Alexis Hornbuckle	- Download MP3-

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The will of a senior in the NCAA tournament, Oklahoma women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale noted after Tuesday night’s game, is immeasurable.

Oklahoma doesn’t have any seniors. Notre Dame had Charel Allen. And she made all three 3-point attempts and all 12 of her free throws and scored 35 points in Notre Dame’s 79-75 overtime win over the Sooners. Notre Dame’s other senior guard, Tulyah Gaines, dished out seven assists and helped hold Oklahoma’s Danielle Robinson to 1-of-8 shooting.

With a giant plate of spaghetti, a simple prayer and an unshakable will, guard Alexis Hornbuckle is that senior for Tennessee this postseason. Candace Parker is the star. But the Lady Vols, coach Pat Summitt said, follow Hornbuckle’s lead, particularly on defense.

“She sets the tone,” Summitt said.

And Hornbuckle’s tone in this NCAA tournament is one of urgency. There is no next year.

The plate of spaghetti before Tennessee’s 78-52 rout of Purdue on Tuesday gave her energy. She said the prayer gave her strength.

And her desire gave Oral Roberts and Purdue trips back home. In two NCAA tournament games, Hornbuckle has scored 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting, made five of nine 3-pointers, recorded 10 steals and dished out 12 assists.

She was one of the few players not to draw Summitt’s ire for poor defensive play against Oral Roberts. And in the win over Purdue, Hornbuckle recorded the fourth-most steals in the history of the NCAA tournament — eight, including seven in the first half — and set a school postseason record.

“There was a lot of talk about how our guards would match up with their guards,” Tennessee center Nicky Anosike said. “I guess Lex took that to heart.”

She’ll hear even more talk about guard play when top-seeded Tennessee (32-2) meets No. 5 seed Notre Dame (25-8) on Sunday in the Oklahoma City Regional. The Lady Vols crushed Notre Dame on the road, 87-63, on Jan. 5 in a game they led 30-10. Tennessee is 19-0 all time against the Irish.

No. 2 seed Texas A&M will play No. 3 Duke in the other semifinal. The winners will meet Tuesday.

Hornbuckle wants to be there.

“I’m definitely trying to seize the moment and seize the day,” she said. “I just pray every night and every day, ‘Lord, bless me with the most energy I could possibly have.’ Luckily, I’ve been able to do that. I’ve been blessed to do that, and hopefully I can carry it out for the rest of the four games.”

The most challenging assignment for Hornbuckle and fellow senior guard Shannon Bobbitt so far in this tournament will come Sunday against the Irish.

Allen and Gaines are playing with the same inspiration, the same drive. Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said she’s never seen Allen take control of a game like she did against Oklahoma.

“You cannot win without good leadership,” McGraw said. “The seniors refused to lose. When you have seniors who are leaders and the team respects and they are the heart and soul of the team, it makes everybody play harder, because nobody wants to lose for them. They kept talking about, ‘Let’s do it for the seniors.’”

But the seniors, several Notre Dame players admitted, actually did it for them.

“Their sense of urgency is there,” sophomore Ashley Barlow said. “They were really stressing trying to get to the Sweet 16, because they had never been there.”

The Irish are finally there for the first time since 2004. And they’ll meet a Tennessee team waiting for Hornbuckle’s cue on defense.

“Coach always says the team goes as I go,” Hornbuckle said. “I look at that as not that they’re on my back, but I want to be that defensive fire. If I get a steal, maybe next time that’s going to inspire Nicky to go after that loose ball or inspire Shannon on defense. At the same time, I feed off what they do. If Candace gets a block, now I’m ready to get me a steal.”

Or eight, but who’s counting?

“Actually,” Hornbuckle said, “I thought I had three.”

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