By: Sean Cartell
Twitter: @SEC_Sean
SEC Digital Network
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DULUTH, Ga. - Tiffany Clarke scored 14 points and Christina Foggie added 12 to lead seventh-seeded Vanderbilt to a 53-40 win against 10th-seeded Missouri on Thursday at the Southeastern Conference Tournament in the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Vanderbilt advances to face second-seeded Kentucky (25-4) on Friday at 6 p.m. ET on SportSouth.
The Commodores (20-10) notched their 14th consecutive 20-win season with the victory on Thursday, also marking the 14th consecutive year that Vanderbilt will appear in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals.
Clarke turned in a double-double with 11 rebounds to complement her 14 points. Foggie went 4-of-7 from the floor, including three three-pointers, for her 12 points. It was a balanced scoring effort for Vanderbilt, which saw six different players score five or more points in the game.
Missouri (17-14) was led by Liz Smith’s game-high 16 points and team-high eight rebounds.
MISSOURI NOTES
• Missouri is now 17-14 overall, after dropping its inaugural SEC Tournament game.
• Missouri’s first SEC Tournament basket was scored by senior center Liz Smith at the 19:10 mark of the first half.
• Smith scored 16 points, her 11th game in double-figures this season.
• Smith was the leading scorer for the third time this season.
• Sophomore guard Morgan Eye pulled down seven rebounds, tying a career high achieved on three previous occasions.
• The Tigers won the battle of points in the paint, 20-16.
VANDERBILT NOTES
• Vanderbilt improves to 20-10 for the season, the Commodores’ 14th-straight 20-win season. VU also improves to 2-0 all-time against Missouri with both wins coming this season.
• The Commodores advance to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament for the 14th consecutive season.
• Vanderbilt is 45-27 all-time in the SEC Tournament.
• Tonight marks Vanderbilt’s third win of the season when trailing at halftime (3-8).
• The Commodores’ 53 points were a season-low in a winning effort and the first time they won a game this season when scoring fewer than 59 points.
• Missouri’s 40 points were the fewest allowed to an SEC opponent by Vanderbilt this season.
• The Tigers’ 45 field goal attempts tied for the fewest by a Vanderbilt opponent this year.
• Senior forward Tiffany Clarke recorded her ninth double-double of the season and 21st of her career with a team-leading 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• VU won the rebounding battle, 39-34, and second-chance points, 15-7.
• Vanderbilt converted for 20 points off of 20 Missouri turnovers.