Kiara Williams’ career day helps Arkansas knock off Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament.
SEC WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT ARKANSAS 88, VANDERBILT 76
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kiara Williams scored a career-high 25 points and had 10 rebounds Wednesday as 13th-seeded Arkansas ended a six-game skid by beating 12th-seeded Vanderbilt 88-76 in the SEC Women’s Tournament.
Arkansas (13-17) next plays today against No. 15 Texas A&M, the tournament’s fifth seed. Texas A&M trounced Arkansas 104-60 last week.
Williams shot 11 of 13 and led five Razorbacks in double figures. Malica Monk scored 20 points, Jailyn Mason had 14, Devin Cosper had 13 and Raven Northcross-Baker added 12. It was the second time this season that the Razorbacks had five players score double figures in a game (Nov. 29, Abilene Christian).
Vanderbilt opened the game with a 9-0 run. The Commodores led 20-13 after the first quarter as Arkansas finished shooting 2 of 15 (13.3 percent) in the quarter.
The Razorbacks shot 62.5 percent (10 of 16) while outscoring the Commodores 2412 in the second quarter to lead 37-32 at the half.
The Razorbacks led 66-57 at the end of the third quarter. Their 29 third-quarter points is the most for them in a single quarter this season.
Arkansas pushed its lead to 88-70 on a Cosper free throw with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter. The Razorbacks shot 53.3 percent (8 of 15) in the quarter and finished shooting 44.6 for the game.
The Razorbacks led in points in the paint (34-26) and in points off turnovers (23-9).
Kayla Overbeck had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Vanderbilt (7-24). Christa Reed had 16 points and Rachel Bell added 12. Vanderbilt committed 20 turnovers.
It marked the second Arkansas-Vanderbilt matchup in the last four days. Vanderbilt had beaten Arkansas 78-73 on Sunday.