Dec. 18, 2017
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Starting Five
1. The Commodores are back on the hardwood for the second game of a four-game homestand when they take on NC State on Tuesday. Tuesday game mark’s Vanderbilt’s first back-to-back home games this season as the Commodores spent the majority of November on the road. Compared to the six road/neutral games in November, the Commodores only make two road trips in Dec. to Louisville and for the SEC opener in Baton Rouge on Dec. 31.
2. Vanderbilt is coming off a 71-60 setback to Memphis on Saturday. The Commodores were led by Christa Reed who tallied a team-best 13 points while Rachel Bell and Erin Whalen added 11 points each. Reed led the way on the glass with six boards. The Commodores have dropped the last two meeting with Memphis after winning eight straight in the series last season’s meeting in Memphis.
3. Tuesday’s matchup with NC State marks the Commodores second meeting with a team out of the ACC after having played Syracuse in the Paradise Jam. The two teams last met during the 2011-12 season, a meeting the Wolfpack won 66-59. The game will be a Homecoming for NC State senior Chelsea Nelson who hails from Antioch, Tenn. NC State leads the series 2-3 with Vanderbilt last winning, 77-71, in Nashville in 2009-10.
4. Vanderbilt freshmen Chelsie Hall and Autumn Newby are making their mark early in their careers. Both are staples in the Vanderbilt starting lineup, with Hall starting 11 of Vanderbilt’s contests and Newby cracking the lineup in nine games. Hall is the No. 2 scorer among SEC freshmen with 12.6 points per game and six games in double figures while Newby ranks No. 3 among SEC freshmen on the glass with 8.0 rebounds per game and three games with double figure rebounds.
5. Vanderbilt seniors Rachel Bell and Christa Reed are both moving closer to the 1,000-point milestone. Bell sits just 19 points from the milestone while Reed is 164 points away from 1,000. Bell, who is averaging 14.1 points, already has a 30-point outing the season and should hit the milestone in the next several games. Reed, who is currently averaging 9.5 points per game, is on pace to hit the milestone during SEC play.
Setting the Scene
-The Commodores continue their four-game homestand when they take on NC State on Tuesday. The Dores and Wolfpack will square off at 5 pm from Memorial Gym. The matchup with the Wolfpack is the lone game in the four-game homestretch that is against a team not from Tennessee.
Last Time Out
-Vanderbilt had a 71-60 setback to Memphis on Saturday Dec. 18. Christa Reed led the offense with 13 points while Rachel Bell and Erin Whalen added 11 points each. Reed also led the way on the glass with six rebounds.
-Sophomore forward Kayla Overbeck made her first start of the season and 14th career start against the Tigers.
-Vanderbilt has dropped its last two games to the Tigers and now leads the all-time series, 11-5.
Scouting Report
-NC State enters Thursday’s game with a 10-2 record after a 70-57 win over Elon on Saturday. Chelsea Nelson leads the Wolfpack with 14.3 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game. Akela Maize (11.7), Asislinn Konig (10.9) and Kiara Leslie (10.8) are also in double figures.
-The Commodores and Wolfpack have common opponents in Syracuse, Alabama and Tulane. The Wolfpack have wins over Alabama and Tulane.
With A Win
-The Commodores will move to 4-8 on the season and will stop their two game skid after winning back-to-back games against Saint Louis and Iowa State.
-Even the all-time series at 3-3 and give Vanderbilt its first win over NC State since a 2009-10 meeting in Nashville.
Big RPI Opportunities on Tap for the Dores
The Commodores are going to have several opportunities to move up the RPI rankings in its next several games. Vanderbilt will have two opportunities against top 75 opponents in NC State (52) and Belmont (72). Additionally, the Commodores will open SEC action at LSU who is currently No. 90 in the RPI rankings. According to RealTimeRPI, the Commodores strength of schedule is No. 19 and atop the SEC with South Carolina coming in just behind Vanderbilt at No. 21.
Home Sweet Memorial
The Commodores will be back in the friendly-confines of Memorial Gym for its next three games. The Dores opened a four-game home stretch on Saturday vs. Memphis. The upcoming four game home stretch will be the longest of the season although the Dores will have a three-game homestand in SEC play in mid-January when they host Missouri, Kentucky and South Carolina. Vanderbilt is quite successful at Memorial Gym sporting a 468-121 all-time record with only one sub-.500 home record, during the 1982-83 season in 40 seasons played at Memorial.
Tennessee Foes on Tap
Saturday’s matchup with Memphis was the first of three matchups with foes from Tennessee in the next four games. Vanderbilt has already squared off with Middle Tennessee to open the season and will face three other Tennessee foes including two games with Tennessee in SEC action. When the non-conference is all set and done, the Dores will have played three teams from the Middle Tennessee are in Middle Tennessee, Belmont and Lipscomb.
Bell Fast Approaching 1000
Senior guard Rachel Bell is just 19 points from hitting the 1,000-point milestone. Bell, who will become the 37th member of the club, is Vanderbilt’s leading scorer with 14.1 points per game. She will be the first to reach the 1,000-point mark since the 2012-13 season.
