Ames, Iowa ? Vanderbilt relied on its two strengths, defense and Chantelle Anderson, to move within one game of the women’s Final Four.

Anderson had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and top-seeded Vanderbilt slowed one of the nation’s highest-scoring teams in beating fourth-seeded North Carolina 70-61 Saturday in a Midwest Regional semifinal.

Vanderbilt (30-6) held on after losing most of a 13-point halftime lead and moved into Monday night’s regional final against Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee, the No. 2 seed.

Tennessee, which split two regular-season games with Vanderbilt, advanced with a 68-57 victory over 11th-seeded Brigham Young.

Vanderbilt led most of the game, but North Carolina (26-9) never let the Commodores get comfortable until the final two minutes, even though the Tar Heels fell well below their 80.5 scoring average.

Vanderbilt has held its first three NCAA Tournament opponents to an average of 44.7 points.

Tennessee 68, Brigham Young 57

Freshman Shyra Ely made sure Tennessee got past the third round of the NCAA tournament.

Ely scored the first 12 points of a game-turning 15-0 run late in the first half and finished with 21 as second-seeded Tennessee beat 11th-seeded Brigham Young in a Midwest Regional semifinal.

Tennessee (28-4) had lost to Xavier in the regional semifinals last year, the Vols’ earliest NCAA tournament exit in seven years.