Vanderbilt led for all but three minutes and upset the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team 78-70 on Thursday night inside Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn.
It was only the Commodores’ second SEC win this season and handed the Razorbacks a damaging loss for their NCAA Tournament resume.
Arkansas (18-8, 5-6 SEC) struggled offensively to find much balance, with Makayla Daniels, Chrissy Carr and Erynn Barnum combining for all but nine of the team’s points.
Vanderbilt (11-14, 2-9 SEC), which has only eight players available due to injuries, had four players score in double figures.
The Razorbacks had not lost to a team rated lower than themselves in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings prior to Thursday. Vanderbilt entered rated No. 110, which was 76 spots below Arkansas.
The Commodores established control of the game early by way of the three-point shot. Vanderbilt went 7 of 15 in the first half from deep, opposed to Arkansas’ 3 of 13 mark. Marnelle Garraud, who made 7 three-pointers against the Razorbacks in the teams’ previous meeting, made four shots behind the arc before intermission.
Garraud’s third three-pointer put Vanderbilt ahead 18-9 with 4:06 left in the first quarter, a deficit Arkansas worked to shrink before halftime. Daniels carried the Razorbacks with 15 first-half points and was aggressive drawing fouls while going to the rim.
Vanderbilt committed 10 fouls in the first half. Sacha Washington and Yaubryon Chambers, the only two Commodores listed as forwards, each committed three fouls before half, and Arkansas narrowed the gap to 37-32.
The Commodores extended their lead to seven points in the third quarter’s early stages, but Daniels and Carr helped Arkansas crawl back. Carr scored nine points in the third quarter to chip away at the lead, then Daniels hit a step-back three to put the Razorbacks ahead 47-46 with 3:48 to play in the period.
It was Arkansas’ last advantage. Vanderbilt closed the period on a 9-2 run to enter the fourth quarter ahead 55-49.
The Commodores took their largest lead of the game, 61-51, midway through the fourth quarter, but Daniels stayed determined to keep Arkansas in the game. She scored eight points and helped the Razorbacks draw within 66-64 with 2:26 left, but once again Vanderbilt responded.
Coach Shea Ralph’s team closed the game on a 12-6 run to finish off the Razorbacks. Garraud’s 19 points led the way for Vanderbilt, with Ciaja Harbison and Washington both adding 16 points.
Daniels finished with 31 points, a season high, but it was not enough to overcome the balance of Vanderbilt.
Arkansas is scheduled to host Missouri on Sunday at 2 p.m.