Dec. 7, 2017
Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | Press Conference (Video)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rachel Bell had a team-best 21 points and Chelsie Hall added 16 points but the Commodores couldn’t complete the upset of No. 4/5 Louisville falling 79-57 in Louisville on Thursday night.
The Skinny
Date: Dec. 7, 2017
Time: 6:00 PM CT/7:00 PM ET
Place: Louisville, Ky. (KFC Yum! Center)
Records: Vanderbilt (3-7), No. 4/5 Louisville (10-0)
At The Top of the Charts
Points: Rachel Bell – 18
Rebounds: Autumn Newby – 9
Assists: Four with 2
Steals: Erin Whalen – 2
How It Happened
First Quarter: Vanderbilt 24, Louisville 20
The Cardinals opened the game with a 7-3 spurt before Rachel Bell went to work. She scored five unanswered and at the media timeout had nine of the Vanderbilt’s 11 points. The Commodores clamped down on the defensive end and were able to limit second change points for the Cardinals. Vanderbilt dug in after the media timeout and on the strength of five points from Bell and some timely rebounding tied the game at 14 at the 3:36 mark before closing the half with 10 points, four of them coming at the charity stripe from Bell. Chelsie Hall put an exclamation point with a bucket at the close of the quarter. The Commodores shot 62 percent for the quarter and Bell led the way with 14 first-quarter points.
Second Quarter: Louisville 42, Vanderbilt 33
Owning a four-point lead to open the second quarter, the Commodores continued to keep the momentum and took advantage of Louisville turnovers. The Dores, who were hot from the floor to open the game, cooled off in the second quarter, shooting just 33.3 percent (4-of-12) and scoring nine points in the quarter. Cierra Walker was a bright spot, coming in off the bench and nailing a crucial three-pointer midway through the quarter. Louisville closed the half on 16-2 run over the final five minutes to come from five down to leading 42-33 at the break. Points in the paint and rebounding were important but two areas in which the Cardinals held a significant advantage, with an 18-8 edge in the paint and an 18-10 advantage on the glass.
Third Quarter: Louisville 67, Vanderbilt 37
The Commodores couldn’t regain much of the Louisville momentum and didn’t find their first basket of the second half until the 3:13 mark on a triple from Bell but the home team took a commanding, 55-33 lead at the media timeout. Chelsie Hall continues to be a spark for Vanderbilt, registering 16 points for her fourth consecutive game in double figures.
Fourth Quarter: Louisville 79, Vanderbilt 57
After a tough third quarter from the floor, Vanderbilt responded with 12-2 spurt to open the fourth quarter, sparked by a triple from sophomore Erin Whalen. Despite trailing the Commodores continued to play and were able to cut back into the Louisville lead. Kayla Overbeck, who had two points through the third quarter, responded with six points in the fourth quarter and the team responded from an 11.1 percent shooting outing in the third quarter with a .462 outing in the fourth while outscoring the Cardinals 20-12.
Inside the Lane
-Today was the 14th meeting between the Commodores and Cardinals. Vanderbilt holds an 8-6 advantage but the Cardinals have won the last three meetings between the teams. This was also the first meeting in Louisville since 2002-03. Vanderbilt is 2-3 in Louisville.
-Vanderbilt moves to 0-1 against ranked opponents in its first of seven opportunities this season.
-Autumn Newby tallied nine rebounds and was just one shy of her third straight game with double figure rebounds.
-For the eighth game this season the Vanderbilt bench outscored their opponents, 19-13.
Stat of The Game
Rachel Bell and Chelsea Hall accounted for 28 of Vanderbilt’s 33 points in the first half.
Up Next
The Commodores open up a four-game home stretch on Saturday, Dec. 16 when they welcome Memphis to Memorial Gym. Tipoff is set for 6 PM CT.
Next Five Games
Dec. 16 – vs. Memphis, 6 pm
Dec. 19 – vs. NC State, 5 pm
Dec. 21 – Belmont, 12 pm
Dec. 28 – Lipscomb, 7 pm
Dec. 31 – at LSU, 3 pm*
*-SEC Opener
All game times CENTRAL
Keep Up with the Commodores
For more information on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team check them out on the website at www.vucommodores.com , Twitter at @VandyWBB., Instagram at @VandyWBB and on Facebook at Vandy Hoops.
