Dec. 7, 2010
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Season Stats | 
Highlights | Press Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Senior forward Hannah Tuomi poured in a career-high 29 points and Head Coach Melanie Balcomb picked up her 200th win at Vanderbilt as the Commodores snapped a two-game losing streak with an 81-68 win over Southern Illinois Tuesday at Memorial Gym.
The Commodores improved to 5-0 at home this season and 5-3 overall, but it did not come easily. Southern Illinois, 1-7, was able to cut an 18-point second-half lead to two before the Commodores went on a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 11 with 6:51 to play. Southern Illinois was unable to cut into Vanderbilt’s lead from that point on.
Tuomi scored 22 of her 29 points in the second half and stood at the free-throw line with 13 seconds to play just two points shy of Vanderbilt’s first 30-point game since Carla Thomas in 2006. She made the first free throw before the second one rimmed out.
“She was the one who played angry for 40 minutes because she was upset losing in front of her crowd in Denver and it hurt her and affected her the most,” Balcomb said. “She played one of the best games I’ve ever seen her play.”
Tuesday’s win improved Vanderbilt to 10-1 all-time against SIU and came in the midst of a five-day stretch in which the Commodores play three games.
Also scoring in double figures were Jasmine Lister, who scored 14 and Jence Rhoads, who added 11.
Holding a 38-25 lead at the break, Vanderbilt scored the first five points of the second half to take its largest lead of the game to that point, 43-25, with 18:14 to play.
However, SIU would not go down without a fight. With Vanderbilt holding a 16-point lead, 51-35, with 13:55 to play, the Salukis would go on a 16-2 run to pull within two, 53-51, with 8:47 to play. The two-point margin was the closest since Vanderbilt led 7-6 with 14:55 to play in the first half. SIU would not get any closer as Vanderbilt rallied behind the play of Tuomi.
Vanderbilt held a 7-6 lead with 14:55 to play in the first half before going on a 10-0 run to extend its lead to 11, 17-6, with 10:37 to play. The Commodores would extend its run to 16-3 to take a 23-9 lead with 8:38 to play.
Vanderbilt led by as many as 15 points in the first half, but Southern Illinois was able to keep the game within reach by making 5-of-12 three-pointers (41.7%) after entering the game shooting just 21.4 percent from long range.
Vanderbilt made a season low three three-pointers, but also committed a season-low eight turnovers.
Balcomb, who is 200-75 in nine seasons, became the third coach in school history to reach 200 wins at the school.
Vanderbilt will return to the floor on Thursday when UT Martin visits Memorial Gym for a 7 p.m. tip.
