TAMPA, Fla. — Candace Parker has earned all sorts of honors — All-American, national champion, future Olympian.

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt offers another distinction: the top player in the history of women's basketball.

"I went into the season thinking she's one of the best ever," Summitt said. "Now that we're approaching the end of her career — I've coached Cheryl Miller, Chamique (Holdsclaw), Lynette Woodard, Nancy (Lieberman), Anne Donovan — Parker is the best."

Parker, a junior, averaged 21.6 points and 8.3 rebounds to lead the Lady Vols this season. The All-American yesterday was voted player of the year in women's college basketball by The Associated Press. Geno Auriemma of Connecticut was the coach of the year, the fifth time he won the award.

"It doesn't matter how many of these you get, it's always special because it means you're doing a great job," Auriemma said.

Parker received 40 votes from the 50-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Maya Moore of Connecticut was second with five votes. Sylvia Fowles of LSU and Candice Wiggins of Stanford had two each and Crystal Langhorne of Maryland one.

"I don't know of another player — I haven't coached one — who was 6-foot-5 with the skill set she has," Summitt said, referring to Parker.

Parker will graduate in May and not return for her last year of eligibility. She most likely will be the first pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA draft Wednesday.

WNIT

MARQUETTE TRIUMPHS

Angel Robinson had 16 points and eight rebounds to help Marquette win the WNIT title with an 81-66 victory over Michigan State yesterday at East Lansing, Mich.

Krystal Ellis, the tournament MVP with a 23.2-point average, had 15 points and led a 23-2 run in the opening minutes. And Erin Monfre, who came in averaging 2.7 points, hit five 3-pointers for the Golden Eagles (21-14).

Freshman Kalisha Keane had a career-high 24 points for the Spartans (23-14). Allyssa DeHaan had 11 points and five blocks to boost her Big Ten season mark for rejections to 150.

The Spartans cut the deficit to 41-30 with 10 straight points, but Monfre's third wide-open 3 gave the Golden Eagles a 45-33 halftime lead.