The Lady Vols were ahead early behind the play of Parker and Shannon Bobbitt. However, over the last eight minutes of the first half, the Lady Vols struggled to find the basket. LSU’s defense was solid throughout, but the Lady Vols clamped down at the most crucial moments in the game.
Despite their late first half drought, the Lady Vols led 25-22 going into the locker room at halftime.
The second half was just as closely contested as the first, with the teams swapping the lead 16 times with five ties. With leading 33-26 early in the second half, Allison Hightower hit a 3-pointer that capped a 7-0 run, tying the game at 33.
Tennessee could only muster two free throws during a five minute stretch, and the Lady Tigers took advantage going in front 39-35.
Tennessee went on a Parker-led 5-0 run to take a 40-39 lead to begin a back and forth affair the rest of the way.
Quianna Chaney scored with remaining giving LSU their final lead of the game, 54-51.
The Lady Vols answered on their next possession when Bobbitt hit a 3-pointer to tie it, and Parker nailed a jumper as the shot clock expired to put in front for good, 56-54 with remaining.
Parker, named the tournament MVP after the game, added two more free throws as was 5-of-7 at the line in the final 45.7 seconds to clinch the victory. Bobbitt had 12 for , while Nicky Anosike had a team-high 11 rebounds for the Lady Vols. out-rebounded the LSU 40-33.
They now have won six straight since the loss that Summitt called a wakeup call for a team still enjoying the national championship the Lady Vols won last spring. And it's now the sixth time the Lady Vols have finished second in the SEC in the regular season only to bounce back and win the tournament title.
The loss meant LSU coach Van Chancellor would go another year without an SEC tournament title. The Hall of Fame coach didn't win this tournament in his 19 seasons at Ole Miss.
“If Tennessee is good enough to win a national championship, we are too,” Chancellor said he told his players after the game. “We beat them at home; we had a great game here today. I don't see much difference in the two teams.”
Both teams will await their NCAA tournament seedings, locations and opponents when the women’s tournament field is announced next Sunday.
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