Nov. 10, 2012
Box Score | 
AP Photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 16/17 Vanderbilt won its sixth-straight season-opener Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gym over the McNeese State Cowgirls, 82-71.
Senior Tiffany Clarke led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting to lead Vanderbilt (1-0) past a feisty McNeese State (0-1) squad.
The 24 points for Clarke were just three points shy of her career-high, while she also added a game-high eight rebounds.
Christina Foggie was the only other Commodore in double-figures, as she finished with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from beyond the three-point line.
Two Commodores finished with nine points, led by Jasmine Lister, who finished with a game-high 10 assists and was one point shy of a double-double, as she finished with nine points and also added five rebounds. Elan Brown added nine points and five rebounds.
Vanderbilt shot 53 percent from the floor, while holding McNeese State to 41 percent. The Commodores outrebounded the Cowgirls, 37-28, while also picking up 20 assists compared to only 11 for McNeese State.
McNeese State was dominated in the paint by Vanderbilt as the Commodores outscored the Cowgirls, 44-24, inside the paint. Vanderbilt’s stingy defense also held McNeese State without a single fast break point.
For the Cowgirls, Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett each scored 20 points in the game. Arianna James chipped in 12 points and four rebounds.
At the half, Vanderbilt held a five-point lead, 41-36. The Commodores were lead by Clarke’s 10 points. She was the lone Commodore in double-figures at the half. Foggie, Lister, Brown and Bowe each had six points, apiece.
As a team, Vanderbilt shot 53.6 percent from the field, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. McNeese State shot 50 percent from the field, including 5-of-12 from behind the three-point line.
The Commodores lead the rebounding battle at half, 16-11, while also forcing 12 Cowgirl turnovers.
Caitlyn Baggett lead all scorers with 11 points in the first half for the Cowgirls on an efficient 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Vanderbilt will make the short drive over to Lipscomb on Monday to take on the Bison, with tipoff at 7:15 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN3.com and on the WatchESPN app.
