Ramsey hits two for winning margin

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Abi Ramsey hit a pair of free throws

with 5.4 seconds left to lift Vanderbilt (No. 21 AP) over (No. 22 ESPN/USA Today, No. 19 AP) Auburn 76-74 Friday night, sending the Commodores to their fifth straight appearance in the Southeastern Conference tournament

semifinals.

Vanderbilt (22-7) will play (No. 14 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) LSU, a 79-66 winner over

Mississippi, on Saturday night.

Third-seeded Auburn (21-8) missed the semifinals for the seventh

straight year since winning the tournament in 1997 when the Tigers

became the first -- and still only -- team to win four straight games

en route to the title.

Vanderbilt led 74-73 when Natasha Brackett went to the line with

13.2 seconds remaining, but the junior guard hit only her second

free throw to tie the game for the 12th time. Ramsey was fouled on

the other end away from the ball by Brackett, and she made both

free throws for the lead.

Auburn had one last chance for a tie, but Nicole Louden drove to

the basket and her bucket bounced off the left side of the rim as

the buzzer sounded.

Hillary Hager and Jenni Benningfield each scored 18 points to

lead Vanderbilt, which had five players in double figures. Carla

Thomas had 15, and Ramsey finished with 10 points along with Ashley

Earley.

Le'Coe Willingham led Auburn with 25 points, Mandisa Stevenson

added 16 and Brackett had 12.

Vanderbilt shot a season-high 60.4 percent (29-of-48) from the

floor to offset 21 turnovers. Auburn shot just 46.9 percent but

stayed with the Commodores from the free throw line by going

17-of-23 compared to 10-of-15 for Vandy.

It was tight throughout with Vandy leading by six only by

scoring the first points of the game. After that, neither team led

by more than four, including a 36-36 tie at halftime.

Auburn last led 73-72 on a bucket by Brackett who failed to

convert on the free throw for a three-point play with 38.1 seconds

left.