Jan. 11, 2012
Coach Balcomb SEC Teleconference
The No. 25/24 Vanderbilt women’s basketball team (13-2, 1-1 SEC) plays host to Auburn (9-7, 1-2 SEC) on Thursday, January 12. Tipoff at Memorial Gym is set for 8:00 p.m. and the game can be seen on CSS.
Scouting the Commodores
No. 25/24 Vanderbilt will look to win its second-straight game on Thursday, when they play host to Auburn. In their two SEC games, the Commodores have been led by Tiffany Clarke. The junior forward is averaging 16.0 points and 8.5 rebounds through the two league contests and has scored at least 13 points in eight of the last nine SEC games. She recorded her 10th career double-double in the Commodores’ last outing against Ole Miss, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Overall, Vanderbilt has been led by a pair of sophomore guards – Christina Foggie and Jasmine Lister. Foggie leads the team with 16.7 ppg, while Lister adds 12.7 ppg and 5.7 assists per contest. Redshirt sophomore Stephanie Holzeris the other major contributor. The center is posting 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Scouting the Tigers
Auburn comes to West End with a record of 9-7, 1-2 in SEC play under Head Coach Nell Fortner. The Tigers are led by Hasina Muhammad and Tyrese Tanner, who are posting 10.8 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Parrisha Simmons is the top rebounder at 5.8 per contests, while Morgan Jennings runs the point and is dishing out 3.7 assists per game. Auburn’s lone SEC win came in their only road game, a 65-55 win at Alabama sandwiched between home losses to Tennessee (73-52) and Georgia (70-45). In the most recent outing versus Georgia, Muhammad led the way with 15 points, while Blanche Alverson contributed 13 points. The Tigers were outscored in the paint by the Lady Bulldogs, 44-14.
Vanderbilt vs. Auburn – The Series
This will be the 41st meeting in the series between Vanderbilt and Auburn, with the Commodores holding a 24-16 edge in the series. The first meeting was the final game of Vanderbilt’s inaugural season, with the Tigers taking an 88-69 win in Starkeville, Miss. The teams have met every year since 1983. Vanderbilt has taken the last 17 straight contests in the series, including all 14 meetings since Melanie Balcomb took over the program. Last year, the Commodores took a 67-59 win at Memorial Gym. Vandy was led by 22 points from Hannah Tuomi and 16 from Jence Rhoads, with the top returner from the contest being Stephanie Holzer(nine points, eight rebounds). Blanche Alverson led the Tigers with 12 points.
On Deck
Vanderbilt makes its annual trip to Knoxville, Tenn., to face rival Tennessee for the first of two meetings this season on Sunday, January 15. Tipoff at Thompson-Boling Arena is set for 1:00 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on the SEC Network and ESPN3. In Nashville, the game will be aired on WUXP MYTV 30.
