Rutgers' season ends as Vols reach Summitt

By Jared Trexler
The Phanatic Magazine

Pat Summitt captured her seventh national championship -- the first after a nine-year drought -- and Rutgers' fairytale journey from Piscataway to Cleveland ended in heartache, as Tennessee claimed women's college basketball's crown jewel with a 59-46 victory over the Scarlet Knights.

The game pitted two legendary coaches on the court -- and close friends off it-- as one story line, with the match-up featuring a women's basketball juggernaut against a scrappy group that developed an image of rough and tough while storming through Duke and LSU on the way to the title game.

In the end, Candace Parker was too much with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Rutgers' perimeter shooting went cold to the tune of 2-of-10 from beyond the arc.

After making 8-of-10 from long distance in the first half of a 59-35 drubbing of the Tigers in the national semifinal, the Scarlet Knights made just 2-of-10 in the second half.

The trend continued at the worst possible time.

Kia Vaughn led the Scarlet Knights (27-9) with 20 points and 10 rebounds, but star Matee Ajavon finished with only eight points while attempting just nine shots before fouling out.

Tennessee (34-3) wasn't much better from anywhere on the floor at Quicken Loans Arena in the early going, starting 2-of-14 in a game played at Rutgers' liking -- slow and low scoring.

Yet, the Vols out-slugged the Scarlet Knights in the grinding struggle, getting second and third scoring opportunities after Rutgers had played 25-plus seconds of defense.

Nicky Anosike totaled 10 offensive rebounds, as the Vols grabbed a stunning 24 offensive boards to just 18 defensive rebounds.

In the second half, it was the shots that didn't need rebounds that drove a dagger through women's hoops' version of David.

Goliath turned to Shannon Bobbitt, who drained three treys in less than three minutes to build a dwindling advantage.

Her first three followed a Vaughn layup, giving the Vols a 38-28 lead. Her final three capped an 11-2 stretch for a 46-30 advantage. Bobbitt scored 13 points in the victory.

C. Vivian Stringer's face went firmly into her hands, not able to look at a team far different than the club that had dictated play on the way to Cleveland, then continuing the physical play in Saturday's semifinal.

Looking for her first-ever national championship, 25 years after taking Cheyney to the 1982 title game, Stringer watched her club take one more swing at the Vols, drawing within 50-42 on Ajavon's three with just under three minutes to go.

Tennessee -- unlike any of Rutgers' other five opponents -- hit back. Parker buried four free throws and the Scarlet Knights stayed cold from the perimeter as the clock ticked toward the Vols' first national title since 1998.

Despite the early struggles from the floor, Tennessee never trailed by more than two points in the first half and took the lead for good on Alberta Auguste's two free throws with about 9:30 remaining.

The Vols lead 29-18 after 20 minutes.