Bobbitt scored 13 points — 9 of them on three 3-pointers in a lightning-quick span in the second half — and Nicky Anosike, who made her teammates sign a pact in January to reinforce their commitment to winning it all, had 16 rebounds for the Lady Vols, who had 24 offensive boards.

“I’ve always believed that rebounding wins championships,” Summitt said, “and our defense was a difference maker.”

Kia Vaughn had 20 points and 10 rebounds to pace Rutgers. But the Scarlet Knights made far too many mistakes (18 turnovers) and didn’t have enough to challenge the Lady Vols down the stretch.

Several times, Stringer, back in the championship game for the first time since leading Cheyney to the 1982 game, put her hands to her head in disbelief at seeing unforced turnovers and lackluster defense.

Stringer had called her senior-less squad of five freshmen, three juniors and two sophomores, a “team of destiny.”

As it turned out, only Tennessee will leave fulfilled.

“It hurts a lot,” Stringer said. “But I still love this team. This was no doubt the most rewarding year I’ve had.”

Trailing by 11 at halftime, Rutgers, trying to become the lowest-seeded team to win the women’s tourney, settled down early in the second half by matching Tennessee’s intensity and closed to 35-28 on Vaughn’s putback with 13:33 left.

That’s when Bobbitt, a 5-foot-2 bundle of New York City playground moves and energy, hit the first of three 3-pointers in a span of 2:43. The first one came after two offensive rebounds by the Lady Vols.

After a Rutgers turnover, Bobbitt drained another 3. As the Scarlet Knights brought the ball up the floor, Bobbitt was waiting for them. She forced a turnover that led to a layup by Alexis Hornbuckle, and for the first time all evening, Tennessee’s fans sensed this might be the Lady Vols’ night.

They were feeling even better one minute later when Bobbitt hit another 3.

Still, the Scarlet Knights weren’t going to quit on Stringer, who earlier this season kicked her team out of their locker room and took away anything with “Rutgers” written on it because she felt they weren’t playing up to the school’s standards.

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A 3-pointer by Matee Ajavon ended a 7-0 run that brought Rutgers to 50-42, but Parker made six straight free throws in 37 seconds to make it 56-44 with 1:08 left. As she went down the floor, Parker looked at the bench where senior Sidney Spencer was crying, knowing all the hard work during the offseason would end the best way possible.

Seconds later, Stringer, who dropped to 0-6 in NCAA tourney matchups against her close friend Summitt, began clearing her bench.

Still, this tournament ended the same way it has nearly one-third of the time since it started — with Tennessee setting up ladders to cut down the nets.

“This is something we all wanted from Day One,” Parker said. “I can’t describe this feeling. It’s amazing.”