University of Tennessee Athletics
PARKER AND HORNBUCKLE LEAD LADY VOLS OVER WEST VIRGINIA
December 20, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2006
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Candace Parker scored 19 points and Alexis Hornbuckle added 18 to lift No. 5 Tennessee to a 66-51 win over West Virginia on Wednesday.
Parker dunked for the third time this season, drawing a technical foul as the Lady Vols (10-1) were building a big lead in the first half. She had 13 points by halftime and finished with 10 rebounds.
Hornbuckle picked it up in the second half, scoring 11 points after the break. She was 4-of-6 in 3-point shooting.
The Mountaineers (7-5), who led only once after scoring the first basket of the game, cut the lead to eight early in the second half. But Shannon Bobbitt hit a 3 and Parker scored to push the lead to 40-27.
The Lady Vols' lead didn't appear comfortable until the final minutes as neither team could sustain a long run.
Parker has five dunks in her career, the most of any collegiate woman. She got a steal and jammed it with one hand on a breakaway, but was whistled for the technical for popping her jersey.
Ranisha White led West Virginia with a career-high 16 points, while Olayinka Sanni had 10. LaQuita Owens added nine points and nine rebounds.
The Lady Vols have won four in a row since losing at No. 2 North Carolina on Dec. 3.
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt wanted to renew the series with West Virginia to give Hornbuckle a chance to return to her home state to play. The Lady Vols will travel to West Virginia next season. The teams had not faced each other since 1986.
The Mountaineers had 24 turnovers and shot only 35 percent (19-of-54) from the field.
Tennessee jumped out to a 20-4 lead capped by Parker's dunk with 12:56 remaining. The Lady Vols went up by as many as 20, but West Virginia had a 7-0 run that made it 27-16 with 6:59 before halftime.
Bobbitt followed with a 3 and Alex Fuller made one of two free throws to increase the lead to 15, but the Mountaineers stayed with Tennessee and were down 32-23 at the break.
The Lady Vols' lead didn't reach 20 points again until only 2:30 remained.
