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Tennessee, Rugters battle for NCAA crown

Apr 3, 2007 - 1:34 PM No. 4 Rutgers (27-8) vs. No. 1 Tennessee (33-3) 8:30 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Candace Parker and Tennessee can't afford a slow start against Rutgers' effective defense.

Parker and the top-seeded Lady Vols search for their first national title in nine years Tuesday when they meet the fourth-seeded Scarlet Knights in the championship game of the Women's NCAA Tournament.

Pat Summitt is college basketball's all-time winningest coach and has guided Tennessee to a record six national championships. But the last one came in 1998.

Tennessee returns to the championship game for the 12th time after rallying for a 56-50 triumph over North Carolina in Sunday's semifinal.

Despite seeing limited minutes in the first half due to early foul trouble, Parker collected 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Lady Vols closed with a 20-2 run.

"To be honest with you, we just did not want to go home," Parker said. "I mean, we were just looking back at each other and just saying all the stuff that we have been through to get to this point and not seize the moment would just be a total waste."

Rutgers earned its first trip to the national title game with a 59-35 victory over Louisiana State on Sunday.

Matee Ajavon scored 16 points and Essence Carson chipped in 15 for the Scarlet Knights, who held LSU to the lowest point in a Final Four.

It is the second appearance in a title game for Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, who guided Cheyney State in the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1982.

"This is everything to coach," Rutgers forward Heather Zurich said. "We want to do this for her. To get her a national championship, that would be the ultimate."

The Scarlet Knights have limited opponents to 44.6 points and 29 percent shooting in the NCAA Tournament.

"Rutgers is a great defensive team," Parker said.

Tennessee is 5-0 against the Scarlet Knights in NCAA Tournament games.