NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team moved to 3-0 on the year, as the Commodores picked up a 73-70 victory over Fairfield on Sunday at Memorial Gymnasium.
Junior Iyana Moore scored a season-high 25 points and hit three 3-pointers for the second-straight contest, while junior Sacha Washington recorded a double-double for the second-consecutive game by scoring 20 points and pulling down a career-best 17 rebounds. Washington flirted with her first career triple-double, as she dished out a career-best seven assists against the Stags. Graduate student Jordyn Cambridge also recorded double-digit points for the Dores with a 12-point effort.
Vanderbilt held a 14-point lead going into the fourth quarter at 59-45 but had to withstand a late rally from Fairfield. Washington nailed a jump shot to put the Commodores up 67-54 with 5:45 left to play. After Washington’s bucket, the Stags went on a 16-4 run to pull to within a point of the Dores at 71-70 with 1:07 remaining in the contest.
The Commodore defense stood tall in the final minute of play, as Vanderbilt kept Fairfield off the scoreboard down the stretch. Washington would extend Vandy’s lead to three at 73-70 after making a pair of clutch free throws with two seconds on the clock. Cambridge would seal the deal for the Dores on the ensuing possession, as she collected a steal to secure a three-point win.
The Commodores collected 15 steals in the contest and forced Fairfield into 26 turnovers, which led to 21 points for Vandy. The Dores also pulled down 17 offensive rebounds, which led to 19-5 advantage in second chance points.
Coach Ralph on the Win
“We felt like our length and athleticism could help us turn them over, and it did. However, what we need to take away from this game is number one, we have to get more than 21 points off 26 turnovers, and number two, it cannot be either turn them over or give them a wide-open shot. That can’t be who we are. Obviously, we were not our best in that area today, but I’ll take that with a win all day long. We were still able to walk off our home court with a hard-fought victory.”
Dore Notes
- Sacha Washington registered her 15th career double-double finishing with 20 points and 17 rebounds to register her first 20-point, 15+ rebound game of her career
- Today’s performance is the fourth time in Washington’s career with a double-double in back-to-back games (2.16.23 at Alabama; 26 points, 11 rebounds and 2.19.23 vs. Kentucky; 15 points and 15 rebounds)
- Washington marked career highs in rebounds (17), free throws attempted (14), free throws made (10) and assists (seven)
- Iyana Moore hit three threes in today’s game. This is the third time in her career hitting at least three from deep in back-to-back games. Last season, the junior made at least three threes in four consecutive games, a career-best
- Moore finished shooting 9-for-14 marking the second most field goals made in a single game (11, 12.28.21 vs. Alabama St.). This is the second consecutive game at least one Commodore hit nine shots from the field (Washington at UT Martin)
- Jordyn Cambridge has five steals in today’s game, marking the second time this season with at least five steals. The Commodores finished with 15 steals in the contest, the most steals since 16 last season against Alabama A&M (12.21.22)
- The Commodores forced 26 turnovers, the most since last year against Alabama A&M (12.21.22)
- With the win, Vanderbilt starts 3-0 for the second consecutive season.
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