Jan. 27, 2015
UPDATE ON THE DORES
RECORD: 12-8, 3-4
MOST RECENT GAME: Defeated Alabama, 55-52, on the road on Jan. 25
VU CURRENT STREAK: Won two straight and four of past five
UPCOMING GAMES:
Jan. 29: at Mississippi State, 7 p.m. (SEC Network-Plus)
Feb. 1: host Florida, 3 p.m. (Fox Sports Net)
Feb. 5: host Ole Miss, 7 p.m.(SEC Network-Plus)
The buzz-word surrounding the Vanderbilt women in recent days has been “whew.” The Commodores, who have won four of their past five games, have won two straight SEC contests that both came in “hold-your-breath” fashion. On Sunday afternoon, Vanderbilt secured a 55-52 road win over Alabama when the Tide missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. Just four days earlier, the Commodores nipped Arkansas, 55-53, at Memorial Gym. Arkansas had a chance to win the game on its final possession, but a buzzer-beating 3-pointer was off the mark for the Razorbacks, who missed their final 18 shots in the game. The Commodores now turn their attention to this week’s games, when they visit No. 18-ranked Mississippi State on Thursday and then host Florida on Sunday. This weekend’s contest against the Gators is the first of three straight home games for Vanderbilt. Here’s a look at what’s ahead for the Commodores, along with a recap of Sunday’s win over Alabama:
SURGING INTO STARKVILLE
As they head to Starkville on Thursday to face Mississippi State for the second time this season, the Commodores will be looking to extend a recent hot streak that has featured four wins in the past five games. The surge — which has enabled the Commodores recover from three straight losses in early January — started, coincidentally, against Mississippi State on Jan. 11, when Vanderbilt downed the Bulldogs, 78-62, at Memorial Gym. The Commodores followed that up with a non-conference win over Alabama-Huntsville, then suffered a road loss to Georgia before winning their past two games against Arkansas and Alabama.
LOOKING AHEAD
Vanderbilt basketball fans have plenty to look forward to in the days ahead, as a long list of special promotions and events are planned throughout the month of February. Here’s a look at a few of the dates that VU fans will want to have circled on their calendars:
l Sunday, Feb. 1 vs. Florida, 3 p.m. – “Girl Scout Day”
l Thursday, Feb. 5 vs. Ole Miss, 7 p.m. – Mascot basketball game at halftime (featuring Vanderbilt’s Mr. C, the Noshville Pickle, the Chick-fil-A cow and many more); Also, the Eakin Elementary students will perform National Anthem
l Sunday, Feb. 8 vs. Kentucky, noon – Pink Out: Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show support in the fight against breast cancer. The Vanderbilt players will also be incorporating pink into their color scheme.
l Sunday, Feb. 22 vs. Missouri, 1 p.m. – “Fan Appreciation Day”: Fans will receive a small gift as a token of appreciation for their support this season.
l Thursday, Feb. 26 vs. Auburn, 8 p.m. – Supporting the YWCA: The WBB program will salute the YMCA’s programs and involvement within the community.
KIDDING AROUND
Vanderbilt’s younger fans can burn off some pregame energy at the Kids Zone for all remaining Sunday home games this season. The Kids Zone — located in the practice gym behind the main floor at Memorial Gym — features inflatables, face-painting, snow cones and more! The Zone opens 90 minutes before tipoff for each game.
GIVE AWAYS
When the starting lineups are being introduced at home games this season, the members of Vanderbilt’s starting five will each throw a T-shirt into the crowd. So be sure to make some noise when your favorite player is announced — you might just get a T-shirt from her! Vanderbilt fans can also look forward to several in-game promotions, including the T-shirt toss (thrown by cheerleaders during timeouts) and gold-shaker giveaways, along with free posters and wallet-sized schedules that are available at the marketing tables. After the game, the Vanderbilt players will throw miniature basketballs into the stands
SAY CHEESE
Vanderbilt fans can pose with — or post up against — large-sized cutouts of the Vanderbilt players at all home games this season. The 6-foot cutouts are located in the Southeast and North lobbies.
COMMODORES NOTCH FIRST SEC ROAD WIN
After seeing a 16-point first-half advantage turn into a two-point deficit near the midway mark of the second half, the Commodores came up with a series of huge plays in the final eight minutes and defeated Alabama, 55-52, to gain their first SEC road win of the season. Vanderbilt freshman Paris Kea hit two free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Commodores (12-8, 3-4) a thee-point lead, and Alabama (12-10, 1-6) missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. Morgan Batey scored a team-high 14 points or the Commodores and Kea added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Ashley Williams led Alabama with 12 points. The Commodores — who defeated Arkansas 55-53 on Thursday by holding the Razorbacks without a field goal for the final 12:26 of the game — didn’t allow a basket in Sunday’s game until Alabama’s Karyla Middlebrooks scored in the paint at the 9:53 mark of the first half. The Tide opened the game with nine straight missed shots. The basket by Middlebrooks ended a 22-minute stretch in which the Commodores’ opponents had gone 0-for-27 from the floor. (Arkansas missed its final 18 attempts in Thursday’s game). Vanderbilt won the battle inside, outscoring Alabama 30-18 in the paint and out-rebounding the Tide, 39-32.