03/06/26 09:47:00
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03/06 21:46 CST No. 24 Ole Miss builds a 32-point lead and holds on to beat No.
5 Vanderbilt 89-78 in SEC Tournament
No. 24 Ole Miss builds a 32-point lead and holds on to beat No. 5 Vanderbilt
89-78 in SEC Tournament
By STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) --- Latasha Lattimore scored 28 points and Cotie McMahon
had 27 as No. 24 Mississippi built a 32-point third-quarter lead and held on
late to beat fifth-ranked Vanderbilt 89-78 in the Southeastern Conference
Tournament quarterfinals on Friday.
Tianna Thompson added 16 points for the Rebels (23-10), who jumped to a 23-2
lead in the first quarter and rode the wave of momentum to their second win
this season over Commodores (27-4).
Ole Miss will face No. 4 Texas in Saturday's semifinals.
Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, who averaged more than 30 points per game in
conference play this season, missed her first 12 shots --- including five 3s
--- and didn't make a first field goal until 2:31 remained in the third quarter
after battling early foul trouble.
Blakes then helped a fuel a frantic fourth-quarter rally in which Vanderbilt
trimmed the lead to nine with three minutes to go. She finished with 24 points.
Aubrey Galvan added 18 points for Vanderbilt.
Ole Miss, which beat Auburn 73-57 on Thursday, took its huge early lead by
holding the Volunteers to 1-of-15 shooting and using quick hands to deflect
passes and create steals that led to easy layups.
Things got worse for Vanderbilt in the second quarter when Blakes picked up her
third foul.
Frustrations began to boil over in the fourth quarter. Vanderbilt coach Shea
Ralph was ejected with 9:25 left after arguing a foul call that went against
Blakes, who dived on the floor to retrieve a loose ball.
That seemed to awaken the Commodores, who rallied to cut the lead to nine on a
steal and 3-point play by Galvan.
Vanderbilt outscored Ole Miss 37-24 in the fourth quarter.
Up next
Ole Miss: Faces another top-five opponent in the fourth-ranked Longhorns.
Vanderbilt: Awaits its NCAA Tournament seed.
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