Tough SEC Opener for Tennessee

Top-ranked Tennessee got more than it bargained for as it opened play in the Southeastern Conference tournament Friday at Nashville, holding on to defeat Mississippi State, 67-57.

The Lady Vols (26-2) improved to 23-0 all-time against the Bulldogs and will play No. 20 Georgia today in the semifinals.

Tennessee led for most of the game, but the Bulldogs (14-15) didn’t let the deficit exceed five points in the second half until LaToya Davis made two free throws to give the Lady Vols a 62-55 lead with 1:05 left.

No. 5 Penn State 79, Indiana 66 -- The top-seeded Nittany Lions (24-4) took control with a 16-4 run to get past the ninth-seeded Hoosiers (12-17) in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament at Indianapolis. Penn State has won six in a row and 17 of 18 and will play Michigan State in Sunday’s semifinals.

No. 6 Purdue 78, Michigan 55 -- Freshmen Katie Gearlds and Erin Lawless combined for 21 second-half points to lift the second-seeded Boilermakers (25-3) over the Wolverines (14-17) in the Big Ten quarterfinals. The Boilermakers will play Ohio State in the semifinals.

No. 11 Houston 84, Cincinnati 67 -- The Bearcats (15-15) stayed close until the Cougars (25-3) went on a 21-10 run midway through the second half of the Conference USA quarterfinal at Fort Worth. Sancho Lyttle scored 11 of her game-high 34 points during the run that gave the Cougars a 69-55 lead.

No. 15 Louisiana State 79, Mississippi 66 -- The second-seeded Tigers (23-6) never trailed as they opened defense of their SEC tournament title. They will play No. 21 Vanderbilt in tonight’s semifinals. The seventh-seeded Rebels (17-13) failed to advance past the second round for the 11th year in a row.

No. 16 Texas Christian 89, Charlotte 73 -- Sandora Irvin had 26 points, 14 rebounds and a Conference USA tournament-record eight blocks to lead the Horned Frogs (23-5) over the 49ers (16-13) in the Conference USA quarterfinals.

No. 22 Ohio State 58, No. 18 Minnesota 50 -- The Golden Gophers (21-8) cut a nine-point lead to three in the closing minutes, but Caity Matter scored the next 10 points for the Buckeyes (20-8), finishing with two free throws for a 56-50 lead with 36 seconds left in the Big Ten quarterfinal.

No. 21 Vanderbilt 76, No. 19 Auburn 74 -- Abi Ramsey made two free throws with 5.4 seconds left to send the Commodores (22-7) to their fifth consecutive appearance in the SEC tournament semifinals. The Tigers (21-8) missed the semifinals for the seventh year in a row.

No. 20 Georgia 76, Florida 72 -- The fifth-seeded Bulldogs (21-8), who lost twice in the regular season to the Gators (18-10), came from behind to advance to the SEC semifinals. Cori Chambers made consecutive three-point field goals to give the Bulldogs the lead for good at 67-64 with 4:10 left.

Marquette 74, No. 24 DePaul 70 -- Charlene Smith’s basket moved the Blue Demons (22-6) to within one point, at 69-68, with 43 seconds left in the Conference USA quarterfinals. But Carolyn Kieger’s field goal gave the Golden Eagles (21-8) a 71-68 lead.

No. 25 Michigan State 81, Iowa 54 -- Lindsay Bowen scored 23 of her 27 points in the second half, leading the Spartans (21-7) over the Hawkeyes (16-12). Michigan State entered the game allowing 55.1 points per game -- best in the conference.