NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It had never been done before. Perhaps there were few in the annals of Vanderbilt women’s basketball history who deserved it more.
Jordyn Cambridge recorded the first triple-double in Vanderbilt postseason history Wednesday with 15 rebounds, 13 points and 10 assists. It was a stat line that lifted the Commodores to their first SEC Tournament win and cemented Cambridge’s legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats.
The triple-double was also just the second ever in an SEC Tournament game.
“I’m speechless,” Cambridge said in a postgame interview live on SEC Network moments after the final buzzer. “I didn’t know that was the first in (program) history. I mean, that was my first. I’m still thinking about the win right now – my emotions are everywhere honestly.”
Cambridge needed one more assist to reach the milestone in the waning moments of Vanderbilt’s 85-69 win over Texas A&M in the first round of the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena, but Vandy had just 56 seconds left on the clock coming out of a timeout in order for the senior to reach the feat. She was told during the pause of action she needed just that one assist – but she had no idea why.
When the next play started and the senior was trapped at midcourt by the Aggies defense, she looked up and found Brinae Alexander, a childhood friend since the fourth grade. Alexander caught the ball, turned and fired from the left wing with a 3-pointer perhaps as pure as any other shot she has ever had in her career.
“You know that’s fate and destiny and it’s just fun to witness it,” Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph said.
Cambridge’s career has been marred by injuries. Even these days she plays with a massive brace on her left knee. She came into the postseason somewhat hobbled by heavy bruises on her right leg.
But none of those setbacks mattered to a young woman whom Ralph said embodies so much of what Ralph wants Vanderbilt to be and to become.
“I believe that the moment was right for her,” said Ralph, who knows all about severe knee injuries from her playing days at Connecticut. “I have a personal attachment to her story understanding how hard it is to come back from what she’s done and the injuries that she’s sustained. To play the way she plays lets you know how much she loves the game of basketball. It’s hard to not root for a kid like that, right?”
Five of Cambridge’s 10 assists came in the first quarter alone as Vanderbilt was firing on all cylinders and scored 29 points in the first 10 minutes. It was a heavy blow that Texas A&M never truly recovered from.
By the end of the first half Cambridge had tallied seven assists, six rebounds and six points as the Commodores had built a 44-26 advantage.
The Aggies, who ended their season at 14-15, would not go quietly into the night. They kept coming and coming and coming down the stretch and were eventually able to make it a 60-54 game with 8:25 to play.
But Cambridge helped calm the ship and scored nine points in the fourth quarter alone to give her 13 for the game. Having already collected 15 rebounds, she just needed that one last assist for her Vanderbilt and SEC moment in history.
When Alexander’s shot went through the net Cambridge’s teammates – and her head coach – were overcome with jubilation.
“She does everything she’s is supposed to do. You don’t even see the things behind the scenes. You have no idea what it takes for her to be out there every day,” Ralph said. “I have to make her not practice so she that she can ready for us to play games.
“This kid loves to play. She’s soaking up every second. And any time you can get something like that to do something special, that’s a piece of history I want to be a part of.”
The Commodores (14-17) will be looking to create a little more March magic at 2:30 p.m. Thursday when they face fifth-seeded Florida (20-9) in the second round. Cambridge and Vandy beat the Gators six days ago in Memorial Gymnasium.
Now the Dores will try to make it a double over their SEC rivals, an opportunity only afforded because of Cambridge’s triple-double.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
