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Tennessee coach Pat Summitt celebrates after cutting down the net following Tuesday's victory.

Summitt thanked Hornbuckle and Anosike for their leadership.

Bobbitt hit a 3 to score the first points in the national championship game, and Spencer followed with a jumper to get Tennessee rolling. Bobbitt finished with 13 points, Spencer had 11 and reserve Alberta Auguste, another junior college transfer, added 10.

When Bobbitt let loose her first shot, Summitt said, “I was like ’Noooo! Good shot Shannon!”’

Anosike had a career-high 16 rebounds, 10 on offense. Tennessee chancellor Loren Crabtree remarked about how Anosike was majoring in three subjects and has added a fourth — rebounding.

Spencer, Dominique Redding and former manager Elizabeth Curry are the only seniors.

“What a way to go out — on top,” Spencer told the crowd.

Summitt has shown no signs of letting up in her 33rd year with the Lady Vols.

She took the team to its first Final Four in 1977 when it was in the AIAW and won the school’s first title in 1987. Since the three-peat from 1996-98, the Lady Vols went to six Final Fours and also reached the finals in 2000, 2003 and 2004, each time losing to Connecticut.

Summitt has four incoming freshmen to look forward to next season when Tennessee goes for championship No. 8: 6-foot guard Angie Bjorklund of Spokane, Wash.; 6-4 forward Vicki Baugh of Sacramento, Calif.; 6-6 center Kelley Cain of Atlanta; and 5-10 guard Sydney Smallbone of South Bend, Ind.

During the ceremony, Summitt sat next to her son, Tyler, who turned 16 last fall.

“Thank you for being great fans,” Tyler Summitt told the crowd. “We’ll see you next year in Tampa!”

Quickly, Summitt took back the microphone for a last word: “Even my son puts pressure on me.”

But everybody on Rocky Top is looking forward to the next championship.

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