CBKB: Sizing up the women's final
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Here's a look at tomorrow's women's NCAA championship between Tennessee and Stanford:
Women's Final Four
Stanford (35-3) vs. Tennessee (35-2)
When: 8:30 tomorrow
Where: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
TV: ESPN
Projected Starters
Tennessee
F/C/G Candace Parker, 6-4, Jr.
(29.6 mpg, 21.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg)
G Shannon Bobbitt, 5-2, Sr.
(9.8 ppg, .80 FT%, 32.2 mpg)
G Alexis Hornbuckle, 5-11, Sr.
(31.4 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 103 steals)
F Alberta Auguste, 5-11, Sr.
(5.2 ppg, .63 FT%)
F/C Nicky Anosike, 6-4, Sr.
(8.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg,)
Stanford
G Candice Wiggins, 5-11, Sr.
(20.3 ppg, 31.5 mpg, .82 FT%)
G JJ Hones, 5-10, So.
(6.6 ppg, 117 assists)
G Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, 5-10, So.
(5.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
F Kayla Pedersen, 6-4, Fr.
(12.8 ppg, 30.2 mpg, 8.9 rpg)
C Jayne Appel, 6-4, So.
(15.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg, .73 FT%)
ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Tennessee
First round: Tennessee 94, Oral Roberts 55; Second round: Tennessee 78, Purdue 52; Regional semifinal: Tennessee 74, Notre Dame 64; Regional final: Tennessee 53, Texas A&M 45; National semifinal: Tennessee 47, LSU 46.
Stanford
First round: Stanford 85, Cleveland State 47; Second round: Stanford 88, UTEP 54; Regional semifinal: Stanford 72, Pittsburgh 53; Regional final: Stanford 98, Maryland 87; National semifinal: Stanford 82, Connecticut 73.
HOW THE TEAMS MATCH UP
Backcourt: Three-time Pac-10 Player of the Year and Wade Trophy winner Candice Wiggins is Stanford's leading scorer and one of its top 3-point shooters. She hit two key threes in the semifinal win over Connecticut. Tennessee counters with Shannon Bobbitt and Nicky Anosike, two more sharp shooters that are each averaging nearly 10 points per game.
Edge: Stanford
Frontcourt: Tennessee's Candace Parker is widely regarded one of the top inside players in the country. Not only can she score, she can handle the ball well and has great vision for open teammates. However, she's struggling with a shoulder injury while Stanford's Kayla Pedersen and Jayne Appel are healthy and productive. Both average more than 12 points per game.
Edge: Stanford
Bench: Throughout its tournament run, most of the Cardinal starters have been providing the offense, with Wiggins, Appel and Pedersen each logging more than 1,000 minutes on the season. Tennessee's experienced lineup is no stranger to the Final Four and while freshman Angie Bjorklund hasn't started in Tampa, she has 890 minutes and has started 30 previous games.
Edge: Tennessee
Coaching: Stanford's Tara VanDerveer and Tennessee's Pat Summitt have each been at their respective schools longer than their players have been alive. Both are regarded as two of the legends in women's basketball, with VanDerveer leading Stanford to six Final Four appearances. Under Summitt, the Vols have never missed an NCAA tournament and tonight, are playing for their eighth championship.
Edge: Tennessee.
Prediction: Stanford 62, Tennessee 56