LAS VEGAS – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team got a 21-point performance from junior Iyana Moore, while graduate student Jordyn Cambridge collected a double-double, as the Commodores defeated Iowa State, 68-53, on Friday during the first game of the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout.
Moore overcame a slow start to record her second 20-plus point performance of the season, as all 21 of her points were scored over the final three quarters of play. The junior scored nine points in the second quarter and used a personal 7-2 run in the frame to turn a 13-12 Vanderbilt lead into a 20-14 advantage. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native was also clutch down the stretch for Vanderbilt, as she registered eight points in the fourth quarter and went 4-of-5 from the free throw line.
Meanwhile, Cambridge recorded her third double-double of the season with a 12-point, 11-rebound performance against the Cyclones. Sophomore Justine Pissott and freshman Aga Makurat each tallied nine points in the win, while all nine players who played for Vanderbilt scored at least two points against ISU.
With the victory, Vanderbilt moves to 6-0 on the season. It is the first time since the 2011-12 campaign that the Commodores have opened a season with six-straight wins.
The two teams traded blows in the opening quarter, as Vanderbilt trailed Iowa State, 12-11, after 10 minutes of play. Junior Sacha Washington scored the first points of the second quarter to give Vanderbilt a 13-12 lead, then Moore would go on to score seven of the game’s next nine points to put the Commodores up by six points at 20-14. Vanderbilt allowed only four points in the second quarter to give the Dores a 28-16 advantage going into the locker room.
Vanderbilt led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, as a pair of free throws from Moore put the Dores up 35-20 with 6:56 left to play in the frame. Iowa State would go on a 20-4 run from that point to cut the Vandy lead to a single point at 41-40 with a minute remaining in the third. Moore came up clutch again to close the third, as she sank a pair of free throws to give her team a 43-40 lead going into the final quarter.
The Commodores opened the fourth on an 11-3 run to take a double-digit lead they would never relinquish. Vanderbilt led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter before claiming a 15-point victory over Iowa State.
Coach Ralph on the Win
“I’m so proud and happy for my team. We talk a lot about being relentless and also being resilient. Nobody made a shot in the first half it seemed. We knew at some point we were going to start making shots, and they are a good shooting team, so we figured they would start to make some shots as well. We had to be resilient enough to fight through those runs and we did what we had to do to make sure we ended up on the right side of the scoreboard. We came away with a big win on the road during the holiday season. It’s such a great feeling for our team and I’m happy to see their hard work paying off.”
Coach Ralph on Iyana Moore’s Performance
“We’re starting to see Iyana feel comfortable after her injury. She has come a long way and feels more like herself. She worked so hard to get back on the court and she works hard to be a great player. You can see now that she has levels and dimensions to her game. I want our players to understand that they are not just shooters. Sure, we have some players who can knock it in, but I want them to be great defenders, great rebounds, great communicators and bring great energy. You can do all of those things on your worst shooting day. I think Iyana did a great job at that today, and she was really a leader for us. She figured out a way to help our team win, and we needed everything she gave us today.”
Up Next
It will be a quick turnaround for the Commodores, as Vanderbilt returns to action this Saturday to conclude its stay in Las Vegas. The Dores take on Northern Iowa in Game 2 of the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. CT and will stream live on FloHoops.com.
Dore Notes
- Junior Iyana Moore recorded her second 20-plus point performance of the season, while it is the fourth game that she has registered double-digit points this season.
- Moore’s 21-point performance vs. Iowa State marks her sixth career game with 20 or more points.
- Graduate student Jordyn Cambridge collected a double-double for the third time in six games this season. She now has posted eight career double-doubles and one triple-double.
- Sophomore Justine Pissott hit three 3-point field goals for the third time this season, which matches her single-game career-best performance
- Vanderbilt has now won six-straight games to open the 2023-24 season.
- The 6-0 record marks Vanderbilt’s best start through six games under head coach Shea Ralph.
- Vanderbilt is now 4-1 all-time against Iowa State and 2-0 against the Cyclones in neutral-site matchups.
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