Nov. 9, 2010
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Game Highlights | Balcomb, Players Press Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Buoyed by Christina Foggie’s 27 points and Elan Brown’s 21 points, Vanderbilt wrapped up exhibition play on Tuesday with a 90-61 win over Union at Memorial Gym.
For the second straight game Vanderbilt started slow from the field before catching fire late. The Commodores started just 1-of-13 from the field as Union built a 14-5 lead with 11:58 to play in the first half. The slow start was reminiscent of last year’s exhibition game against Union in which the Commodores trailed by 13 in the first half before coming back.
“They’re really well coached and they were real prepared like they were last year,” Head Coach Melanie Balcomb said. “To see a team disguising their defenses and sagging and switching, playing some zone and some man, we got too focused on what they were doing instead of what we needed to do.”
Facing a nine-point deficit, Vanderbilt went on a 23-0 run and took a 28-14 lead with 5:47 to play in the half. Vanderbilt’s run was triggered by the play off the bench by Brown, who hit all four of her three-point attempts in the first half and started the game 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Christina Foggie would score eight of her team-high 16 first half points in the final 5:47.
After trailing by nine, Vanderbilt outscored Union 41-12 over the final 11:33 of the first half and took a 46-26 lead into intermission. Vanderbilt outscored Union’s bench 24-0 in the first half and scored 20 points of nine Union turnovers.
Vanderbilt started the second half much the same way it ended the first half by scoring 19 of the first 21 points of the half to take a 37-point lead, 65-28, with 13:39 to play.
Union would cut into Vanderbilt’s lead by going on a 17-5 run of its own make the score, 70-45, with 8:31 to play, but that would be as close as the Lady Bulldogs would get.
The Commodores shot 52.6 percent from the field, compared to 41.2 percent by Union. Vanderbilt outrebounded Union 41-23 and outscored the Lady Bulldogs’ bench 39-8.
Individually, Foggie made 9-of-14 shots, including 7-of-11 three-pointers. Brown finished 7-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Also finishing in double figures was Jasmine Lister, who scored 10 points.
With the win, the Commodores concluded their exhibition season with a 2-0 record. Vanderbilt’s wins came against the winningest Division II program (Delta State) and NAIA program (Union) in the country. Union was playing its third game in four days and had lost at Tennessee Sunday, 86-53.
Vanderbilt will open its season at 2 p.m. Sunday when the Commodores host Howard.
