Liveblogging UNC-Tennessee

The Final Four game that isn't. Pregame information can be found here and here.

4:06 A three pointer and two steals from Carolina only gets a 3-0 lead. The defense is keeping Tennessee almost entirely behind the arc though.
4:09 Tennessee on the other hand is playing big defense down low, getting rebounds and giving up the occasional foul to stop the basket. 4-2 Heels.
4:11 The downside of that defense is that Latta is open for the three. 5 straight points from her, but offensive rebounds for the Vols make it 9-8.
4:12 The Vol's Parker picks up her second foul with a charge going into the first media timeout. The crowd seems to be slightly favoring UNC, surprisingly enough.

4:16 Candace Parker is sitting with two fouls, and Little takes advantage to get her first basket. Back and forth misses keep it at 11-8.
4:17 Another offensive rebound and bucket for the Vols - 8 of their 10 points have come that way - but UNC responds, 13-10. Rebounding is going to kill the Heels at this rate though. A five second violation gives UNC the ball though.
4:20 Another Tennessee turnover, but they cause a jump ball on the defensive end in response. Pringle gets two points in the post though, 15-10. And another Vol turnover - the third straight.
4:22 The defenses are both suffocating - UNC loses the ball out of bounds, but can set up their half court trap and force another jump ball. The teams exchange baskets, 17-12. The more shots UNC can hit, the better they can set up the defense.

4:26 UNC is using its depth, getting points from folks the play-by-play crew aren't familar with. A defensive lapse gets the Vols an easy bucket in response. 19-14.
4:28 The Heels run off a long missed three - Tennessee is completely cold from behind the arc - to get an easy Latta layup, and follow it up with a steal, a bucket, and a charge. 24-14.
4:30 UNC gets good defense after a turnover to stop the fast break, and a loose ball tussle requires a Tennessee timeout. UNC is, rebounding aside, completely in control of the game.
4:32 Tennessee turnover, but the Heel's cant convert. Again Vol rebounding gives them the ball and gets them a bucket from Parkeron the other end. 24-16 going into the next TV timeout.

4:35 I was worried about 6'3" Parker gaurding Latta on the perimeter, but Latta drains a three over her. The Vols get four or five rebouds on the other end before finding the hoop. UNC's beginning to run more and it's 29-18.
4:37 The fourth jump ball of the half allows sloppy Tennessee to keep possession. I don't know if the number of tie-ups is unusual, a characteristic of women's ball, or a characteristic of a quick, scrappy Carolina. 31-18 after a Little downcourt break.
4:39 Tennessee's Zolman hits their first three, and the next time down the court they get a backdoor layup. Pringle responds, and it's 33-23.
4:41 McCants gets a three off of a great pass from the paint. The Vols are beginning to find an offense underneath though, and UNC calls a timeout at 36-27.

4:42 A good pass to find the open layup underneath, followed by a Latta steal and bucket. 40-27. No, 43-27 after a Little three. If UNC has been playing down to their competition so far this tournament, they sure aren't now.
4:45 Good drives and passes get the Vols two. 43-29.
4:46 Spencer is coming alive down low for Tennessee, getting points off of first opportunities for a change. Latta misses a layup on the other end -there's been a little too much of that from Carolina - and it's 43-31.
4:49 Eight steals and now two blocks for the half. Very impressive showing by Carolina. Latta's waiting for the last shot, but a ricochet out of bounds and a failed inbounds play ends the half with the same 43-31. Pat Summit thinks the lead should be more like 25, and I can't really argue with that.