SEC Women's Basketball Tournament

Auburn beats Vanderbilt, advances to face Arkansas

Auburn forward Unique Thompson (20) during an NCAA college basketball game against UAB, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Huntsville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Unique Thompson and Daisa Alexander powered a 17-2 fourth-quarter run and Auburn beat Vanderbilt 77-67 in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday.

Thompson was 9-of-12 shooting and finished with 21 points and nine rebounds and Alexander scored 19 and had nine assists. Erin Howard added 15 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers, for Auburn (11-17). The No. 13 seed Tigers play No. 5 seed and 25th-ranked Arkansas in the second round Thursday.

Thompson and Alexander, who combined for 25 second-half points, each scored six — and Howard hit a 3 — as Auburn held the Commodores scoreless for more than 5 1/2 minutes in the decisive run. Vanderbilt (14-16) missed just three shots during that stretch but committed seven turnovers, which the Tigers converted into 11 points.

Auburn finished with 31 points off 25 Commodores turnovers.

Koi Love scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting for Vanderbilt. The freshman added seven rebounds and a season-high tying seven assists.

Arkansas won 86-70 at Auburn in the teams’ only meeting during the regular season on Jan. 5. Amber Ramirez scored a game-high 25 points on 7 of 14 from 3-point range and Chelsea Dungee added 19 points on 6 of 10 shooting.

The Razorbacks shot 51.6 percent in the win.