Foggie helps send VU to win over Auburn

Jan. 12, 2012

Final Stats | media_icon_photogallery.gif Howell’s Photos | camera.gifHighlights | camera.gifBalcomb Interview | camera.gifFoggie and Lister

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — “It wasn’t pretty.”

Words not often used to describe a game that saw someone score 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting, but those are exactly the words sophomore guard Jasmine Lister chose to describe No. 25/24 Vanderbilt’s 66-58 win over Auburn on Thursday, January 12, at Memorial Gym.

Lister’s backcourt mate Christina Foggie scored 27 points for the third time this season, equaling a career high. In addition to going 7-11 from the field, she was 6-8 from behind the three-point line and 7-7 from the free throw line.

Lister added 11 points of her own, along with five assists, four rebounds and three steals, to help the Commodores improve to 14-2 on the season and 2-1 in SEC play.

Junior forward Tiffany Clarke added 12 points and eight rebounds. She’s now averaging 14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in SEC play.

FoggieAuburn was led by 14 points from Tyrese Tanner. Chantel Hilliard added 11 points, while Camille Glymph scored nine. Najat Ourdad had six assists and a career high seven steals. The Tigers fell to 9-8, 1-3 in league action.

Foggie scored 22 points in the second half to help Vanderbilt pull away, then hold on. Commodore Head Coach Melanie Balcomb was glad to see Foggie put her team on her shoulders, despite an adjustment in roll due to injuries.

“She’s sharing responsibilities with Kady (Schrann at the point),” explained Balcomb. “She had to do a lot and play a lot of minutes, but to knock down those big threes, I thought it was really impressive.”

Balcomb also echoed Lister’s sentiments about the ugliness of the game, but was not the least bit surprised.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a team that in the first three SEC games felt pretty,” said Balcomb.

After Auburn slugged its way to a 9-8 lead, the Commodores used a 17-0 run to open up a 25-9 lead. Vanderbilt held the Tigers off the scoreboard for 7:45 in the process.

Balance was the key for Vanderbilt in the first half, as Clarke led the way with eight points, Lister scored seen and Foggie and Elan Brown added five each.

Clarke made her first start of the season, in place of Schrann, who rolled her ankle earlier in the week. Schrann was a game time decision.

It marked the first time this season Balcomb deviated from a starting five of Schrann, Foggie, Lister, Holzer and Brown.

The Commodores return to action on Sunday, January 15, when they make the annual trip to Knoxville, Tenn., to face rival Tennessee. Tipoff against the Lady Vols is set for 1:00 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.

Balcomb knows Vanderbilt is up for a challenge, especially with the No. 7 Lady Vols coming off a one-point loss at Kentucky on Thursday night. She feels her young squad is ready to go to Knoxville and let it rip.

“I just like to take a young team (to Tennessee) and just go for it.”