Scuffle mars SEC women’s tourney game
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Robyn Benton scored 20 points, Adebola Adeyeye added 11 with 17 rebounds, and No. 14 seed Kentucky beat 11th-seeded Florida 72-57 on Wednesday in a Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament first-round game marred by a scuffle.
Kentucky (11-18) snapped a seven-game losing streak to advance to play sixth-seeded Alabama (20-9) on Thursday.
The game had a 22-minute delay for an official review after an altercation between Florida forward Tatyana Wyche and Kentucky counterpart Ajae Petty with 5:26 remaining in the second quarter. Wyche threw the ball in the direction of Petty and then chased after her downcourt.
No punches appeared to be thrown, but several players left the bench area, leading to eight ejections — four from each team.
“Well, obviously that’s not how we want to represent ourselves as Florida women’s basketball and in the competitive spirit,” Gators coach Kelly Rae Finley said. “So first and foremost, I apologize for that because that is not representative of the SEC, University of Florida, or how we compete.”
When the game finally reached halftime, the score was 22-21 in Kentucky’s favor. The short-handed teams adjusted at the break, combining for 41 points in the third quarter, which ended with Kentucky leading 43-41.
Kentucky, the reigning SEC tournament champion, pulled away during a 10-0 run in the fourth for a 66-52 lead. Florida struggled from the floor in the quarter, missing seven straight shots early and six consecutive shots in the final four minutes.
Nina Rickards scored 19 points and Alberte Rimdal added 15 for Florida (16-14). Rickards completed a three-point play with 2:15 left in the third to give Florida its first lead, 41-39, since it was 4-2.
The Gators played without Ra Shaya Kyle, Faith Dut and sisters Taliyah and Tatyana Wyche in the second half. The Wildcats were without Cassidy Rowe, Eniya Russell, Zennia Thomas and Saniah Tyler after the altercation as well.
Texas A&M 77, Vanderbilt 20
Texas A&M freshman Sydney Bowles scored a season-high 22 points as the 13thseeded Aggies beat 12th-seeded Vanderbilt in the SEC tourney opener.
Texas A&M (8-19) advances to play No. 5 seed Mississippi State (20-9) in Thursday’s second round. The Aggies have lost three straight in the series with the Bulldogs. Vanderbilt dropped to 12-19 with the loss. Bowles, who had averaged 8.3 points per game, scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a trio of 3-pointers. Her fifth 3 of the game extended the Aggies’ lead to 69-52 before Vanderbilt scored the next 14 points to get within three with 2:25 left. Bowles ended Texas A&M’s nearly sevenminute drought without a field goal by making her sixth 3, setting a career high.
Vanderbilt missed its final five shots, and Texas A&M made its first free throw of the second half with 23.5 seconds left to help secure the victory.
Aaliyah Patty added a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for Texas A&M, which has won two of three since a six-game losing streak. Sahara Jones and Jada Malone also scored 12 points apiece.
Sacha Washington scored 17 points and Ciaja Harbison added 16 for Vanderbilt, while Marnelle Garraud had 10.
Last year, the Aggies’ season came to an end in the first round of the SEC tournament against Vanderbilt, 85-69.
In other second-round games Thursday, No. 7 seed Georgia will face No. 10 seed Auburn while No. 9 seed Missouri takes on No. 8 seed Arkansas.