Vandy drops LSU from SEC Tournament
DULUTH, Ga. -- Fifth-seeded Vanderbilt overcame an early 12-point deficit and then held on despite three missed free throws from Meredith Marsh in the waning seconds as fourth-seeded LSU was eliminated from the 2010 Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals by a score of 63-61 on Friday night at the Gwinnett Center.

The Lady Tigers (20-9) now await an NCAA Tournament bid when the bracket is unveiled on Monday, March 15 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. LSU is seeking an NCAA Tournament berth for the 12th straight season and the 20th time overall.

LSU, ranked 21st in the Associated Press poll, failed to reach the semifinals of the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2001. The Lady Tigers had advanced to the semis eight straight seasons. It was also the first time LSU lost its first game in the SEC Tournament since 2000.

"We scored enough points to win tonight," LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. "Sixty-one points should have won. They outcoached us tonight, out-hustled us and outplayed us. They did everything you ought to do. I have to get our players to realize that every possesion counts. I've struggled all year to get them to quit fouling jump shooters. We can't keep our focus. This is what we have struggled with all year."

Allison Hightower led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting, while Katherine Graham tallied her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Destini Hughes dished out six assists and LaSondra Barrett scored nine points prior to fouling out with 5:05 left in the game.

Marsh and Hannah Tuomi led Vanderbilt with 17 points apiece. Tuomi took over in the second half as the Commodores outscored LSU 24-22 in the paint, despite surrendering 21 points off turnovers.

LSU seemed to be well on its way to another semifinal appearance. Following a 3-pointer from Marsh to start the game, the Lady Tigers responded with 15 unanswered points. Hightower put in a mid-range jumper to lift the lead to double-digits and Taylor Turnbow's shot off the glass culminated the spurt.

Vanderbilt battled all the way back and tied the game at 22 apiece on a jumper from Tuomi with 4:58 left in the first half. The Commodores took a 32-30 advantage into the locker room as Hughes pulled LSU to within two on a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left.

Vanderbilt pushed the lead to eight four minutes into the second stanza on a 3-pointer from Marsh. However, the Lady Tigers rallied to tie the game and then take the lead on back-to-back tough buckets in the paint from Hightower with 12:43 to go. LSU led 42-40 and a Courtney Jones trey from the top of the key made it 45-42 in favor of the Lady Tigers.

Vanderbilt held a four-point lead in the final minute when Marsh, defended well by Hughes, tossed in a baseline jumper to make it 63-59 Commodores. Turnbow on the other end laid in a putback on a Graham miss as LSU kept it a one-possession game, 63-61, with 20 seconds left.

Marsh, one of the SEC's top free throw shooters, missed a free throw. Graham then drove the length of the floor and missed a layup off the back iron that would have tied it with six seconds to play.

Marsh was fouled again by LSU and the door was left open once more as she missed both shots. Hightower's desperation halfcourt heave was no good and Vanderbilt eliminated LSU for the second straight year.