the half up 29-27. The Scarlet Knights committed 10 first-half turnovers and went more than six minutes without a basket.

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