Bobbitt, Parker lead Vols

Posted January 13, 2008 10:00 pm

Associated Press

Shannon Bobbitt scored 20 points, Candace Parker added 15 and No. 2 Tennessee beat South Carolina 71-48 Sunday in the Lady Vols' 35th straight win over the Gamecocks.

Tennessee (14-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) opened SEC play 2-0 for the 11th straight season.

Parker, Tennessee's junior All-American, showed why.

She had the team's second basket in a 9-0 start and added another bucket and two foul shots as Tennessee broke on top 17-5 with less than nine minutes gone.

South Carolina never got closer than 10 points the rest of way.

Ilona Burgrova led South Carolina (11-6, 0-2) with 16 points and a career-best 13 rebounds.

Parker -- and the large contingent of Tennessee fans at the Colonial Center -- had a brief hold-your-breath moment when she banged her knee between two South Carolina defenders.

Parker rolled and winced as she got herself up and took a few limping steps. But after a brief rest on the bench, Parker was back running the floor.