NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Ciaja Harbison discovered Marnelle Garraud streaking down the court docket for a layup to open the sport towards Kentucky. Demi Washington drained a 3-pointer to attain the ultimate factors for the Commodores.

It was a becoming bookend to a day when Vanderbilt ladies’s basketball celebrated its seniors.

Graduate guards Harbison and Garraud mixed for 47 factors as Vanderbilt used a half-straddling scoring blitz to drag away from the Wildcats in a 79-57 victory on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium.

Vanderbilt (12-16, 3-11 SEC) launched into a 24-2 run bridging the second and third quarters, together with the primary 14 factors of the second half, to take management and transfer forward of Kentucky (10-16, 2-12 SEC) within the SEC standings.

“I do know it has been a yr stuffed with adversity for our group, however that does not outline us,” Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph mentioned. “I feel our response to that defines us, and right this moment they responded rather well within the second half and I’m simply actually comfortable for our seniors that we got here away with a win.”

Harbison completed with a game-high 24 factors on 8 of 17 taking pictures, 5 assists and 4 steals. Garraud scored 18 of her 23 factors within the second half and was 9 of 17 from the sphere. It was the primary time each have scored 20-plus factors in the identical recreation, and each completed with a game-high 5 assists.

Coming off a career-high scoring efficiency towards Alabama, Vandy sophomore Sacha Washington had a season-best rebounding efficiency towards Kentucky. Washington completed with 15 factors and 15 rebounds for her second straight double-double.

The groups performed a low-scoring first half, combining for 26 turnovers and lacking 35 shot makes an attempt. Sacha Washington helped put an finish to a 7-0 Kentucky run within the first quarter by blocking two pictures after which dishing a fairly bounce move to a reducing Harbison for a layup to drag the Dores inside 13-11.

After Kentucky took a six-point lead within the second quarter, Vanderbilt’s offense started to hit its stride. The Commodores ended the half on a 10-2 run to take a 24-22 lead with Harbison and Sacha Washington combining to attain all 10 factors within the run.

Vandy exploded out of the gates within the second half with 14 straight factors to increase the run to 24-2. Garraud launched the outburst with three consecutive layups to start out the third quarter. Garraud completed the quarter with 14 factors on 6 of 9 taking pictures.

The Wildcats lastly halted the run with a free throw by Amiya Jenkins, however Vandy’s offense did not decelerate. The Dores outscored the Wildcats 28-13 within the third quarter for a 52-35 lead.

Vanderbilt’s lead peaked at 30 factors halfway via the fourth quarter. Demi Washington sealed her good 3 for 3 day from the sphere with a 3-pointer that concluded Vandy’s scoring and gave the gang one final probability to salute the seniors.

Vanderbilt scored 26 factors off 22 Kentucky turnovers and restricted the Wildcats to 39 % taking pictures (22 of 56). The Dores shot 46 % (29 of 63), together with 52.8 within the second half, and went 15 of 17 from the free throw line.

“I feel you noticed the 2 completely different groups we could be, and the resilient group that understands how essential it’s to work laborious and talk,” Ralph mentioned. “All of the issues we discuss each single day by way of our course of. These intangible qualities are so essential they usually separate the typical and the great from the good and the elite.”

Senior Second

Vanderbilt honored the group’s seniors earlier than the sport. Yaubryon Chambers, Demi Washington, Harbison and Garraud every obtained a framed jersey, together with an motion photograph, after being escorted onto the ground by relations.

Chambers and Washington have been with this system for 4 seasons whereas Harbison and Garraud are of their first season as Commodores after arriving as graduate transfers.

Vanderbilt additionally acknowledged Kentucky seniors Robyn Benton, Blair Inexperienced and Adebola Adeyeye.

Shoeless Ryanne

Vandy freshman guard Ryanne Allen performed practically a minute of the second quarter with out a shoe. Allen misplaced her proper shoe on the offensive finish of the ground and slipped a bit in her sock as she tried to maneuver. Allen tossed the stray shoe to the sideline and ran again on protection.

The Dores returned to the offensive finish of the ground earlier than the whistle lastly blew for a stoppage of play. Somebody threw Allen’s shoe again to her. She laced it up and remained within the recreation.

Participant Notes

• Garraud has now scored in double figures in 12 straight video games.
• It was the eighth straight contest that Harbison has scored in double digits.
• Sacha Washington reached double figures in rebounding for the fifteenth time in her profession.
• Harbison had dished out no less than 5 assists 14 instances this season, whereas it was the third time that Garraud has achieved the feat.
• The duo even have each completed with a number of steals in back-to-back outings.

Sequence Historical past

Vanderbilt improved its lead within the all-time collection with the Wildcats to 32-27, together with 18-8 at dwelling.

Up Subsequent: Vanderbilt performs host to LSU on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (SEC Community+) in Memorial Gymnasium.