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1987 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game

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Women's basketball championship game

NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game
National championship game
Tennessee Lady Volunteers Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters
(27–6) (30–2)
67 44
Head coach:
Pat Summitt		 Head coach:
Leon Barmore
1st half2nd half Total
Tennessee Lady Volunteers 3334 67
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters 2420 44
DateMarch 29, 1987
VenueFrank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas
MVPTonya Edwards, Tennessee
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersTim Brant (play-by-play) and Mimi Griffin (analyst)
← 19861988 →

The 1987 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game was the final game of the 1987 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. It determined the champion of the 1986–87 NCAA Division I women's basketball season and was contested by the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. The game was played on March 29, 1987, at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. After leading 33–24 at halftime, No. 7 Tennessee pulled away to defeat No. 3 Louisiana Tech 67–44 to capture the program's first NCAA national championship. Tonya Edwards was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Participants

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Main article: 1986–87 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team

The Lady Vols, who represented the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, were led by head coach Pat Summitt in her 13th season at the school. Tennessee began the season ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll. After peaking at No. 1 in the polls for the last three weeks of 1986, the team remained in the top 10 all season long and finished the regular season at No. 7 in both major polls.

Playing as the No. 2 seed in the Mideast region of the NCAA tournament, the Lady Volunteers defeated Tennessee Tech, No. 11 Virginia, and No. 2 Auburn to reach the fourth Final Four in program history. In the National semifinals, Tennessee defeated No. 4 Long Beach State, 74–64. The 27–6 Lady Vols entered the matchup with No. 3 Louisiana Tech as the underdog.

Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters

Main article: 1986–87 Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team

The Lady Techsters, who represented the Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, were led by head coach Leon Barmore, in his 2nd season as head coach at the school. Louisiana Tech opened the season ranked No. 2 in the AP poll and, like Tennessee, spent the entirety of the season inside the top 10. They finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in both major polls.

In the NCAA tournament, La Tech defeated Northwestern, Southern Illinois, and No. 9 Iowa to reach the fourth NCAA Final Four in program history. They won 79–75 over No. 1 and defending National champion Texas in the national semifinal to reach the national championship game with a 30–2 record.

Starting lineups

Tennessee Position Louisiana Tech
Shelley Sexton G Teresa Weatherspoon
Tonya Edwards G Angela Lawson
Kathy Spinks C Tori Harrison
Bridgette Gordon F Nora Lewis
Karla Horton F
Source

Game summary

CBS
March 29, 1987
No. 7 Tennessee Lady Volunteers 67, No. 3 Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters 44
Scoring by half: 33–24, 34–20
Pts:  
Rebs:  
Asts:  		 Pts:  
Rebs:  
Asts:  
Frank Erwin Center – Austin, Texas

Media coverage

The game was broadcast on CBS.

References

  1. "Tennessee Winner in Final". The New York Times. March 30, 1987. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  2. "49ers Taken Out of Offense, Tournament". The Los Angeles Times. March 28, 1987. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. "Texas Upset, 79-75". The New York Times. March 28, 1987. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament championship games
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball 1986–87 NCAA champions
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