Jan. 4, 2016
UPDATE ON THE DORES
RECORD: 11-3, 0-1
LAST FIVE GAMES: 4-1
UPCOMING GAMES:
Jan. 7: host South Carolina, 8 p.m.
Jan. 10: at Alabama, 2 p.m.
Jan. 14: host LSU, 7 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: @VandyWBB l Facebook: Vandy Hoops l Instagram: vandywbb
After going more than two weeks without a home game, the Vanderbilt women will be looking to re-establish their Memorial momentum in the next few days. But it won’t be easy. The Commodores — who are undefeated (8-0) at home this season — will welcome No. 2-ranked South Carolina to Memorial Gym on Thursday night for a game that will be televised on the SEC Network. The Commodores then hit the road for a Sunday game at Alabama before returning home to face another tough challenge the following Thursday, when LSU visits Nashville. Here’s a look at what’s happening now and what’s ahead for the Commodores:
LOOKING TO START A NEW STREAK
The Commodores dropped their SEC opener on Sunday afternoon, falling to Ole Miss 55-52 in Oxford, Miss. The defeat ended Vanderbilt’s 10-game winning streak. Vanderbilt owned a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Rebels rallied late to stun the Commodores in the final game ever played at Tad Smith Coliesum. Vanderbilt’s 10-game winning streak — which began with four wins in late November, followed by an undefeated December — was the team’s longest since the 2011-12 season, when the Commodores opened the year with 10 consecutive victories. Vanderbilt wrapped up its non-conference schedule in memorable style, winning the Fordham Holiday Classic in New York by defeating New Mexico State 71-45 in the opening round and beating host Fordham 53-40 in the championship game. Rebekah Dahlman was named the tournament’s MVP.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
THIS IS OUR JAM
The Commodores will host their annual “Jam the Gym” promotion on Jan. 25 when Vanderbilt hosts Alabama at 6 p.m. All tickets can be purchased for $1 by calling 615-322-GOLD or by visiting the ticket office in the McGugin Center. … Also, the game against Alabama has also been designated as Vanderbilt’s “We Back Pat” game, and more details on that event will available soon. The “We Back Pat” campaign — named in honor of former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt — is a week-long initiative focused on building support for The Pat Summitt Foundation and the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
A CAUSE GREATER THAN OUR OWN
Vanderbilt’s game against Kentucky on Feb. 14 has been marked as this season’s “Play for Kay/Pink-out” game at Memorial Gym. Fans are encouraged to wear pink, and the Vanderbilt players will also be wearing special uniforms as the WBB program shows its support for the fight against breast cancer. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and The V Foundation, is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research and related projects, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause. It is named in honor of Kay Yow, the former North Carolina State University head coach, who passed away on Jan. 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. To date, the Fund has contributed $5.18 million in support of women’s cancer research.
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.