Jan. 15, 2018
Box score (PDF) |Box Score (HTML) | Press Conference | Howell’s Photos
NASHVILLE. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team (5-14, 1-4 SEC) led for 32 minutes and used a season-high 19 points from Kayla Overbeck and earned their first SEC win with a 70-55 win over Kentucky on Monday night. The win was the just the second in the last 10 meetings between the teams and the first in Nashville since 2009-10
The Skinny
Date: Jan. 15, 2018
Time: 6:00 PM CT
Place: Nashville, Tenn. (Memorial Gym)
At The Top of the Charts
Points: Kayla Overbeck – 19 points
Rebounds: Autumn Newby / Christa Reed – 7 rebounds
Assists: Chelsie Hall – 5 assists
Steals: Chelsie Hall – 5 steals.
How It Happened
First Quarter: Kentucky 10, Vanderbilt 7
The teams opened the game a combined 0-16 before a bucket form Rachel Bell at the 4:46 mark just before the media timeout to give the Commodores the early 2-0 lead. The Wildcats added a bucket after the break but Cierra Walker drilled her first triple of the game as the Dores maintained their lead. Taylor Murray scored four unanswered buckets to give the Wildcats the three-point lead at the quarter break.
Second Quarter: Vanderbilt 29, Kentucky 20
A three-point play from Kayla Overbeck tied the game at 10 with 30 seconds off the game clock and a three form Cierra Walker gave the home team a 13-10 lead at the 8:13 mark. Overbeck, who scored nine points in the first half, nailed a pair at the line to give the Dores a five-point cushion. Erin Whalen, who was coming off a 10-point outing against Missouri, nailed a triple from the left corner forcing a Kentucky timeout with 6:48 left. The Dores extended their run to 15-0 and took a 20-10 lead, Vanderbilt’s largest lead since the Lipscomb game on Dec. 28. Kentucky finally got on the board with a layup from Dorie Harrison at the 4:55 mark – their first points in the second quarter. With the Dores leading 24-15, Cierra Walker drilled her third three of the game and the Dores took a 29-20 lead into the break.
Third Quarter: Vanderbilt 55, Kentucky 38
Vanderbilt extended its lead to 25-26 and was helped by some early second half points from Chelsie Hall and Autumn Newby. Newby had six points in the third quarter after going scoreless in the first half and Hall added four third-quarter points. The Wildcats wouldn’t go quietly and used a 4-0 spurt to cut the once 14-point lead to seven points, 35-28, forcing White to call a timeout to regroup. Out of the break, Newby added two points in the paint to regain the momentum and from that point the Dores hit their last three buckets and took a 41-30 lead at the media timeout before taking a 55-38 lead into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Vanderbilt 70, Kentucky 55
The Commodores kept the pedal to the metal in the fourth quarter and held the Wildcats to just 33.3 percent shooting in the final frame while pushing their lead to 19 points with just over two minutes to play based on the strength of six fourth quarter points from Kayla Overbeck. Overbeck was efficient from the free throw line by going 7-of-7 from the stripe. While Chelsie Hall didn’t reach double figures, she did tally a career-best five steals and added five assists to lead the Commodores. The Dores used 12 points in the paint and eight points off the bench in the fourth quarter to pick up their first SEC win.
Inside the Lane
-Kayla Overbeck was presented with a USA Basketball plaque from head coach Stephanie White prior to today’s game for her play this summer with the U19 team at the U19 World Cup in Italy.
-The win gives the Commodores their second win over the Wildcats in the last 10 meetings and the first win at home since the 2009-10 season.
-There is a WNBA and Indiana Fever connection in today’s game as Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie White and Kentucky assistant coach Lin Dunn both served as the head coach of the Fever and they coached together in Indiana. Additionally, head coach Stephanie White played for the Fever.
-Kayla Overbeck reached double figures for the second consecutive game with a season-best 19 points.
-Cierra Walker reached double figures for the third straight game with 15 points
–Chelsie Hall‘s streak of six consecutive games in double figures was snapped with just four points tonight.
-Chelsie Hall had a career-best five steals
-For the second straight game Kayla Overbeck was perfect from the free throw line going 7-7 she has made her last 11 free throws.
Up Next
The Commodores will close their three-game homestand against defending national champion, South Carolina on Thursday. The Commodores and Gamecocks will tipoff at 7 pm from Memorial Gym.
Next Five Games
Jan. 18 – vs. South Carolina, 7 pm
Jan. 21 – at Alabama, 2 pm
Jan. 28 – vs. Texas A&M, 2 pm
Feb. 1 – at Ole Miss, 6 pm
Feb. 4 – vs. Tennessee, 1 pm
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.
