Nov. 2, 2006
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Commodore fans will have their first chance to see the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team Thursday night when Head Coach Melanie Balcomb’s squad makes an exhibition appearance of the 2006-07 preseason at Memorial Gymnasium. The contest against “DT3” is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff.
Balcomb’s Commodores went 21-11 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Five letterwinners are gone from last year’s squad, but Balcomb and her staff welcome the services of six newcomers — including five true freshmen and redshirt Amy Malo, who missed last season due to injury — onto an experienced roster.
A trio of returning seniors who have earned All-Southeastern Conference honors highlight the six returnees. Point guard Dee Davis led the SEC in assists a season ago and is on pace to break Vanderbilt’s career assists mark.
Forward Carla Thomas crossed the 1,000-point plateau midway through last season en route to leading the Commodores in scoring. Shooting guard Caroline Williams is one of the most feared shooters in the country after ranking in the top 10 nationally in both three-pointers made and three-point field goal percentage.
Junior Liz Sherwood, the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year in 2005-06, returns in the post for the Commodores. Sherwood ranked second in the nation in field goal percentage a season ago.
Vanderbilt’s five true freshmen — including local product Jessica Mooney (Hillsboro) — make up one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.
The Commodores were ranked as high as 11th (Street & Smith’s) in preseason publications. The season’s first USA Today ESPN Coaches Poll featured the Commodores at 15th.
Thursday’s game marks the first of two exhibitions contests for the 2006-07 Commodores. Memorial Gym will play host to EA Sports on Monday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. CT.
Vanderbilt will open the regular season with a trip to Big-12 opponent Colorado on Sunday, Nov. 12. The Commodores will then take a short trip up Interstate-65 to face Western Kentucky on Thursday, Nov. 16, before returning home to play host to Dartmouth on Saturday, Nov. 18.
