National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

April 6, 1998

Undefeated Tennessee claims third straight national crown

The Tennessee Lady Volunteers capped an undefeated season and became the first Division I women's basketball team to capture three straight NCAA titles by defeating Louisiana Tech, 93-75, March 29 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri.

With the victory, Tennessee (39-0) joined Connecticut (1995) and Texas (1986) as the only Division I women's teams to ever finish the season undefeated.

Chamique Holdsclaw had 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the final and was named most outstanding player for the second consecutive year. Freshman starter Tamika Catchings was the Lady Vols' high scorer with 27 points.

Junior Kellie Jolly added a career-high 20 points for Tennessee -- including four three-point goals that snuffed out any hopes that Louisiana Tech had for a comeback after falling behind, 42-17, in the first half.

"We wanted to win a championship for this team -- forget about history," Holdsclaw said.

Tennessee won its two games in the Women's Final Four by a combined margin of 46 points. The Lady Vols defeated Southeastern Conference rival Arkansas, 86-58, in the semifinals.

The Lady Techsters were led in the final by Tamicha Jackson, with 26 points. Alisa Burras contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds as Tech made its sixth title game appearance since 1982.

Louisiana Tech advanced to the final by defeating North Carolina State, 84-65.

This year's Women's Final Four saw a number of records set or matched, in addition to Tennessee's third straight title:

  • The Lady Vols set the record for the most tournament victories by any school, with 61.

  • The combined final records of the championship-game participants are an all-time best at 70-4 (Tennessee 39-0, Louisiana Tech 31-4).

  • Tennessee blocked 12 shots in the tourney to tie its own record.

  • Jolly's 80 percent three-point percentage (4-for 5) tied the title-game record.

  • Catchings' 11 free throws made in the final tied for second, as did her 13 attempts.

  • The Lady Vols' 93 points in the final was the second-highest total in a title game.

  • By making it to the championship game, Louisiana Tech moved past Tennessee for most players appearing in a championship game. Including 13 players on this year's roster, 60 Lady Techsters have reached the title game -- just one more than Tennessee.

  • The Division I Women's Basketball Championship set an all-sessions attendance record of 285,428, including attendance of 17,976 at the semifinals and again at the final.

    Tennessee and Louisiana Tech remain the only two teams that have competed in every Division I women's basketball tournament since its inception in 1982.

    The all-tournament team consisted of Holdsclaw, Catchings and Jolly of Tennessee; Jackson of Louisiana Tech; and Chasity Melvin of North Carolina State, whose 37 points in her team's loss to Louisiana Tech set a semifinal game scoring record.

    SEMIFINALS

    Louisiana Tech 84, North Caro. St. 65

    North Caro. St.: Tynesha Lewis 3-9, 0-1, 6, 7; Peace Shepard 2-4, 0-0, 3, 4; Chasity Melvin 14-26, 9-15, 9, 37; LySchale Jones 3-7, 1-2, 3, 7; Kristen Gillespie 1-2, 0-0, 2, 2; Summer Erb 1-3, 0-0, 1, 2; Nailah Wallace 1-4, 0-0, 1, 3; Kenyatta Williams 1-4, 1-2, 1, 3; Rosalyn McLendon 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Monica Bates, 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0; Constance Poteat 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0. TOTALS: 26-60, 11-20, 35, 65.

    Louisiana Tech: Monica Maxwell 4-9, 2-2, 12, 14; Amanda Wilson 10-15, 0-1, 11, 20; Alisa Burras 4-11, 0-2, 6, 8; LaQuan Stallworth 7-12, 4-5, 0, 18; Tamicha Jackson 7-16, 1-1, 1, 16; Anna Snider 0-0, 1-2, 0, 1; Nicole Burn 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Katie Cochran 0-1, 1-2, 0, 1; Danielle Butler 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Jamie Scheppman 1-2, 0-0, 0, 2; Priva Gilmore 1-3, 2-2, 7, 4; Melshika Bowman 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 34-69, 11-17, 41, 84.

    Half time: Louisiana Tech 41, North Caro. St. 32. Three-point field goals: North Caro. St. 2-7 (Lewis 1-2, Gillespie 0-1, Wallace 1-3, Williams 0-1); Louisiana Tech 5-12 (Maxwell 4-9, Jackson 1-3), Disqualifications: None. Officials: Art Bomengen, Melissa Barlow, Karen Wilhite. Attendance: 17,976.

    Tennessee 86, Arkansas 58

    Arkansas: Karyn Karlin 4-8, 1-1, 3, 9; Karen Jones 0-0, 1-2, 4, 1; Christy Smith 1-11, 2-4, 3, 4; Wendi Willits 1-3, 0-0, 2, 3; Sytia Messer 3-10, 0-1, 6, 7; Tennille Adams 2-7, 4-4, 3, 8; Tiffany Wright 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Kamara Stancle 4-6, 3-3, 7, 12; Lonniya Bragg 0-4, 0-4, 3, 0; Treva Christensen 3-8, 6-6, 1, 14; Carrie Satterfield 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0; Celia Anderson 0-1, 0-0, 2, 0; Totals 18-50, 17-25, 40, 58.

    Tennessee: Chamique Holdsclaw 8-16, 7-11, 10, 23; Tamika Catchings 5-9, 3-5, 8, 13; LaShonda Stephens 2-7,1-2, 1, 5; Kellie Jolly 5-7, 0-0, 3, 11; Semeka Randall 7-19, 8-9, 8, 22; Niya Butts 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Laurie Milligan 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Misty Greene 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2; Brynae Laxton 0-2, 0-0, 2, 0; Kristen Clement 2-6, 0-0, 0, 4; Teresa Geter 1-1, 4-6, 7, 6. TOTALS: 31-68, 23-33, 48, 86.

    Half time: Tennessee 39, Arkansas 28. Three-point field goals: Arkansas 5-15 (Smith 0-4, Willits 1-2, Messer 1-3, Stancle 1-2, Christensen 2-4); Tennessee 1-3 (Holdsclaw 0-1, Jolly 1-2). Disqualifications: None. Officials: Scott Yarbrough, Dennis Mayer, Teresa Dahlem. Attendance: 17,976.

    CHAMPIONSHIP

    Tennessee 93, Louisiana Tech 75

    Louisiana Tech: Monica Maxwell 7-12, 0-0, 8, 15; Amanda Wilson 2-6, 0-0, 5, 4; Alisa Burras 9-16, 1-5, 10, 19; LaQuan Stallworth 0-6, 2-2, 1, 2; Tamicha Jackson 11-25, 0-0, 4, 26; Katie Cochran 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Jamie Scheppmann 1-5, 0-0, 0, 3; Priya Gilmore 0-0, 2-2, 1, 2; Melshika Bowman 2-3, 0-1, 0, 4. TOTALS: 32-73, 5-10, 34, 75.

    Tennessee: Chamique Holdsclaw 11-25, 3-4, 10, 25; Tamika Catchings 8-16, 11-13, 7, 27; LsShonda Stephens 0-2, 0-0, 2, 0; Kellie Jolly 7-10, 2-2, 4, 20; Semeka Randall 4-9, 2-4, 8, 10; Niya Butts 1-1, 0-0, 1, 2; Kyra Elzy 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0, Laurie Milligan 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Misty Greene 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Brynae Laxton 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Kristin Clement 3-4, 0-0, 1, 6; Teresa Geter 1-1, 1-2, 7, 3. TOTALS: 35-69, 19-25, 47, 93.

    Half time: Tennessee 55, Louisiana Tech 32. Three-point field goals: Louisiana Tech 6-18 (Maxwell 1-3, Stallworth 0-1, Jackson 4-12, Scheppmann 1-2); Tennessee 4-9 (Catchings 0-4, Jolly 4-5). Disqualifications: None. Officials: Sally Bell, Bob Trammell, Wesley Dean. Attendance: 17,976.