Nov. 23, 2017
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Commodores had a fast start and kept the pedal to the metal and picked up their first win of the season with a 69-59 win over George Washington in the first game of the Paradise Jam on Thanksgiving Day. Chelsie Hall, for the second consecutive game, led the team in points with 18 points while Erin Whalen tallied a season-best eight rebounds.
The Skinny
Date: Nov. 23, 2017
Time: 12:30 PM CT
Place: Washington, D.C. (Davis Center)
Records: Vanderbilt (1-4), George Washington (2-3)
At The Top of the Charts
Points: Chelsie Hall – 18 pts
Rebounds: Erin Whalen – 8 rebounds
Assists: Clemons-Green – 4 assists
Steals: Chelsie Hall – 4 steals
How It Happened
First Quarter: George Washington 17, Vanderbilt 13
The Commodores scored the first points of the game – for the first time this season – on a bucket underneath from Autumn Newby but the Colonials responded with a trey to gain the early advantage. GW took a 12-7 lead – the largest of the quarter before a bucket from Walker stopped the momentum. The score see-sawed before the Colonials took a 17-13 lead at the quarter break
Second Quarter: Vanderbilt 32, George Washington 24
The Commodores started the second half with some momentum coming in the form of sophomore Erin Whalen who dialed up two triples to help the Commodores to a five-point lead early – its largest lead this season. The home team was able to cut back with a 4-0 spurt forcing White to call a timeout midway through the quarter. The timeout proved to be a great call as the Dores went on a 9-0 run over the final 3:45 sparked by back-to-back treys from Whalen to take a 34-24 lead into the halftime break for their first halftime lead of the season.
Third Quarter: Vanderbilt 60, George Washington 39
The Commodores extended their lead to 11 points with a trey from Chelsie Hall at the 9:23 mark which gave her 11 points for her second straight game in double figures and Vanderbilt was able to keep the pedal to the metal with a game-high 26 points in the quarter to take a 21-point lead into the fourth and final quarter. Whalen had a career night with four triples on the afternoon, besting her previous career-best of three.
Fourth Quarter: Vanderbilt 69, George Washington 59
Vanderbilt maintained its lead out of the third quarter and was highlighted by the play of freshman Chelsie Hall who posted 12 points in the second half.The Colonials tried to whittle the lead to double digits and outscored the Dores 20-9 in the fourth quarter but the Dores made buckets when they needed them to keep George Washington at bay.
The Commodores posted their best shooting percentage to date, shooting 51.9 percent (27-of-52) for the contest with three players in double figures. The Commodores struggled to close the game going scoreless from the field in the final 4:06 but they were able to convert at the line to come away with their first win of the season.
Inside the Lane
-Today was the fifth meeting between Vanderbilt and George Washington, the last time the two teams met was during the 1999-00 season and the last time they met in DC was in 1998-99.
– This weekend’s tournament is part of the 2017 Paradise Jam that was relocated to Washington D.C., when hurricanes devastated the Virgin Islands.
– The Commodores scored the first bucket of the game for the first time this season.
– Vanderbilt’s 10-point halftime lead is the largest lead for the Commodores all season and the seven points George Washington scored in the second quarter are the fewest allowed all season
– Erin Whalen posted a career-best four three-pointers besting her previous career high of three set against Tennessee Tech last season.
– Chelsie Hall and Cierra Walker became the first Commodores with back-to-back double figure contests this season.
– Cierra Walker tied her career-best with six rebounds.
Stats of the Game
-The Commodores outscored the Colonials, 21-7 in the second quarter. The seven George Washington points are the fewest in a quarter for an opponent all season.
-The Vanderbilt bench outscored the Colonials bench, 36-11.
Up Next
The Commodores are back in action at the Paradise Jam on Friday when they take on Syracuse at 2:30 PM CT from George Washington’s Davis Center.
Next Five Games
Nov. 24 – vs. Syracuse, 2:30 PM^
Nov. 25- vs. Wisconsin, 12:00 PM^
Nov. 29 – at St. Louis, 7 pm
Dec. 2 – vs. Iowa State, 3 pm*
Dec. 7 – at Louisville, 6 pm
^- Paradise Jam (Washington, D.C.)
*-Big 12/SEC Challenge
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.
