Dec. 8, 2015
UPDATE ON THE DORES
RECORD: 7-2
CURRENT STREAK: Won six straight
UPCOMING GAMES:
Thursday: host Troy, 7 p.m.
Dec. 21: host UT-Martin, Noon
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: @VandyWBB l Facebook: Vandy Hoops l Instagram: vandywbb
The Vanderbilt women are on the home stretch toward the holidays — and they are rolling along with a big gust of momentum at their backs. With two games remaining before Christmas, the Commodores have reeled off six straight wins, five of which have come by double digits. The hot streak has enabled Vanderbilt to improve to 7-2 on the season. The Commodores, who haven’t tasted defeat since suffering a two-point setback against Green Bay on Nov. 21, are 6-0 at home as they prepare for Thursday’s game against Troy. Here’s a closer look at what’s happening and what’s ahead:
ONE MILESTONE REACHED, ANOTHER JUST AHEAD
When the Commodores downed ETSU 65-39 on Saturday, it represented the 800th win in program history. Vanderbilt, which played its inaugural season of women’s basketball in 1977-78, now owns an all-time record of 800-401. … Head coach Melanie Balcomb is on the doorstep of a milestone herself, needing just one more victory to reach the 300-win mark at Vanderbilt. The Commodores will look to help her achieve that number when they host Troy on Thursday night.
FINALLY A SLOW DOWN
The Commodores have been on a frantic pace since the start of the season, playing nine games in a 20-day stretch (from Nov. 15 through Dec. 5). They have been especially busy in the past two weeks, with last Saturday’s game against ETSU representing the Commodores’ sixth game in the span of 13 days. Now, though, things are about to slow down. After Thursday’s game against Troy, the Commodores will have 17-day stretch (from Dec. 11 through Dec. 28) during which they play only one game — a home date against UT-Martin on Dec. 21. The “slow period” includes a break from games for final exams and the holidays.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
GETTING UGLY
Wearing ugly sweaters is a long-standing holiday custom, and the Vanderbilt WBB program will honor that tradition this week. When the Commodores host Troy on Thursday night (tipoff at 7 p.m.), the first 250 students in attendance will receive a free Ugly Christmas Sweater T-Shirt. Be on the look out for more information — and perhaps even a sneak-peek at the T-shirts — on Vanderbilt’s social media outlets in the days ahead.
WHEN TEDDY BEARS FLY
The Commodores’ game on Dec. 21 against UT-Martin — which will feature a noon tipoff — has been designated for the annual “Teddy Bear Toss” promotion, which is always one of the most popular events of the season. Fans are encouraged to purchase new Teddy Bears and other stuffed animals to bring to the gym. The stuffed animals will be donated to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
GIVE AWAYS
At all home games, Vanderbilt fans can look forward to several in-game promotions, including the T-shirt toss (thrown by cheerleaders during timeouts) and gold-shaker giveaways. There are also free posters and wallet-sized schedules available at the marketing tables and miniature basketballs will be throw into the stands during selected timeouts.