Alabama women blast Vanderbilt

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Shaquera Wade scored 21 points and Hannah Cook added 15 as 12th-seeded Alabama opened the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament with a 77-57 win over 13th-seeded Vanderbilt on Wednesday.

Jordan Lewis chipped in 13 points and freshman Ashley Knight set the school record for blocked shots in a career, rejecting three to give her 71 for the Crimson Tide (18-12), who face fifth-seeded Tennessee (19-10) in the second round today.

Rachel Bell had a careerhigh 31 points for the Commodores (14-15), who had won five straight against Alabama.

Both teams shot 50 percent in the first half, but the Tide held a 42-30 lead at the break after going 6-of-10 from 3-point range and 10-of-14 at the foul line compared to 1-of-4 and 1-of-5 for Vanderbilt.

Alabama took control by scoring the first six points of the third quarter and putting together a late 8-0 run, making it 60-40 on a jumper by Meoshonti Knight, who finished with 10 points.

Vanderbilt, one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country at 39 percent with an average of 7.3 makes a game, finished 3-of-16 (18.8).

› Florida 71, Arkansas 61: Ronni Williams scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help No. 11 seed Florida eliminate No. 14 seed Arkansas.

Williams posted her ninth double-double of the season while leading the Gators (15-15) into a second-round matchup against No. 6 seed Texas A&M (19-10).

Dyandria Anderson added a career-high 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Florida, while Delicia Washington had 11 points and nine rebounds and Tyshara Fleming contributed nine rebounds and five blocks.

Jessica Jackson scored 10 points for Arkansas (13-17), which lost for the 11th straight game.

The Gators sank only two 3-pointers to seven by Arkansas, but they made just as many field goals on 15 fewer attempts and had a 50-32 rebounding advantage.