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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ashley Earley scored a team-high 17 points and No. 20 Vanderbilt had a defensive stop in the final five seconds as the Commodores held on to defeat Auburn, 66-64, Thursday night in Memorial Gym. Natasha Brackett scored a game-high 20 points and Auburn (12-10, 3-6 SEC) shot 46.4 percent, but the Commodores (17-5, 6-3 SEC) forced 16 turnovers on defense.
Louise Emeagi and Marita Payne each had 14 points for the Lady Tigers. Abi Ramsey and Dee Davis each finished with 12 points while Cherish Stringfield added 10 points. Vandy shot just 40 percent in the game, but only turned the ball over a season-low eight times.
Auburn had a chance to tie the game or win it with 5.1 seconds to go. After Davis missed a lay-up with 13 seconds, Payne colleted the rebound for the Lady Tigers. After an official timeout, Auburn inbounded the ball to Tanesheia Thompson with five seconds. Thompson drove the lane, but her shot was no good as the Commodores held on for the win.
Davis completed a three-point play putting the Commodores ahead, 38-33. The Lady Tigers got within 41-37 at the 16:07 mark, but jumper in the lane from Stringfield made it 50-43 for VU with 9:19 left. Emeagi scored the Lady Tigers next nine points. Her two free throws pulled Auburn within 52-49. Davis’ driving lay-up extended the ‘Dores’ lead to 54-49, but Emeagi completed a three-point play pulling Auburn with 54-52 with six minutes left. A basket from Earley gave the Commodores a 59-54 lead. Auburn got within one-point twice in the next four minutes. The last time coming on two free throws from
Vanderbilt shot just 38.2 percent in the first half and 44 percent from three-point range, but forced Auburn into 10 turnovers. Auburn shot a sizzling 48 percent in the first half led by Brackett, who had 16 points in the half. Her jumper with two seconds left pulled the Lady Tigers within, 33-31 at intermission.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Abi Ramsey and Stringfield gave the ‘Dores a 21-14 advantage with 8:12 remaining, but Brackett answered with back-to-back three-pointers Alexis Ogubie got loose for an open lay-up for a quick 7-0 Auburn run to pull within 23-22 at the 5:39 mark. Stringfield hit another three-pointer to put Vandy ahead 26-22.
Auburn led 12-8 after a lay-up from Alexis Ogubie with 13:51 to go in the first half. Earley scored eight of the Commodores first 10 points. Her basket at the 12:16 mark pulled VU within 12-10. Katie Antony’s jumper tied the game 12-12 with 11:10 left in the first half.
Antony finished with nine points while Carla Thomas had six points. Ogubie had 12 points for Auburn.
Vanderbilt takes it four-game winning streak to Knoxville Sunday for a showdown with No. 5 Tennessee at 2 p.m. (CST) on ESPN2.
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