updated 10:55 a.m. ET March 31, 2004

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. - Candace Parker can dunk, too.

The 6-foot-3 senior from Naperville, Ill., dunked three times and beat five male competitors Monday night to become the first female winner of the slam dunk competition at the McDonald’s All-American boys and girls games.

Parker, who is headed to Tennessee next season, punctuated the competition with a one-handed jam while covering her eyes with her forearm.

The crowd roared, and seven of the eight judges gave her 10s. Parker finished with 223 points, well ahead of runner-up Joe Crawford, who had 148 points.

“I’ve been dunking the ball since I was 15,” she said. “I just wanted to get my first one down and knew I’d be all right.”

Parker is the second female participant in the dunk contest. Last year, Brittany Hunter, who now plays at Duke, competed but failed to dunk.

Previous winners of the dunk contest include Vince Carter, Baron Davis, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James.

Parker is a two-time winner of the Naismith prep basketball player of the year award. She averaged 24.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 3.5 blocks and finished her high school career with 2,758 points.

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