Parker, Bjorklund sweep SEC awards

Candace Parker and Angie Bjorklund scored a Tennessee Lady Vols sweep Monday of the SEC women's basketball weekly player awards.

Parker received player-of-the-week honors, averaging 26 points and 9 rebounds per game in victories over Middle Tennessee State and Gonzaga.

The 6-foot-5 forward matched her career high with 34 points against MTSU, topping 1,500 career points in the process.

Against the Blue Raiders, Parker also had 13 rebounds, recording her 35th career double-double. On the Lady Vols' list, Parker is tied with Mary Ostrowski and trails only Chamique Holdsclaw, the career double-doubles leader with 57.

Bjorklund was named freshman of the week for the second consecutive week, primarily on the strength of her career-high 23 points against Gonzaga on Sunday. The 6-0 forward tied former Lady Vol Shanna Zolman's school single-game record with seven 3-pointers against the Bulldogs.

Something To Discuss: The Lady Vols departed Monday for Los Angeles. Their West Coast road trip begins Wednesday night at UCLA.

The game might draw fans of the Los Angeles Sparks. The WNBA team has the first pick in April's draft and Parker will be the likely choice if she forgoes her final season of collegiate eligibility.

Summitt plans to talk with Parker about the possibility of distractions at the game.

"We will talk to her and to the team,'' Summitt said during a teleconference. "She is mature and focused enough to keep things in perspective. She went through it at the Final Four last year.

'We won't elaborate on it, but I will talk with her before we go out there."

Playing at Pauley: Summitt has fond memories of being at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Former UCLA women's coach Billie Moore is her former Olympic coach and long-time mentor. Summitt also is well-acquainted with Bruins coaching legend John Wooden.

"It is a place where I get chills every time I walk in the building,'' Summitt said. "Having played for Coach Billie Moore, every time I've been in there I marvel at the history."