KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Coach Holly Warlick finally encountered a team that has faced more injury problems than her own team.
Meighan Simmons scored 17 points and was one of five Tennessee players to reach double figures Sunday as the 12th-ranked Lady Volunteers defeated injury-riddled Vanderbilt 83-64 to clinch their 37th consecutive season with at least 20 victories.
Tennessee (20-5, 11-1 SEC) hasn’t failed to win at least 20 games since going 16-11 in 1975-76. This latest victory gave Tennessee a half-game lead in the SEC standings over No. 11 Texas A&M (20-5, 10-1), which hosts No. 9 Kentucky (22-3, 10-2) on Monday.
“[Vanderbilt’s] lost some key players, and I understand it because we have, too,” Warlick said.
Tennessee lost guard Andraya Carter to a season ending shoulder injury in December and is currently playing without starting center Isabelle Harrison, who underwent knee surgery last month. Vanderbilt (16-9, 6-6) is playing without three players projected before the season as starters.
The Commodores played a second straight game without 2011-12 SEC scoring leader Christina Foggie, who injured her right knee last weekend against Kentucky.
Vanderbilt guard Kady Schrann missed her third consecutive game with an ankle injury.
Vanderbilt has played the entire season without center Stephanie Holzer, who dislocated a knee in a preseason exhibition.
Vanderbilt got more bad news Sunday when starting forward Tiffany Clarke got sick at halftime and didn’t play in the second half after scoring seven points and pulling down five rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
Ariel Massengale scored 14 points, Bashaara Graves had 13 points and Jasmine Jones and Taber Spani each added 12 points for Tennessee, which shot 55 percent (33 of 60) from the floor.
Jasmine Lister matched a career high with 24 points for Vanderbilt (16-9, 6-6), while freshmen Morgan Batey and Heather Bowe each added 10 points.
NO. 13 GEORGIA 62, FLORIDA 57
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Jasmine Hassell scored 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Georgia defeated Florida, ending a streak of nine victories by the home team in the SEC series.
A jumper with 1:56 left by Jasmine James, who had 12 points for the Lady Bulldogs (21-4, 9-3), broke a 55-55 tie, the 10th of the game.
Khaalidah Miller added a three-pointer with 39 seconds remaining to make it 60-55, and James added two free throws at the 6-second mark before the Gators (15-11, 4-8) added a final basket.
Florida led by as many as 12 points, 24-12, in the first half, but Georgia tied it and took a 30-28 lead at halftime.
Jennifer George had 17 points, Jaterra Bonds 14 and Christin Mercer 12 for Florida.
NO. 16 SOUTH CAROLINA 62, MISSISSIPPI 47
OXFORD, Miss. - Ashley Bruner had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and South Carolina rediscovered its defense in a SEC victory over Mississippi.
The Gamecocks (21-5, 9-4) held the Rebels (9-16, 2-10) to 31.4-percent shooting (16 of 51), including just 21.4 percent (6 of 28) in the first half, when South Carolina took a 29-15 lead.
Tiffany Mitchell scored 13 of her 15 points for South Carolina in the opening half. Valencia McFarland scored 16 points and Tia Faleru 14 for Mississippi.
SEC women
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Arkansas 61, Missouri 40 Georgia 62, Florida 57 LSU 63, Mississippi State 41 South Carolina 62, Mississippi 47 Tennessee 83, Vanderbilt 64 Auburn 70, Alabama 53
TODAY’S GAME - All times Central
Kentucky at Texas A&M, 6 p.m.
SEC men
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Arkansas 73, Missouri 71 Tennessee 88, Kentucky 58 Florida 83, Auburn 52 Alabama 68, South Carolina 58 LSU 80, Mississippi State 68 Vanderbilt 63, Texas A&M 56 Mississippi 84, Georgia 74, OT
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/18/2013