LADY VOLS MAKE HISTORY WITH MIRACULOUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WIN
In a game for the ages, the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team has won the national championship, defeating their arch-rivals, the University of Connecticut Huskies, 95-94 in a heart-stopping, quadruple-overtime thriller.
The Lady Vols’ miraculous victory was capped off by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from sophomore guard, Jasmine Powell, who released the shot from beyond half court as time expired in the fourth overtime period. The ball went through the net, sending the Lady Vols’ bench into a frenzy and securing the program’s ninth national championship.
“I’m still in shock,” said Powell, who finished the game with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. “I just threw the ball up and prayed. I didn’t even see it go in. I just heard the buzzer and saw my teammates rushing towards me.”
The Lady Vols’ championship win marked the culmination of an incredible postseason run, which saw the team defeat three number-one seeds en route to the title. Tennessee’s victory also marked the first time a team from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has won the national championship since 2011.
“This is an incredible feeling,” said Lady Vols head coach, Kellie Harper. “I’m so proud of our team and the way they fought and persevered throughout this entire season. We faced so many challenges and adversity, but our players never gave up. They believed in themselves and in each other, and that’s what made this championship possible.”
The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. The Lady Vols led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, but the Huskies stormed back to take a 5-point lead with just over a minute remaining in regulation.
Tennessee’s senior forward, Rickea Jackson, tied the game with a layup with 10 seconds left, sending the game into overtime. The Lady Vols and Huskies would go on to play three more overtime periods, with neither team able to gain a decisive advantage.
In the fourth overtime, the Lady Vols trailed by 2 points with just 10 seconds remaining. Powell drove to the top of the key and launched a deep three-pointer that found its way into the hands of Jackson, who was fouled on the rebound. Jackson made both free throws to tie the game, setting up Powell’s game-winning shot.
“I knew Jasmine was going to make it,” said Jackson, who finished the game with 22 points and 12 rebounds. “She’s been making big shots for us all season. I’m just glad I could get the rebound and get fouled to set her up for the win.”
The Lady Vols’ championship win sparked widespread celebrations across the University of Tennessee campus and throughout the state. Fans gathered in the streets, cheering and chanting “Rocky Top,” the university’s iconic fight song.
For the Lady Vols players and coaches, the championship win marked the culmination of a lifelong dream. Many of the players had grown up idolizing the Lady Vols program and had worked tirelessly to become a part of it.
“This is what we’ve been working towards our entire lives,” said Powell. “To be able to bring a national championship back to Knoxville is an incredible feeling. We’re so grateful to our fans and to the entire University of Tennessee community for their support.”
The Lady Vols’ championship win will be celebrated throughout the state of Tennessee in the coming days and weeks. The team is scheduled to return to Knoxville on Wednesday, where they will be greeted with a championship parade and rally.
For now, the Lady Vols are basking in the glory of their national championship win, savoring the moment and enjoying the fruits of their labor.
“We’re national champions,” said Harper, beaming with pride. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
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