By MARLON SCOTT
Senior Staff Writer

From the Lady Govs players, coaches, staff and their fans to the pom-poms and balloons decorating several tables, the Dunn Center lobby was filled with red and white Monday, March 15 for the Lady Govs Pairing Party.

Pizza was served and the cake was cut. People smiled, hugged and high-fived nervously in anticipation of the announcement.

For 28 minutes Trey Wingo, Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck discussed other teams in other regions.

“I was over there falling asleep, I am not going to lie,” said Lady Gov sophomore center Jasmine Rayner.

Then it was announced on television and the Dunn Center lobby exploded in cheers.

The Lady Govs will play against the number 1 seeded Lady Volunteers coached by the all-time winningest coach Pat Summitt in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday March 20, at 11:16 p.m.

“It’s just amazing,” Daniels said. “I think the anticipation of just waiting on your name to come up and then it seems like it takes forever; to see it finally come up and to know that it is right here in Tennessee; our fans will get to go, is amazing.”

“To know that I am going to be coaching against such a legend as Pat Summitt is an honor.”

“To go play in an arena that is going to be an unbelievable atmosphere and experience for our young ladies is just something I think we will cherish and remember forever,” Daniels said.

The players were equally excited about playing in Knoxville.

“My family, my little sister, my cousin, all of them go to UT,” Rayner said. “My momma can come so I am happy.”

This was the seventh time the Lady Govs have captured the OVC Tournament championship and the second time in four years for coach Daniels.

Last season it took two overtime periods for the Lady Govs to earn an invitation to the dance. The young team went to East Lansing, Mich. where they were eliminated by Duke in the first round.

The rest of the OVC called the achievement a fluke. Coach Daniels proved it was not.

The Lady Govs are headed to Knoxville as second year seasoned vets.

“This year obviously having that year of experience, hopefully we will draw on that and that will help us a little more,” Daniels said. “I think we know what to expect. I am hoping it won’t be an as awestruck kind of feeling this year and we can settle in and be a little more relaxed going into it.”

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