Texas A&M guard Courtney Walker (33) gets by a diving Tennessee guard Taber Spani (13) during the first half of their NCAA basketball game Saturday in the Southeastern Conference tournament in Duluth, Ga.DULUTH, Ga. – Courtney Williams’ jumper with 33 seconds remaining gave No. 19 Texas A&M the lead and the Aggies held on to beat ninth-ranked Tennessee 66-62 in the Southeastern conference semifinals Saturday, ending the Lady Vols’ bid for a fourth straight championship.
Courtney Walker had 18 points to lead four scorers in double figures for Texas A&M (23-9), which will face either Kentucky or Georgia on Sunday for the championship.
Taber Spani had a career-high 33 points for top-seeded Tennessee (24-7), the SEC’s regular-season champion. The Aggies, the No. 4 seed, are playing in their first SEC tournament.
Spani’s last basket tied the game at 62 before Williams gave the Aggies the lead following a Tennessee timeout with only her second basket of the game.
Kamiko Williams’ driving attempt for the Lady Vols bounced off the rim and Walker made two free throws with 6 seconds remaining to pad the lead.