Dores rout MSU in SEC opener

Jan. 3, 2013

Box Score | camera.gifHighlights | camera.gifBalcomb Postgame | camera.gifLister & Schrann

NASHVILLE – A balanced scoring attack led Vanderbilt to a 92-41 rout of the Mississippi State Bulldogs Thursday night at Memorial Gym in the SEC opener.

Vanderbilt (11-3, 1-0) scorched Mississippi State (8-6, 0-1) for season-highs in points (92), assists (24), steals (12) and a season-low eight turnovers on a night when everything went right for the Commodores in their first conference game of the 2013 calendar year. Every player that suited up for the Commodores, saw game action.

The 51-point margin of victory for Vandy was the largest since the Commodores defeated Quinnipiac, 111-53 (+58) on Nov. 26, 2010.

Five different Commodores reached double-figures on the night, led by Christina Foggie’s 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 from downtown. Foggie also chipped in four rebounds, four steals and three assists.Jasmine Lister recorded her third career double-double and second of the season with 14 points and 10 assists. Tiffany Clarke scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds. Kady Schrann added 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.Heather Bowe added 10 points off the bench on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

For the game, VU shot 57 percent (31-of-54) from the field, 53 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range and 92 percent (23-of-25) from the free throw line.

Vanderbilt’s suffocating defense held Mississippi State to just 32 percent from the field and 7 percent (1-of-13) from three-point range, while also forcing 22 MSU turnovers. Vandy then converted those turnovers into 36 points.

Martha Alwal led Mississippi State with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Carnecia Williams added 11 points.

The Commodores started the game on a 23-9 run behind seven points from Foggie and five points and four assists from Lister. Foggie then hit back-to-back three-pointers at the 10-minute mark in the half, giving VU a 29-11 lead.

Foggie led the Commodores with 13 first half points, en route to a 53-18 lead at halftime. Vandy shot a blistering 58 percent from the field and 55 percent from three-point range.

Lister was also in double-figures with 10 points and a game-high seven assists. Clarke, Bowe and Batey all had six points apiece at the break.

As a team, Vanderbilt had nine steals and 14 assists in the first half, while forcing 14 Mississippi State turnovers.

Alwal led the Bulldogs with eight points in the first half. The Bulldogs shot just 33 percent from the floor.

Vanderbilt will hit the road for the first time in SEC play on Sunday, January 6, when they travel to Oxford, Miss., to take on the Rebels. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPNU.