Quotes and Notes

Quotes

Opening Statement

Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt: "I was really pleased with how we came out today as a team. I thought our starters demonstrated great commitment in terms of their defensive intensity and obviously we had good ball movement and shot the ball well. When you shoot the ball 60% for the game, its hard to be disappointed with the offense. You always look at turnovers but for the first game in the NCAA tournament, we are very pleased with how we started and where we are."

On her two dunks against Army

Candace Parker, RS Freshman Forward: "I took an outlet pass and just went up and did it. It was nothing that I thought about, I've done it a few times in practice and I've been getting talk from my teammates in practice about not doing it in games. It's a relief to finally do it and get it over with. I think our whole thing coming into this tournament is to bring energy, confidence, and a sort of swagger. Being who we are at Tennessee , we bring confidence and that's what dunking does. We came out and played huge in the first game, and just brought a lot of energy, and I think that brought a lot of momentum.

On Army's performance

Shanna Zolman, Senior Guard: "We knew coming into the game that it was going to be hard fought in the sense that they are competitive and hard working. They fight not only in terms of on the court but also for our country. When I was looking up at the beginning of the game and saw the band in their fatigues, and a lot of the fans with their Army gear on, I knew this game was a lot more than basketball and starting off the NCAA Tournament. Our opponents not only play basketball, but more importantly, they are fighting for and serving our country. We were talking a lot about what it means for them, as members of the Army, what all they have to go through, and we knew they would be well conditioned athletes just because of being in the Army and going through boot camp. It's definitely an honor to play against them, because they are serving our country for a much more important purpose."

On pressure of having to dunk again in the future:

Parker: "I'm just going to approach the games like I've normally done it, and I'm not going to force anything. If it's a close game, no way, I will make the best decision for the team. I just thought it brought energy, and I'm not pressured to do it again."

On Army's performance:

Summitt: "I thought they came out with discipline on the court. These young ladies understand discipline, and at the same time, I was pleased that we managed to make some adjustments because they were getting good open looks against us. There is no question they are very well coached. Maggie has done a great job, and I knew of her work at DePaul. I have tremendous respect and admiration for their head coach, and she could only benefit by being in his presence. There's coaching in her blood with her brother, and when you have it in your family I know the feeling that you just talk basketball. You love the game and you love to teach the game, which she does very well."

On Parker's dunk:

Summitt: "It was nice to get it out of the way since shes tried it before against Auburn at home, and she missed. The fans talked about it all the time, and she wanted to do it for the Tennessee fans at home because they are always asking, "when are you going to dunk?". When she did that baseline dunk today, it took me back to our first practice when we were running basic baseline drills, and I was at the other end of the court. Candace got the drop pass, and dunked it much like she did today. I've been in this business for 32 years, and I said to myself I cant believe I saw what I just saw. I didn't think I'd be impressed when it happened, but I was. I told her at the end of the game today, I said to her "well you got yourself on Sportscenter again, good job!", and she smiled."

Notes

* Tennessee scored 80+ points for the 17th time this season. At 78.5 ppg, the Lady Vols rank sixth nationally.
* The 80-point plateau has now been reached 14 times by UT in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
* UT scored 100+ points for the third time this season (fifth including exhibition games).
* Every Lady Vol scored in the game for the fifth time this season.
* The 60.3 percent (38-63) from the field was the highest this season for the Lady Vols. The last time UT shot 60 percent was on Nov. 29, 2002 against Puerto Rico Mayaguez (57-86 for 66.3 percent).
* Tennessee has played in 70 games where the Lady Vols have accumulated at least 100 points. In those games, UT holds a 67-3 record overall, a 9-2 mark at neutral sites.
* UT has eclipsed 100 points in four NCAA Tournament games.

The win today...

* Improves the Lady Vols to 29-4 on the season.
* Improves Tennessee to 19-0 in its 19 first round games of the NCAA Tournament. UT had a first round bye from 1988-93. The Lady Vols are now 37-0 in the first weekend of NCAA Tournament action.
* Improves Tennessee to 90-18 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
* Improves Pat Summitt to 911-176 in 32 years at Tennessee.
* Improves Tennessee to 2-0 all-time against the Black Knights.

Candace Parker...

* DUNKED! TWICE! Parker made her first collegiate dunk with 13:47 showing on the clock in the first half and then dunked again with 14:38 left in the game. On Feb. 23 against Auburn in Thompson-Boling Arena, Parker attempted a dunk, but just missed. She joins Georgeann Wells (West Virginia, 1984), Charlotte Smith (North Carolina, 1994) and Michelle Snow (Tennessee 200, 02) as the only women in the history of Division I basketball to dunk in a game. Parker is the first to do so in an NCAA Tournament game (Snow attempted a dunk in Thompson-Boling Arena against Notre Dame on March 17 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament but missed). Parker is the only female to dunk twice in a game.
* Remains the only Lady Vol to start every game this season
* Moved into sixth place in the Lady Vol record book for most free throws attempted in a season (193) and into sixth place for free throws made (139).
* Scored in double figures for the 30th time this season, the 11th time in a row. Scored 20+ points for the eighth time this season, the third time in a row.
* Moved into 15th place for career blocks (75).

Shanna Zolman...

* Played in her 141st career game, a tie (with former teammate Tasha Butts and Associate Head Coach Holly Warlick) for the fourth most games played by any Lady Vol in the history of the program.
* Made a three-pointer for the 32nd game this season, the 14th in a row.
* Tied her own Lady Vol NCAA record for three-pointers in a game (5), which she set last year in the first round against Western Carolina.
* Scored in double figures for the 26th time this season, the 75th time in her career.
* Remains in second place in career three-pointers (254) in the Lady Vol record books, but needs only three more to pass sharp shooter Kara Lawson (256).

Alexis Hornbuckle...

* Played in her first game since breaking her wrist Feb. 12 against Vanderbilt.
* Picked up right where she left off... with four steals and a team-best six rebounds

Tye'sha Fluker...

* Scored in double figures for the 14th time this season

Sybil Dosty...

* Scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field.