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VU Women Advance To SEC Semis 3/4/2005 Box Score | Photo Gallery GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Ashley Earley had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 18 Vanderbilt took the first step in defending its Southeastern Conference women’s tournament title with a 79-60 victory over Arkansas on Friday night. Next up for the Commodores? Their longtime rival, No. 5 Tennessee. The Lady Vols reached Saturday’s semifinals with a 64-54 win over Auburn. Things didn’t look so good for Vanderbilt (22-6) early in this one. Carla Thomas, the SEC tournament’s most valuable player last year, crashed to the floor chasing a rebound less than 5 minutes into the game. Thomas laid on her back, shaking in pain, as trainers raised her left leg. But after getting helped up and walking behind the bench for a few minutes, Thomas returned to the game with a heavily taped knee. She finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, her fourth double-double of the season. Earley took control of things in the second half. With the score tied at 37, Earley had a pair of inside baskets that put Vanderbilt up 41-38 with 13:29 left. Still, the 11th-seeded Lady Razorbacks (16-13) hung in, down 47-44 after Kristin Peoples’ two foul shots. But Earley had the answer again, converting a three-point play and following with two foul shots to extend Vanderbilt’s lead to 10 points. When Caroline Williams hit her third 3-pointer with 3:11 remaining, the Commodores were up 66-54. Arkansas couldn’t get any closer. Dee Davis had 14 points for Vanderbilt, which won four straight to win the SEC tournament as a sixth-seed in 2004. This time, the task could be even harder. Should they get by Tennessee, which easily won both matchups this season, No. 1 LSU could be waiting in Sunday’s championship. Vanderbilt enters Saturday’s semifinal having won nine of its past 10 games. The only blemish? A 72-63 loss at Tennessee. Rochelle Vaughn led the Lady Razorbacks with 20 points and Sarah Pfeifer had 16. |
