NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to five games, as the Commodores collected a 73-41 victory over FDU on Friday at Memorial Gymnasium.
Vanderbilt got a double-digit scoring performance from a trio of Commodores in the victory over the Knights. Juniors Sacha Washington and Iyana Moore each scored 14 points in the win, while freshman Khamil Pierre added 12 points off the bench. It was a full team effort for the Commodores on Friday, as Vandy outscored the Knights 25-5 in points off the bench.
The win improves Vanderbilt’s record to 12-1 overall this season. It marks the first time since the 2011-12 campaign that the Commodores have begun a season with a 12-1 mark, which is tied for the second-best start to a season through the first 13 games in program history. The 12 victories for Vanderbilt this season also match last season’s win total.
Vanderbilt locked up FDU defensively throughout the night. Vanderbilt limited the Knights to just 29.4% from the field and forced FDU into 22 turnovers, which turned into 30 points off turnovers for the Dores.
The Commodores ran away from the Knights early in the first quarter and never looked back. Vandy used a 10-0 run that turned a four-point lead into a 14-point advantage at 23-9 to close out the opening frame. Vanderbilt ended the second stanza on a 28-7 run that gave the Commodores a 35-point advantage at 51-16. The Dores would end up taking a 31-point lead into halftime, which marked the second time this season Vandy has held a 30-point advantage at the break.
Vanderbilt’s lead ballooned to a game-high 40 points early in the fourth quarter, as a jumper from sophomore Ryanne Allen gave the Commodores a 67-27 lead with 8:08 left to play in the contest. Vanderbilt would maintain a 30-plus point lead for the remainder of the game, as the Commodores walked away with a 32–point victory.
Coach Shea Ralph on the Win
“I’m really proud of how our team performed today. When you go through the holiday season, with finals also going on, you don’t really play a lot of games. Having five days off going into a very vital part of your season can go a few different ways. I’m really proud that our team came back with a renewed purpose. The last three days of practice have probably been three of our best practices we’ve had this year. I think you saw some players play as well as they have all year. I’m just happy with how we played today.”
Up Next
The Commodores host their final game of 2023 this Sunday, as the Commodores host Radford for a New Year’s Eve contest. Tipoff against the Highlanders is set for 1 p.m. and will air live on SEC Network.
Dore Notes
- Vanderbilt is off to a 12-1 start for the 10th time in program history.
- The Commodores are now 1-0 all-time against FDU
- Vandy improves to a perfect 8-0 at home this season
- The Dores have now won 10-straight home games against nonconference teams
- Vanderbilt is now 32-12 against non-SEC teams under head coach Shea Ralph
- Sacha Washington collects her 39th career game with double-digit points with 14 points vs. FDU
- Khamil Pierre records her third career game with 10 or more points with a 12-point performance
- Iyana Moore scored double-digit points for the first time in six games with a 14-point performance vs. FDU
- Jordyn Cambridge’s three steals extend her consecutive steals streak to 51-straight games
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