Hogs open SEC Tournament with 88-76 win over Dores
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 13 seed Arkansas hit six baskets in a row to start the second quarter taking control of the momentum in a win over Vanderbilt in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Razorbacks (13-17) move on to face No. 5 seed Texas A&M (22-8) in the second round. The game will tip at approximately 3 p.m. ET and air on the SEC Network.
The Razorbacks had four players in double figures paced by a career-day from sophomore Kiara Williams. The Little Rock, Arkansas, native scored 25 points shooting 11-for-13 from the floor. She added 10 rebounds picking up her fourth double-double of the season. Williams played a career-high 32 minutes and added a 3-for-3 performance from the line, one block and two steals.
Junior Malica Monk was also in double figures with 20 points including three 3-point field goals. Jailyn Mason added 14 points followed by 13 points from graduate student Devin Cosper and 12 points from junior Raven Northcross-Baker in the win.
Vanderbilt (7-24) opened the game strong with a 9-0 run before the first media timeout. They led, 20-13, after the first quarter as Arkansas finished the frame going 2-for-15.
The Razorbacks found a spark to start the second quarter jumping out on a 7-3 run including a coast-to-coast performance from Monk who grabbed a rebound, sprinted the floor for a layup and was fouled. She made the bonus shot and Arkansas was in control of the game.
The Commodores were solid for the rest of the game, tying the contest three times in the third quarter but Arkansas rallied each time eventually stretching the lead to as much as 18 points in the final frame.