Nov. 30, 2011
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 25/22 Vanderbilt women’s basketball team hit the road for the first time this season and took an 83-51 victory over Austin Peay. The Commodores now stand at 7-0 while the Lady Govs fall to 2-4.
Sophomore guard Christina Foggie led Vanderbilt with a career-high 25 points, shooting 7-13 from the field and making all eight attempts from the free throw stripe. She added five assists and three steals.
Three other Commodores joined Foggie in double-figures. Center Stephanie Holzer scored 15 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Senior Jordan Coleman, who scored a career-high 17 against Austin Peay last year, continued her success against the Lady Govs by scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds. Freshman Kady Schrann added 11 points in her first collegiate road contest. Tiffany Clarke led Vandy on the boards with 10 rebounds.
Austin Peay was led by 13 points, five rebounds and four steals from Shyra Brown. Leslie Martinez contributed a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Vanderbilt’s size and speed were too much for the Lady Govs to overcome. Austin Peay was whistled for 22 fouls in the contest and saw Vanderbilt outscore them in the paint, 34-12. The one strength for Austin Peay was the bench, which outscored the Vanderbilt bench, 30-23. It was the first time this season the Commodore reserves were outscored.
Head Coach Melanie Balcomb was especially pleased with her team’s steady performance in its first road contest.
“I liked our confidence and I liked our composure,” said Balcomb. “I really liked the way we continued to let our defense dictate our offense.”
Vanderbilt forced 22 turnovers, scoring 19 points off those miscues.
Foggie explained that the Commodores were ready to play on the road.
“Going on the road is a little bit different, but we were confident and managed to stay level-headed,” said the sophomore.
Coleman, the team’s lone senior, said there was no concern of a hangover coming off the win over then-No. 12/14 Oklahoma.
“We didn’t want to be that team that was hung-up on a big win,” explained Coleman. “We came out here focused and did what we needed to do.”
Coleman was particularly proud of Foggie’s career night.
“She’s done an incredible job,” said Coleman. “I can’t even explain it, I’m just so proud of her.”
The Commodores hit the middle of a three-game, six-day stretch on Friday, December 2, when they play host to Denver. Tipoff with the Pioneers is set for 7:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym. The run concludes on Sunday, December 4, when High Point visits West End.
