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Vanderbilt Upends Auburn, 76-74 3-5-04 3/5/2004 Commodores reach SEC semifinals for fifth straight year NASHVILLE (AP) – Abi Ramsey hit a pair of free throws with 5.4 seconds left to lift No. 21 Vanderbilt over No. 19 Auburn 76-74 Friday night, sending the Commodores to their fifth straight appearance in the Southeastern Conference tournament semifinals. Vanderbilt (22-7) will play No. 15 LSU, a 79-66 winner over Mississippi, on Saturday night. Third-seeded Auburn (21-8) missed the semifinals for the seventh straight year since winning the tournament in 1997 when the Tigers became the first – and still only – team to win four straight games en route to the title. Vanderbilt led 74-73 when Natasha Brackett went to the line with 13.2 seconds remaining, but the junior guard hit only her second free throw to tie the game for the 12th time. Ramsey was fouled on the other end away from the ball by Brackett, and she made both free throws for the lead. Auburn had one last chance for a tie, but Nicole Louden drove to the basket and her bucket bounced off the left side of the rim as the buzzer sounded. Hillary Hager and Jenni Benningfield each scored 18 points to lead Vanderbilt, which had five players in double figures. Carla Thomas had 15, and Ramsey finished with 10 points along with Ashley Earley. Le’Coe Willingham led Auburn with 25 points, Mandisa Stevenson added 16 and Brackett had 12. Vanderbilt shot a season-high 60.4 percent (29-of-48) from the floor to offset 21 turnovers. Auburn shot just 46.9 percent but stayed with the Commodores from the free throw line by going 17-of-23 compared to 10-of-15 for Vandy. It was tight throughout with Vandy leading by six only by scoring the first points of the game. After that, neither team led by more than four, including a 36-36 tie at halftime. Auburn last led 73-72 on a bucket by Brackett who failed to convert on the free throw for a three-point play with 38.1 seconds left. |
