Aug 27, 2013
2013-14 Schedule 
| 2013-14 Schedule
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt Head Coach Melanie Balcomb, in conjunction with the Southeastern Conference, announced the Commodores’ 2013-14 schedule on Tuesday. Television designations and game times will be announced on a later date.
The 29-game regular season schedule includes matchups with 19 opponents who participated in the NCAA Tournament, WNIT or WBI. Including home-home SEC series with three opponents (Auburn, South Carolina and Tennessee), who all made the postseason, as many as 22 (75.8 percent) of Vanderbilt’s games could be played against teams who reached the postseason.
Ten of Vanderbilt’s games will be played against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, including five games against four teams who advanced to the Elite Eight. Overall, eight of Vanderbilt’s opponents – Dayton, Duke, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M – advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year and all eight won at least one game. The eight schools finished a combined 17-8 in the NCAA Tournament.
Led by the return of senior guards Christina Foggie and Jasmine Lister, the Commodores bring back a solid nucleus that helped the Commodores finish 21-12 in 2013 and advance to their 14th straight NCAA Tournament. The returning roster will be boosted by one of the nation’s top recruiting classes as the Commodores look for their 15th straight trip to the Big Dance.
After hosting North Alabama in an exhibition game on Nov. 2, Vanderbilt opens its regular season Nov. 8 against Appalachian State in Vanderbilt’s first of 17 home games. The Commodores will play four straight home games to open the season, including matchups with Western Kentucky and Marquette, who each were selected for the WNIT in 2013.
Vanderbilt’s first road non-conference game will be at Duke on Nov. 21. The two teams last met in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament with the Blue Devils eliminating the Commodores at Memorial Gym. Duke won the ACC in 2013 and advanced to the NCAA’s Elite Eight.
Following the trip to Durham, N.C., the Commodores will return home on Nov. 24 for a rematch with Dayton. The Flyers won last year’s meeting at home and make the trip to Nashville in 2013. Dayton advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year after finishing 14-0 in the Atlantic 10.
The 2013-14 schedule also marks the return of Vanderbilt’s Thanksgiving Tournament. After playing in the San Juan Shootout last year, the Commodores will spend the holiday at home this year when they welcome Elon, Mercer and Wisconsin to Memorial Gym. The tournament will be played on Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30 with the Commodores opening against Elon.
Three of Vanderbilt’s final five non-conference games will be played on the road. After the Thanksgiving Tournament, Vanderbilt hosts East Tennessee State before making trips to Hartford (Dec. 15) and James Madison (Dec. 18). The Commodores will then return to host UNC-Asheville on Dec. 21 before closing non-conference play at UAB on Dec. 30.
“The non-conference schedule will provide us with a number of terrific challenges at home and on the road that will prepare us mentally and physically for the demands of the Southeastern Conference,” Balcomb said. “The SEC continues to get stronger each year, as evidenced by three teams reaching last year’s Elite Eight, and the league going 7-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Having a strong non-conference schedule not only prepares our team for what they will see in the SEC, but also gives our fans an opportunity to watch outstanding competition.”
The 16-game SEC portion of the schedule includes home-home matchups with three opponents and individual games with every other league member. The three opponents Vanderbilt will meet twice are Auburn, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Quick Hits
- 29 Games
- 17 Home Games
- 3 Home-Home SEC Series (Auburn, South Carolina & Tennessee)
- 19 Opponents Who Participated in 2013 Postseason (NCAA, WNIT, WBI)
- 22 Games (75.8%) Against 2013 Postseason Teams
- 8 Opponents Who Played in 2013 NCAA Tournament
- 17-8 NCAA Record for the Eight Opponents
- ESPN2 Big Monday Appearance at Tennessee
- Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 29 & 30
- Non-Conference Tilt at Duke (Nov. 21)
- First-Ever Game at Missouri (Jan. 30)
The league schedule begins Jan. 2 with the Commodores hosting Georgia. Vanderbilt will then hit the road for games at South Carolina and Auburn before returning home to host Tennessee on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Vanderbilt will make its first trip to Columbia, Mo., on Jan. 30 when the Commodores play at Missouri. The meeting with the Tigers will be followed by another meeting with the league’s other newest member – Texas A&M. Vanderbilt will host the Aggies on Feb. 2 in the first meeting between the two since Vanderbilt defeated then-No. 10 Texas A&M last year at Memorial Gym.
Following a matchup with the Aggies, Vanderbilt will enjoy a bye in their schedule leading up to a nationally-televised game at Tennessee on Monday, Feb. 10 (ESPN2). Vanderbilt’s last appearance on “Big Monday” came in 2012 at Kentucky.
Vanderbilt’s Senior Night will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27 when the Commodores welcome Florida to Memorial Gym. The matchup with Florida will be preceded by a home game against Alabama.
Vanderbilt will close its regular season at Kentucky on March 2.
For the second year in a row, Vanderbilt’s postseason will start in Duluth, Ga., at the SEC Tournament.
Nashville will be the epicenter of NCAA women’s basketball next spring, as the Final Four will be held downtown at Bridgestone Arena April 6-8, 2014.
Season tickets are now and sale and can be purchased by calling 615-322-GOLD (4653).
Game times are subject to change once the league and its television partners announce the television designations.