Dec. 29, 2017
Vanderbilt vs. LSU
Sunday Dec. 31, 2017 | 3 PM | SEC Network
Baton Rouge, La. (Pete Maravich Center)
Complete Game Notes (PDF) | Livestats | SEC Network Stream
Starting Five
1. The Commodores will open the SEC slate on Sunday with a New Year’s Eve afternoon matchup with LSU. Vanderbilt and LSU will tipoff on the SEC Network at 3 pm CT from the Maravich Center in Baton Rouge. Sunday’s game marks the fourth straight year the Commodores have opened league play on the road. The Commodores are looking for their first win in a SEC opener on the road since 2008-09 when they defeated Alabama 85-76.
2. Vanderbilt snapped its four-game losing streak with a 92-82 win over backyard foe Lipscomb on Thursday. For the second consecutive game freshman Chelsie Hall led the offense with 17 points while Kayla Overbeck recorded her first double-double of the season and the eighth of her career with 15 points and 13 rebounds. The win kept the Commodores perfect in the all-time series with Lipscomb, giving Vanderbilt a 16-0 series advantage.
3. Sunday’s matchup with LSU will mark the first time the two teams have opened the SEC slate against each other. The Commodores are in search of their first win in Baton Rouge since the 2003-04 season when they posted a 61-55 win over the Tigers. Despite not winning in Baton Rouge since 2003-04, the Commodores have a 6-4 advantage in the last 10 games. Sundays’ game will be the lone regular-season meeting between the teams this season.
4. Kayla Overbeck, who started her second game of the season against Lipscomb, had somewhat of a coming out party. The California native posted her first double-double of the season with a season-high 15 points and 13 rebounds. It was her eighth career double-double. Overbeck has been in double figures each of the last 10 games and is averaging 12 points per game in that span, compared to the 6.6 points per game she was averaging entering the NC State game.
5. For just the fifth time this season the Commodores debuted a new lineup against Lipscomb. Kayla Overbeck earned her second start this season replacing Cierra Walker, who was starting in place of injured Kaleigh Clemons-Green. The lineup of Chelsie Hall, Rachel Bell, Christa Reed, Autumn Newby and Kaleigh Clemons-Green has played together in nine games and is 3-6. Chelsie Hall, Rachel Bell and Christa Reed have started each game this season.
Setting the Scene
-The Commodores open SEC play on Sunday with a New Year’s Eve afternoon matchup with LSU in Baton Rouge. The Commodores and Tigers square off at 3 pm CT on the SEC Network with Melissa Lee and Nell Fortner on the call.
Last Time Out
-Vanderbilt snapped its four-game losing streak with a come-from-behind, 92-82, win over backyard foe, Lipscomb on Thursday. Chelsie Hall led the offense with 17 points while Kayla Overbeck picked up her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
-Vanderbilt had six players in double figures against the Lady Bisons. It’s the most players in double figures for Vanderbilt this season and the most since the Dores had six in double figures against Alabama during the 2008-09 season.
-The win gave the Commodores their 16th consecutive win over the Lady Bisons. Vanderbilt has never lost a game to Lipscomb.
Scouting Report
-LSU enters Sunday’s season-opener with a 8-3 record and a six-game winning streak after a 71-58 win over Sam Houston State on Wednesday. The Tigers are led by Raigyne Louis who is averaging 15.9 points per game, while Chloe Jackson is averaging 14.9 points per game. Louis is also controlling the boards with a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game.
-The teams have two common opponents in Saint Louis and Tulane. The Tigers picked up wins over both the Bilikens and Green Wave while the Vanderbilt split with a win over Saint Louis and a loss to Tulane.
With A Win
-The Commodores will move to 5-10 on the season and will win their SEC opener for the first time since the 2013-14 season when they defeated No. 19 Georgia 66-58 on Jan. 2. It will also be the first win in an SEC road opener since 2008.
-Give Vanderbilt back-to-back wins for the second time this season and move the Dores to 27-20 in the all-time series with the Tigers.
SEC Play on Deck
Sunday’s game is the SEC opener for both teams. Vanderbilt is looking for its first win in an SEC opener in the last four years and is looking for its first win in Baton Rouge since the 2004-04 season. Vanderbilt is 22-13 all-time in SEC openers and is 7-12 in SEC road openers. Sundays’ road opener will be the fourth straight year Vanderbilt has opened SEC play on the road.
Hall Leads the Way
Freshman Chelsie Hall is a freshman making an impact. Hall is one of three players that have started each game this season with the others being seniors Rachel Bell and Christa Reed. The Florida native is Vanderbilt’s second-leading scorer with 13.4 points per game. Hall has reached double figures in nine games and has scored 15 or more on seven occasions. Hall’s 13.4 points per game is second among SEC freshmen.
Kayla Overbeck Heating Up
Kayla Overbeck is playing her best basketball of the season right now. The sophomore SEC All-Freshman team selection a year ago, has posted double figures in the last three games and tallied her first double-double of the season with a season-best 15 points and 13 rebounds. In the last three games, Overbeck is averaging 12.0 points per game, nearly double the 6.6 she was averaging entering the NC State game. Additionally, Overbeck has grabbed a rebound in each of the last 11 games and is averaging 4.5 rebounds per game.
Newby With Career Night
Autumn Newby picked up her second game in double figures with a career-high 16 points against Lipscomb to go along with a career-best five assists. Newby is Vanderbilt’s leading rebounder with 6.9 rebounds per game.
Six Double Up vs. Lipscomb
For the first time this season, Vanderbilt had more than five players in double figures against Lipscomb. The Commodores had six players in double-figures led by 17 from Chelsie Hall. Joining Hall in double figures was Kayla Overbeck (15), Autumn Newby (16), Christa Reed (15), Rachel Bell (10), Erin Whalen (10). The last time Vanderbilt had six players in double figures was in 2009 against Alabama – an 85-76 Vanderbilt win.
Fillin’ Up the Stat Sheet
Vanderbilt exploded for its best offensive night of the season with a season-best 92 points. The Dores are averaging 70.8 points per game and this year and prior to the Lipscomb game hadn’t scored more than 79 points.
Big RPI Opportunities on Tap for Dores Entering SEC action
The Commodores, who are looking to climb the RPI rankings, will open SEC action at LSU who is currently No. 55 in the RPI rankings. According to RealTimeRPI, the Commodores strength of schedule is in the top 25 and one of the toughest schedule in the SEC.
Hittin’ the SEC Road Circuit
Vanderbilt will open the SEC road schedule on Sunday. The LSU game marks the first of eight SEC road games this season. The Dores will be at home five times in January but will close the season with four of its last six games coming in the form of road contests. The Dores hope to turn the tide on the road this season as they have sported a 25-46 SEC road record over the last nine seasons and a 49-64 overall road record in the same span. The last time Vanderbilt had a winning road record in SEC play was 2010-11.
