ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – On the final day of the 2021 Paradise Jam, Vanderbilt was outlasted by DePaul down the stretch Saturday afternoon. The Blue Demons defeated the Commodores 91-74.
The first half belonged to the Commodores (4-4) albeit in a very tight game.
A 6-0 Vandy run from Jordyn Cambridge and Brinae Alexander began the contest while the Vandy defense held DePaul scoreless until under the seven-minute mark. A driving layup from Annesah Morrow broke the drought for the Blue Demons (5-2).
The Commodores mounted an 11-0 run during the period which with a Sacha Washington second-chance layup.
The second stanza followed in a similar cadence. Morrow notched the first points, but Cambridge immediately responded for Vanderbilt. The Commodores entered the break leading 44-37 thanks to 12 points from Cambridge and five rebounds from Demi Washington.
However, the tide turned for DePaul in the second half as the Blue Demons proceeded to tie the game around the eight-minute mark. The third period was a back-and-forth affair until Morrow’s layup gave DePaul the lift they needed to close the stanza leading 63-52.
Scoring was sporadic in the third for Vanderbilt but came slightly easier in the final period. The Commodores were able to notch 22 points but DePaul was able to reach the 28 point apex.
The Blue Demons caused 26 Commodore miscues in the game. Vanderbilt’s biggest lead was 17 points in the first period in comparison to DePaul’s 24-point lead in the fourth.
This contest saw seven lead changes and two ties.
Vandy was led by Cambridges’ 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. She was one of three Commodores to score in double digits along with Sacha Washington and Iyana Moore. Sacha Washington notched her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while adding three assists, a steal and drawing seven fouls.
Moore contributed 13 points to the Vanderbilt effort.
The Commodores tallied 40 points in the paint, 25 fast break points and 40 points from the bench.
DePaul was led by the duo of Morrow and Morris. Morris concluded the game with 36 points, four assists, six rebounds and two steals. Morrow’s double-double of 28 points and 15 rebounds paced the Blue Demons as well.
Cambridge was named to the All-Tournament team.
Vanderbilt returns to Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday to take on Chattanooga at 7 p.m.
