Behind the benches
TAMPA, Fla. – After a decade-long absence, Stanford not only is back in the Women's Final Four but also has made the title game with an 82-73 upset of Connecticut.
The Cardinal will face Tennessee, a 47-46 winner over LSU, in Tuesday's 8:30 p.m. ET final.
If you subscribe to Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast, you can
listen to Lady Vol audio starting at 8 p.m. ET.
And we'll do this again Tuesday night. Feel free to send me your comments or questions, and I will try to answer some during the course of the evening.
9:37 p.m. ET – They're about to tip. The Connecticut fans right behind me are much quieter than they were during the Huskies' loss, and their roar has been replaced by full volume from the sea of Lady Vol orange.
9:52 p.m. ET – Tennessee leads 9-6 with 11 minutes left in the first half. As expected, it's a deliberate pace from two teams that both know everything about each other and know how to lock down opponents on defense.
The great part about being behind the bench is you hear the coaches well. Pat Summitt just yelled, "We've got to take the ball to the basket!" Her players definitely listened. But will they be able to?
10 p.m. ET – Another media timeout, and it's 11-8 Lady Vols. LSU must be pleased with the pace but concerned about yet another slow start in a national semifinal. Since the Lady Tigers rolled to a huge early lead over Baylor in the ‘05 semis only to fall to the eventual national champs, they've really struggled to do anything offensively in the Final Four despite having Sylvia Fowles and, before she graduated, two-time Wade Trophy winner Seimone Augustus.
10:06 p.m. ET – This shouldn't surprise anyone, but Candace Parker just scored back-to-back baskets to put the Lady Vols up 17-11 with less than 6 minutes left in the half. She's wearing a long-sleeve shirt under her jersey and must be playing through pain, but the consecutive baskets prove … she's still Candace Parker.
10:15 p.m. ET – Sylvia Fowles finally is doing some real damage, bringing LSU to within 22-16 on an easy layup. Parker is trying to guard her, but she doesn't have her usual extension and can't really stop the lob. For LSU to break the string of Final Four losses, Fowles has to play like the best player on the floor.
10:29 p.m. ET – Halftime, and it's 22-18 Tennessee. But hey, it's the most points for the Lady Tigers in the first half of the national semis in three years! Hats off to ESPN for putting the higher-scoring matchup first.
That said, LSU is playing the type of game it wants, even if it resulted in the second-lowest scoring half in Final Four history, behind only – any guesses? – Rutgers 22, LSU 16 from last year.
If there's another 40-point half, don't be surprised to see the Lady Tigers finally make it to its first title game. Could LSU slow down the suddenly high-speed Stanford attack? No question it would decide the outcome.
10:47 p.m. ET – The pace picks up dramatically in the second half. LSU is attacking the basket for easier scores, and the Lady Tigers went up 23-22 at one point. But it's 27-25 Lady Vols at the first media timeout. Pace now favoring Tennessee, but the Lady Tigers do look better– and looser – than they did in the first half.
10:57 p.m. ET – Danger zone now for LSU. Lady Vols on a 12-4 run since LSU went up 23-22 and are shooting much better. Sylvia Fowles may be the best player on the floor, but her teammates have provided only 11 points of support.
Fewest points to win a Final Four game: Tennessee's 52-50 victory over the Lady Tigers in '04. Current pace: Tennessee 48, LSU 38.
11:08 p.m. ET – So much for that. Finally, Sylvia Fowles is getting some help, and LSU has surged back to tie it at 37-all with 7:36 left. Pat Summitt has been telling her team that "our defense has let us down," and it's starting to ring true.
11:19 p.m. ET – Nicky Anosike came to the bench after her fourth foul and screamed, "They're getting every call!" Nevertheless, LSU airballed a three that could have put the Lady Tigers ahead, and Tennessee is clinging to a 43-39 lead with three minutes left.
11:29 p.m. ET – This has become the best 89-point combined game anyone could ask for. Fowles and Parker, in particular, are playing so hard. It's Lady Vols 45, Lady Tigers 44, 39 seconds left. A little controversy as UT thought it had inbounded after the made basket, but the officials gave LSU a timeout. Stay tuned.
11:37 p.m. ET – What a finish as Tennessee wins 47-46. The shot-clock buzzer went off right as Tennessee lost possession with about 9 seconds left, and LSU capitalized on the non-whistle, moving into the frontcourt and drawing a foul. Erica White canned two free throws to put LSU up 46-45 with 7.1 seconds left. Candace Parker dished to Nicky Anosike for the go-ahead layup, which she missed, but Alexis Hornbuckle made the putback with seven-tenths of a second left. Then Hornbuckle stole the full-court pass to clinch it.
