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Vanderbilt hangs on in low-scoring affair

Mar 8, 2008 - 6:37 AM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Jessica Mooney and Merideth Marsh each scored 10 points as No. 22 Vanderbilt held off Auburn, 49-44, in a Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinal contest on Friday.

Jennifer Risper added nine points and 15 rebounds for the Commodores (23-7), who next will play No. 3 Tennessee in the semifinal round.

In a defensive struggle, Vanderbilt - which never trailed - held an eight-point halftime lead and still was ahead, 41-35, with 5:18 remaining. But Auburn (20-11) went on a 6-0 spurt - with DeWanna Bonner scoring all six points - to tie the game at 41-41 with two minutes left in the game.

Christina Wirth then made a jumper to put Vanderbilt back in front, and after Auburn made one foul shot to cut the deficit to one, Amber Norton and Mooney each made a pair of free throws to put the Commodores up, 47-42, with 23 seconds to play.

Bonner scored 23 points to lead the Tigers, who shot 29 percent (14-of-49) from the floor and missed all 13 of their 3-point attempts. Auburn also was just 16-of-27 from the free-throw line.