Parker leads U.S. in exhibition victory

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Tennessee women's basketball star Candace Parker scored 15 of her 23 points in the second half to help the United States edge Australia 70-66 in an exhibition game Wednesday night.

This was not how the United States wanted to head into the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament next week.

Three days after blowing out Australia 96-64 in an exhibition game in Trenton, N.J., the United States struggled for most of the rematch, turning the ball over, giving up second chances and losing starting forward Seimone Augustus to injury.

With the Americans trailing 49-47 late in the third quarter, Parker took over, scoring 13 of the United States' next 21 points. She hit turnaround jumpers, layups and free throws to help the U.S. build a 68-64 lead with 3:14 left.

"She's an unbelievable player who can do everything. She's like Lauren Jackson," Australia's Laura Summerton said, comparing Parker to one of the world's top players. "She's so young and she has so much more to go."

With 35 seconds left, Parker missed a floater in the lane, but former Lady Vol Kara Lawson chased down the rebound. Rebekkah Brunson hit two free throws for the final margin.

Augustus added 12 points for the U.S. before leaving with a left shoulder injury with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter.

Former Lady Vol Guliford woman of year finalist

Former University of Tennessee track and field/cross country standout Felicia Guliford is one of nine finalists for 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year.

Guliford, who graduated in August, was a track and field first-team All-American in 2005. She ran for the Lady Vols' indoor national championship team. In cross country, she ran on four South Region championship teams and three SEC championship teams.

Academically, she was an All-District IV honoree first-team honoree in 2007 and an Academic All-American for cross country in 2004. At UT, she was a ten-time Dean's List honoree.

Her service and leadership activities included serving as a volunteer at the free medical clinic for the Working Poor.

Two other Lady Vols have won the Woman of the Year award: swimmer Catherine Byrne (1992) and diver Lauryn McCalley (2005).

In other news:

- With last Friday's Tennessee Invitational not counting as an official meet, the Lady Vols have added the University of Georgia's Bulldog Stampede to their schedule. The 5K race at Georgia's golf course is Saturday morning.