Nov. 24, 2012
GUAYNABO, P.R. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome the loss of Christina Foggie late in the first half and dropped a 73-59 decision to Florida State in the final game at the San Juan Shootout. The Commodores fell to 3-3 on the season, while the Seminoles improved to 5-0.
Vanderbilt was led by 16 points from Jasmine Lister, while Elan Brown contributed 13 points and six rebounds. Freshman Kendall Shaw had her first career double-figure game, scoring 10 points.
Florida State saw five players score double-figures. Leonor Rodriguez led the way with 16 points. Alexa Deluzio added 14 off the bench, followed by Chasity Clayton with 13 points and Chelsea Davis with 10 points. Guard Yashira Delgado contributed nine assists.
The contest was back and forth early, with six lead changes over the first nine minutes. The Commodores led 17-16 with 11:26 to play in the opening period. Florida State answered with a 6-0 run to take a 23-17 lead. The FSU lead was 27-20 when Foggie went down under the basket with a foot injury and did not return.
The Commodores fought, but the lead was 10 at the half, 36-26, and Vanderbilt would get no closer than five in the second half.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Melanie Balcomb was thrilled with the effort her team showed, especially after Foggie’s injury.
“We fought, we competed harder each game,” Balcomb said. “We’ve made some great adjustments since the Dayton game. We played a lot freer these last two games.”
Balcomb felt a major issue was post defense, where the Commodores had to play most the contest with a pair of freshman – Shaw and Heather Bowe – because Tiffany Clarke was in foul trouble.
“They got easy points in the paint,” Balcomb explained. “We’re going to have to improve our post defense. That’s something that plagued us last year and it’s plaguing us this year.”
The biggest positive for the head coach was the play of Brown, one of the team’s three seniors.
“Elan was fabulous today,” Balcomb said. “She made more plays, defensively (than anyone). She’s our smartest defender and she plays defensively, but she also got shots on offense. She played two, three, four and five for us, everything but point, and she’s the glue. She kept this team together tonight.”
Foggie’s injury will be evaluated when the Commodores return to Nashville.
Vanderbilt returns home on Wednesday, November 28, when they host Austin Peay. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Gym.
