TAMPA, Fla. - Tennessee All-American Candace Parker had missed 21 shots before her team prepared for its last shot with seven seconds to play in the NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game at the St. Pete Times Forum Sunday night. But UT had no doubts that it wanted the ball in her hands.

"The first thing (assistant coach) Nikki Caldwell said, 'We've got to get the ball in Candace's hands,' " Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt said of her strategy during the last timeout. "I didn't disagree with her.

"I think when you have the best player in the game, you've got to get the ball in her hands in that situation."

Following the timeout, Parker got the ball as planned. But she never got the shot.

After LSU All-American Sylvia Fowles double-teamed Parker as she dribbled within shooting range, Parker passed to Nicky Anosike. When Anosike missed the shot, LSU was within seconds of its first Final Four victory.

And that was just enough time for UT senior Alexis Hornbuckle to be an unlikely hero.

She rebounded Anosike's miss and scored on a follow-up with seven-tenths of a second remaining to give UT a 47-46 victory and a berth in Tuesday night's national championship game.

Maybe it's just as well Hornbuckle didn't have time to think about the last shot. Until she took it, she was 0-for-7 from the field.

And that didn't account for all of her mishaps.

After shooting an air-ball on UT's previous possession, Hornbuckle fouled LSU point guard Erica White, who then made two free throws to put the Lady Tigers up 46-45 with seven seconds to play.

But Hornbuckle righted all her wrongs in that last precious second.

"Of course, I realized (I hadn't made a shot)," Hornbuckle said of her struggles. "It was frustrating. I knew I couldn't give up on myself or my team. I just wanted to stay positive."

Her last shot was positively perfect.

"I was fearful it was over with," Summitt said. "Then Lex comes up and makes a tremendous play.

"She's one of the most athletic guards I've ever coached. She struggled tonight. I felt it would be hard for us to win (without Hornbuckle playing well offensively)."

Not only did UT win with Hornbuckle making only one shot. It won with Parker going 6-for-27 from the field.

Parker wouldn't use her injured left shoulder as an excuse. But it obviously affected her.

Or, as LSU coach Van Chancellor put it, "She hadn't ever been 6-for-27 in her life. She had a gutty performance."

Although Parker didn't shoot well, she excelled in other areas. She had 15 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

"I thought Candace was struggling emotionally," Summitt said. "Just what she's been through. I don't think Candace has had a lot of sleep."

Since suffering a dislocated left shoulder in UT's Elite Eight victory against Texas A&M last Tuesday night, Parker has spent hours each day rehabilitating the injury with the help of Lady Vols athletic trainer Jenny Moshak.

"I think she took some possessions off (on defense) because of fatigue," Summitt said. "I was a little demanding on her at first, but I know she was frustrated."

Despite the injury and the frustration, Parker dribbled the ball up court strongly and quickly on UT's last possession.

"We wanted to turn her," Chancellor said. "But we couldn't do it. In seven seconds she had time to get the ball to the other end, (and UT had time to) miss a shot and get the rebound.

"It was a tough way to lose a basketball game."

And a great way to win one.

"I'm just thankful Alexis came up and we found a way to win," Summitt said. "I'm not sure how when I look at the stat sheet."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

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