UNC overcame the tough Cleveland bracket and advanced to Boston.

The Tar Heels took an early lead over Tennessee and never gave it up. "I think we were hitting on all cylinders -- passing the ball, shooting it well and playing team defense," Erlana Larkins said. "As you can see, the pressure made them turn the ball over a lot in the first half."

Ivory Latta led with 20 and made two key plays at the end: a three-pointer, and then a sweet drive and dish to Larkins.

But the most important player of the game may have been La'Tangela Atkinson. Atkinson didn't score much (as usual), but when the Vols went on a 7-0 run in the second half and closed the gap to 5, she hit a three-pointer. (The best part about it was that as soon as the ball left her hand, she ran right around Parker, who made no effort to block out, and crashed the boards.) UT never got that close again.

Atkinson also contributed in a variety of other ways (as usual). She defended Candace Parker as well as anyone can, and she was largely responsible for Parker's 8 turnovers. She drew the charge that sent Parker to the bench in the first half. That play rattled Parker, and according to Summitt, sent the entire team into "panic mode."

On the whole, UT's guards simply couldn't handle UNC's pressure. Hornbuckle added 6 more turnovers, and Zolman 4. "They exposed our backcourt tonight," Summitt said.

This year started with incredibly high hopes in Knoxville.

But... Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood left. Alexis Hornbuckle got hurt. Candace Parker was absolutely splendid as a freshman, and other players did contribute a lot. Plenty of Tennessee kids had contributions at key times. But, ultimately, it wasn't enough.

UPDATE: Thanks to Stacey Geyer for letting me know that it's "Tar Heel," not "Tarheel."