Jan. 6, 2012
Vandy Game Notes (vs. Ole Miss) 
The No. 24/21 Vanderbilt women’s basketball team (12-2, 0-1 SEC) will look to rebound from a loss in its SEC opener when it hosts Ole Miss (10-5, 0-2 SEC) on Sunday, January 8. Tipoff at Memorial Gym is set for 2:00 p.m. and the game can be heard in Nashville on WNSR 560 AM as well as seen on VUCommodores.com as part of Vanderbilt All-Access.
Scouting the Commodores
No. 24/21 Vanderbilt looks to rebound from a 65-55 setback at rv/rv South Carolina on Thursday, January 5. The Commodores struggled in the areas that had been strengths all season, committing a season-high 26 turnovers while dishing out seven assists and going just 1-6 from three-point range after leading the nation entering the contest. The Commodores will look to rebound behind leading scorer Christina Foggie, who is averaging 17.1 ppg. Also in double-figures for Vanderbilt are Jasmine Lister (12.6 ppg), Stephanie Holzer (12.0 ppg) and Tiffany Clarke (10.0 ppg). Lister is posting an SEC-high 5.6 assists per contest, while Holzer and Clarke are both among the top-10 rebounders in the conference at 7.2 and 7.0 rpg, respectively. The lineup also got a boost with the return of junior guard Gabby Smith, who had only played in one game on the season after suffering a concussion. Smith hit the only Vanderbilt three-pointer of the game at South Carolina.
Scouting the Rebels
Ole Miss enters the contest with a 10-5 mark and having lost their first two SEC contests at home to LSU and Florida. The duo of Nikki Byrd and Valencia McFarland leads the way for Renee Ladner’s squad. Byrd is averaging a double-double at 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest, with the rebounding total leading the league. McFarland, a Preseason All-SEC selection, is averaging 13.2 points per game and 5.6 assists per contest. The Rebels fell to LSU, 83-44, and Florida, 59-55, in their first two SEC contests. They are 3-2 on the road this season, including a 72-57 win over Lipscomb in a trip to Nashville on December 16.
Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss – The Series
The Commodores and Rebels have met 40 times, with Vanderbilt holding a 25-15 edge in the series. The Commodores have won 16 of the last 20 contests, including the last meeting, 71-42, in Nashville. That contest, played on January 30, 2011, saw Elan Brown record a double-double for Vanderbilt (11 points, 11 rebounds). Valencia McFarland is the top returner for Ole Miss from that contest, having scored eight points. McFarland scored 15 against Vanderbilt earlier in the year, as Ole Miss took a 72-67 win in Oxford. All-time, Vanderbilt holds a 14-3 edge in games played at Memorial Gym.
On Deck
Vanderbilt stays at home for its first televised contest of the season on Thursday, January 12, when they host Auburn. Tipoff versus the Tigers is set for 8:00 p.m. Central and the game can be seen on CSS.