Summitt tired of Parker 'beating"

Pat Summitt was in a foul mood about foul play Friday.

The day after the Tennessee women’s basketball coach watched Lady Vols All-American Candace Parker draw 15 fouls against Middle Tennessee State and march to the free-throw line for a school single-game record 21 attempts, Summitt said enough is enough.

She made of point of not singling out Thursday night’s game, indicating that it was an example of what she sees as a season-long trend.

“I’m sick and tired of everyone coming in here and beating up Parker,’’ Summitt said. “You forearm her. You shove her.

“The only thing you can do is understand that’s not basketball. That’s football.”

Summitt also can send game video to the SEC office and make her displeasure known to league officials. She’s had that thought. It likely will turn into action.

“I need to make sure our conference sees this,’’ she said.

Through eight games, Parker has attempted 84 free throws. The next busiest Lady Vol free-throw shooter is center Nicky Anosike with 27 attempts.

Parker tied her career single-game scoring high with 34 points against MTSU. Half of that total came at the foul line. Afterward, she spoke of playing through the contact.

“You know you definitely have to go up strong and you have to protect yourself,’’ Parker said. “You have to stay low and play aggressive.”

Bobbitt Back: Senior point guard Shannon Bobbitt participated in a team workout Friday, the day after receiving seven stitches in her forehead to close a gash suffered in Thursday’s game. Bobbitt was wearing a large bandage for the workout as the Lady Vols prepared for Sunday’s game against Gonzaga.

“I’m proud of Shannon,’’ said Summitt, who had given Bobbitt the option of sitting out practice. “You get your head busted open. Blood is flying everywhere. And she’s out there leading the team.”

Sophomore guard Cait McMahan, who is sitting out the season after undergoing offseason knee surgery, also participated in Friday’s workout, playing on the scout team.

Stat Watch: Much has been made this month about not enough rebounds or too many turnovers. Another Tennessee statistic deserves attention: senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle’s 54.4 field goal shooting (37 for 68). Her accuracy leads the team and includes 43.8 percent accuracy on 3-pointers (7 for 16).

Hornbuckle came into the season as a 43.5 percent career shooter — 31.5 percent on treys.

“There’s a correlation,’’ Summitt said, “between shot selection and shots made.”