Parker Does Jamming in Lady Vols’ Victory

Candace Parker is a redshirt freshman for Tennessee who can play every position and distribute the ball as easily as she scores. She dunks too.

The 6-foot-4 Parker became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game Sunday, jamming one-handed on a breakaway 6:12 into the second-seeded Lady Vols’ 102-54 victory over a 15th-seeded Army team making its NCAA tournament debut at Norfolk, Va.

Then, for good measure, Parker became the first woman to do it twice in a college game with a one-hander on a baseline move. She finished with 26 points in 26 minutes and added five rebounds, a career-high seven assists, four blocked shots, two steals -- and the feeling of an obstacle cleared.

“It’s a relief to finally do it and get it over with and be done with it,” said Parker, who had been asked often when she would dunk in a game.

It was the second college dunk attempt for Parker, who missed against Auburn on Feb. 23. She became the fourth woman in college history to dunk in a game, joining Georgeann Wells of West Virginia (twice in 1984), Charlotte Smith of North Carolina (1994) and Michelle Snow of Tennessee, who did it in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Cara Enright led Army (20-11) with 21 points.

George Washington 87, Old Dominion 72 -- Sarah-Jo Lawrence scored 20 points at Norfolkand the seventh-seeded Colonials (23-8) handed the 10th-seeded Monarchs (22-9) their fifth consecutive loss in the tournament. Shahida Williams led Old Dominion with 19 points.

Purdue 73, Missouri State 52 -- Aya Traore had 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds and Erin Lawless scored a season-best 19 points to help the fourth-seeded Boilermakers (25-6) eliminate the 13th-seeded Bears (17-15) at West Lafayette, Ind.

Rutgers 63, Dartmouth 58 -- Cappie Pondexter scored 21 points and the third-seeded Scarlet Knights (26-4) beat the 14th-seeded Big Green (23-7) at Trenton, N.J. Angie Soriaga was six of 10 from three-point range and had 20 of her 23 points in the second half for Dartmouth.

Texas Christian 69, Texas A&M; 65 -- Ashley Davis had 20 points and 12 rebounds at Trenton to help the 11th-seeded Horned Frogs (19-11) improve to 28-2 against the sixth-seeded Aggies (23-9), their former Southwest Conference rival, in their first meeting in 10 years.

ALBUQUERQUE REGIONAL

St. John’s 78, California 68 -- Kia Wright had 26 points at State College, Pa., to help the seventh-seeded Johnnies (22-7) win their first tournament game in 18 years. Ashley Walker had 21 points for the 10th-seeded Bears (18-12).

Maryland 95, Sacred Heart 54 -- Jade Perry had 20 points and the second-seeded Terrapins (29-4) never trailed at State College. The loss ended a 10-game winning streak for 15th-seeded Sacred Heart (26-5).

Boston College 78, Notre Dame 61 -- Brooke Queenan had 18 points and 11 rebounds to help the eighth-seeded Eagles (20-11) beat the ninth-seeded Irish (18-12) at West Lafayette, Ind. Freshman Lindsay Schrader scored a career-high 29 points for the Irish.

Ohio State 68, Oakland, Mich., 45 -- Debbie Merrill had 23 points and Jessica Davenport added 19 to carry the top-seeded Buckeyes (29-2) past the the 16th-seeded Golden Grizzlies (15-16) at West Lafayette.

BRIDGEPORT REGIONAL

Duke 96, Southern 27 -- Monique Currie scored 19 points to help the top-seeded Blue Devils (27-3) limit the 16-seeded Jaguars (20-11) to a record low point total at Norfolk, breaking the mark of 29 set by Long Island against Connecticut in 2001.

Connecticut 77, Coppin State 54 -- After falling behind by four points late in the first half, the second-seeded Huskies (30-4) ended a 21-game winning streak by the 15th-seeded Eagles (22-9) in a rout at State College. Barbara Turner had 23 points for Connecticut.

Hartford 64, Temple 58 -- Danielle Hood scored 20 points and outplayed Atlantic 10 player-of-the-year Candice Dupree at Trenton as the 11th-seeded Hawks (27-3) upset the sixth-seeded Owls (24-8) to win their first tournament game in three tries. Dupree made four of 12 shots and scored 11 points, nearly seven below her average.

Georgia 75, Marist 60 -- Tasha Humphrey and Sherill Baker scored 23 points apiece to lead the third-seeded Bulldogs (22-8) past the 14th-seeded RedHawks (23-7) at Trenton. Baker also had nine steals. Fifi Camara had 20 points for Marist.

Virginia Tech 82, Missouri 51 -- Dawn Chriss had 21 points at State College and the seventh-seeded Hokies (21-9) never trailed in beating the 10th-seeded Tigers (21-10).

LaToya Bond led Missouri with 13 points but made only three of 14 shots.

* SCHEDULE, D14