Nov. 23, 2014
Teams: St. Louis (2-1) vs. RV/RV Vanderbilt (3-0)
Day, Date: Monday, Nov. 24
Tip-off time: 11:30 a.m. (CT)
Site: Memorial Gym (Nashville, Tenn.)
Radio: 560 AM & 95.9 FM
Viewing: SEC Network Plus (online)
After posting a comeback victory over Wisconsin on Thursday night to improve to 3-0 on the season, the Vanderbilt women are back on their home floor on Monday, hosting St. Louis in a rare weekday afternoon contest. The contest tips at 11:30 a.m. as the Vanderbilt WBB program hosts Education Day at Memorial Gym. Here are a few storylines surrounding Monday’s game.
l It’s a Monday Matinee at Memorial. The environment at Monday’s game is likely to be a little different than most games at Memorial Gym. The early tip-off time — 11:30 a.m. — was scheduled as part of Vanderbilt’s `Education Day’ promotion that was designed to give children at local schools the opportunity to experience a collegiate basketball game, and perhaps use the game as a field trip. A large collection of schools are scheduled to come the game, with Vanderbilt officials expecting roughly 3,000 school-aged children to attend. Each school will be greeted by Vanderbilt football player upon their arrival at Memorial Gym. Many of the normal gameday activities will be directed at school-aged children, including a special halftime show.
l Scouting St. Louis. The Billikens are off to a 2-1 start under third-year head coach Lisa Stone, thanks in large part to the strong work of junior Denisha Womack. The 6-foot-1 post player is leading St. Louis in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg) and 3-point percentage (51.7 percent on 5-of-9 shooting). Sophomore post player Erin Nelson is also averaging double figures in scoring at 10.0 points per game and Jackie Kemph is averaging 9.3 per contest. … The Billikens have nine underclassmen on the roster, including five true freshmen. However, that doesn’t mean St. Louis is short on experience. The Billikens have all five starters returning from last year’s team that posted a 12-18 overall record and went 7-9 in the Atlantic 10. … St. Louis struggled on the road last season, posting a 3-10 mark away from home, including going 0-5 in non-conference road games. … St. Louis opened this season with a three-point road loss to Indiana State, then returned home to post back-to-back wins over SIU-Edwardsville and SE Missouri.
l Sizing up the Series. Today’s game marks the third all-time meeting between the Commodores and St. Louis, with Vanderbilt owning a 2-0 lead in the series. (Both Vanderbilt victories have come during head coach Melanie Balcomb’s tenure). The teams haven’t faced each other since the 2004-05 season, when the Commodores and Billikens completed a home-and-home series with a contest at Memorial Gym. The Commodores defeated the Billikens, 94-51, in the most recent matchup between the teams on Dec. 12, 2004 at Memorial Gym. The previous season, Vanderbilt posted a 71-56 win on Dec. 21, 2003 in St. Louis. The two victories came during the playing career of current Commodore assistant coach Ashley Earley.
l Newcomers making a splash. Vanderbilt newcomers Paris Kea, Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau, Christa Reed and Rachel Bell have combined to account for 45 percent of Vanderbilt’s scoring this season. The freshmen foursome has also accounted for 63.6 percent of the Commodores’ 3-pointers, 57.5 percent of Vanderbilt’s assists and 34.4 percent of VU’s rebounds. Kea leads the teams in assists (5.0 per game) by a wide margin, and Caron-Goudreau leads the Commodores in rebounding (9.0 rpg).
l Spark off the bench. Redshirt freshman Rebekah Dahlman and redshirt sophomore Kristen Gaffney both missed most of last season with injuries. But the two players are making up for lost time. Dahlman and Gaffney came off the bench to provide a series of key plays and big shots in Vanderbilt’s 67-58 victory at Wisconsin last week. Dahlman — who was playing in front of a big gathering of friends and family who made the drive from Minnesota — scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. She also collected a team-high nine rebounds. Gaffney, meanwhile, set career highs in points (18), field goals (5), field goal attempts (9) and minutes played (32). Her reverse lay-up in the second half was one of the game’s most pivotal plays for the Commodores, who overcame a 17-point first-half deficit. Dahlman played in just nine games last season before a bloodclot caused her to miss the rest of the season. Gaffney was sidelined by the second knee injury of her career for most of last season, and didn’t see her first action until the final four games of the year.
l Florida, here we come. After today’s game, the Commodores will begin preparing for their upcoming trip to Estero, Fla., for the Gulf Coast Showcase that will take place during the Thanksgiving holidays. Vanderbilt opens the eight-team tournament against Minnesota on Friday night at 5 p.m. The Commodores will then face either UConn or College of Charleston on Saturday, followed by their third and final game of the event on Sunday. In addition to UConn, the talented collecton of teams at the tournament includes Arizona State, which defeated Vanderbilt in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, along with Green Bay, Minnesota, Villanova and Georgia Tech, among others. (Vanderbilt defeated Green Bay, 68-64, in overtime last week at Memorial Gym).
l Roster update. Vanderbilt junior Heather Bowe will not be available for action while serving a suspension for a violation of university academic policy. Bowe is expected to be reinstated by the NCAA at the end of this semester.