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Oxford Next Stop for No. 15 Commodores 1-19-05 1/19/2005 Game Notes No. 15 Vanderbilt travels to Oxford, Miss. to take on Ole Miss in Southeastern Conference Play Thursday night at Tad Smith Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be heard on WNSR 560 AM with play-by-play by Charlie Mattos. Vanderbilt (13-3, 2-1 SEC) had its 10-game winning streak against Southeastern Conference opponents snapped when the Commodores fell to No. 8 Tennessee at home last Sunday, 79-65. Sophomore Carla Thomas had a good last week for the Commodores as Thomas scored a career-high 32 points including 22 second-half points and grabbed nine rebounds against Auburn. Ashley Earley scored 22 points against the Tigers as the tandem combined for 54 of the 73 VU points. Against Tennessee, Thomas scored a team-high 18 points while Dee Davis added 14 points and Earley finished with 12 points. On the week, Thomas averaged 25 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per contest while Earley averaged 17 points per game. The Commodores shot 49.1 percent from the floor. On the season, Earley continues to lead the team averaging 18.8 ppg and 8.6 rbg. Thomas averages 15.7 points per game and 6.3 boards per contest. Davis already has 107 assists through 16 games. Vandy continues to shoot above 50 percent from the floor connecting on 51.6 percent of its shots. The Commodores have won 11 straight against Ole Miss. Ole Miss (11-5, 1-0 SEC) is 1-2 in SEC play after falling at Kentucky in its last outing last Sunday, 70-63. Sophomore forward Armintie Price led the Lady Rebels with a game-high 21 points at Kentucky. Ashley Johnson added 14 points. Ole Miss outscored Kentucky, 35-31, in the second half, but trailed 39-28 at intermission. On the season, Price leads the team averaging a double-double with 15.9 ppg and 10 rebounds per contest, which leads the SEC. Amber Watts is the team’s second-leading scorer averaging 12.8 ppg. Ole Miss leads the SEC in rebounding offense wracking up 46.3 rbg. The Rebels are averaging 75.4 points per game and are 7-1 on their home court this season. Ole Miss’ two SEC losses have come at Georgia and at Kentucky, while the Lady Rebels defeated Arkansas at home, 85-73. This will be the 32nd meeting between Vanderbilt and Ole Miss on the basketball court. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series, 20-11. The Commodores are 2-0 under Melanie Balcomb against Ole Miss. VU has won the last 11 meetings with the Lady Rebels. Vanderbilt returns home to host No. 2 LSU in Memorial Gym Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be televised on Fox Sports South. |
