Feb. 3, 2017
Teams: Vanderbilt (11-11, 1-8) vs. No. 25 Kentucky (15-8, 6-4)
Day, Date: Sunday , Feb. 5
Tip-off time: 11 a.m. CT
Site: Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, Ky.)
Radio: WNSR 560 AM / 95.9 FM
TV: SEC Network
Game Notes: Vanderbilt Game Notes (UK) 
After a six-day gap between games, the Vanderbilt women are hoping to be close to full strength on Sunday when they travel to Lexington, Ky., to face the No. 25-ranked Wildcats. The Commodores (11-11, 1-8) — who will be in action for the first time since suffering a 93-73 loss to Florida last Sunday — have been hampered by injuries and illness in recent days, and head coach Stephanie White is hoping that her team will benefit from not having a mid-week game this week. The Commodores, who have lost 10 of past 11 games, are seeking their first road win since Dec. 8 at ETSU. Here’s a closer look at the Sunday’s game:
l Super-sized success: The Commodores have routinely enjoyed favorable results on Super Bowl Sunday throughout the program’s history, owning a 21-14 all-time record. The record is buoyed by a stretch in which they won eight straight from 2006-2014. Vanderbilt’s most recent game that coincided with Super Bowl Sunday was Feb. 1, 2015, when VU lost to Arkansas. (The Commodores were idle on Sunday Bowl Sunday last season).
l Update on the Commodores: Vanderbilt continues to be one of the most accurate and most prolific 3-point shooting teams in the country. The Commodores, who have compiled 22 three-pointers in the past two games, rank No. 3 in the nation in 3-point percentage at 40.9 (though Feb. 1) and are averaging an SEC-best 7.5 three-pointers per game. Vanderbilt has gone 22-of-46 (47.8 percent) from long range in the past two games. … Vanderbilt has been involved in a series of close games since the start of SEC play, with five of the VU’s eight SEC defeats having been decided by a combined 21 points (an average of margin of 4.2 points). In all five of those games, Vanderbilt was either in the lead, tied or trailing by three points or less entering the final minute.
l Rebounding machines: Marqu’es Webb and Kayla Overbeck are doing some impressive work on the glass this season. Over the past five games, the senior and the freshman have combined for 90 rebounds (Webb 49, Overbeck 41). During that same stretch, the other 10 players on the Vanderbilt have combined for 70 rebounds. (The Commodores have also been credited with 23 team rebounds in that span). For the season, Webb is the Commodores’ top rebounder — and ranks among the SEC’s best — with 9.2 boards per game, and she is averaging 9.9 rpg in conference play. Overbeck is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game for the season, including 8.2 since th start of the conference play.
l Erin Emerging: Freshmen Erin Whalen is getting into an SEC groove. The 6-1 sharpshooter from Charlotte, N.C., has averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 rebounds over the past four games after averaging 1.4 points and 0.8 rebounds in Vanderbilt’s first five SEC games. Whalen has reached double figures in each of the past three games, and has gone 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) from 3-point range in the past two games. Making her first career start against Alabama (1/26), she scored a game-high 22 points to fuel Vanderbilt’s 87-80 win. Whalen is shooting 41.3 percent from long range for the season.
l Without Walker: Cierra Walker has missed the past four games with a foot injury, which has temporarily interrupted her impressive freshman season. Walker leads the team in assists per game (3.3) and her assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) ranks fourth in the SEC and 33rd in the nation. Walker has made 30 three-pointers this season, which is tied for the team lead with Christa Reed.
l Mixing it up: Vanderbilt first-year head coach Stephanie White has used seven different combinations in the starting lineups this season, including three in the past six games. Ten of the 12 players on Vanderbilt’s roster have started at least one game, with Erin Whalen being the latest player to join the list. The freshman from Charlotte, N.C. earned the first starting assignment of her young career in the win over Alabama on Jan. 26, and she responded with a game-high 22 points.
l Hot and Cold: As would be expected of a team learning a new system, Vanderbilt has battled inconsistency this season, with the Commodores posting a 10-1 mark through the first 11 games, then dropping 10 of the past 11. Here’s a look at some of the contrasting numbers the Commodores have posted in their 10-1 start as compared to their past 11 games (1-10):
Points per game in first 11 games: 76.5
Points per game in past 11 games: 66.2
Points allowed in first 11 games: 65.8
Points allowed in past 11 games: 75.5
Field goal percentage in first 11 games: 45.0
Field goal percentage in past 11 games: 38.6
3-point percentage in first 11 games: 41.7
3-point percentage in past 11 games: 39.6
3-pointers per game in first 11 games: 8.0
3-pointers per game in past 11 games: 6.9
Free throw percentage in first 11 games: 78.4
Free throw percentage in past 11 games: 70.3
Free throws made per game in first 11 games: 16.5
Free throws made per game in past 11 games: 14.0
l Young guns: Vanderbilt’s touted freshmen class — Kayla Overbeck, Kaleigh Clemons-Green, LeaLea Carter, Cierra Walker, and Erin Whalen — continues to shine for the Commodores. The five-member class is combining for 33.8 points, 16.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. The five players have accounted for 47.3 percent of Vanderbilt’s scoring, 41.1 percent of VU’s rebounds and 52.4 percent of the team’s assists. The five players are also accounting for 47.5 percent of the Commodores’ 3-pointers.
l Overbeck in Overdrive: Freshman forward Kayla Overbeck has been a force for the Commodores throughout the season, and in the past month, she has taken her game to an even higher level. She is averaging 11.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the past seven games, and has reached double figures in six of those contests. She has posted five double-doubles this season, three of which have come in the past six games. Overbeck is shooting a team-best 54.9 percent from the field for the season, including 53.2 percent in conference play.
l Among the best: Despite the recent tough stretch, Vanderbilt continues to rank among the national and conference leaders in a wide range of categories:
Vanderbilt ranks third in the nation, and leads the SEC, in 3-point accuracy at 40.7 percent.
The Commodores are 13th in the country in free throws made (336) and 19th in free throws attempted (451).
Vanderbilt is fourth in the SEC in free throw percentage at 74.5.
Vanderbilt leads the SEC in 3-pointers made per game (7.5) and total 3-pointers made (164).
l Scouting Kentucky: The Wildcats have one of the top players in the SEC — Makayla Epps. The senior guard, a two-time All-SEC selection, is averaging 16.7 points per game (through Feb. 1), which ranks sixth in the conference. She also ranks eighth in assists (3.8) and ninth in FG percentage (48.5). … Kentucky’s Evelyn Akhator ranks 12th in the SEC in scoring at 15.1 ppg, and is third in rebounding at 10.4 per game. … The Wildcats are not careless with the ball. They are averaging just 12.4 turnovers per game, which is the fewest in the SEC and ranks 11th in the nation.
l Series History: Sunday’s game will be the 52nd all-time meeting between the teams, with Vanderbilt owning a 28-23 lead in the series. … The teams split two games last season, with each team winning on the opponents’ home floor (more on those games below). … Vanderbilt is 11-11 all-time on UK’s home floor. … The Wildcats have dominated the series in recent years, winning 10 of the past 11 meetings dating back to the 2010-2011. … Prior to that stretch, Vanderbilt went 22-1 against the Wildcats from 1991-2009.
l In elite company: The Commodores have several players who rank among the best in the SEC in multiple categories: Senior post player Marqu’es Webb ranks fourth in the SEC in rebounds per game at 9.2. She is second in the SEC in offensive rebounds (3.8 per game) and also ranks seventh on the conference’s career rebounding list among active players with 634. … Freshman Cierra Walker ranks fourth in the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.4 and is 13th in assists at 3.3 per game. … Kayla Overbeck ranks 10th in the conference in rebounds per game at 7.3. … Vanderbilt has three players who rank among the SEC’s top-10 in career 3-pointers: Rebekah Dahlman (seventh with 122), Rachel Bell (eighth with 103) and Christa Reed (ninth with 102).
l Shoeless Stephanie: Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie White coached barefoot during the game against Alabama to help raise awareness for Soles4Souls. White also coached barefoot during practice earlier in the week. “Soles4Souls is such a wonderful organization, and we are excited about doing our part to promote and assist them,” said White. “My hope is that coaching barefoot will bring awareness to those who don’t have the luxury of wearing shoes every day. We want to encourage everyone to donate and support the Soles4Souls mission.” Donation boxes for Soles4Souls were available at the game. Soles4Souls is a not for profit global social enterprise committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing.
l Impactful Improvements: The Commodores are on the upswing in numerous categories under the direction of first-year head coach Stephanie White. Through 22 games, Vanderbilt is averaging 71.4 points per game after scoring just 62.5 ppg last season. The Commodores are also making an SEC-best 7.5 three-pointers per game, compared to just 5.4 last season. Vanderbilt is converting 15.3 free throws per game this season after making only 11.4 last season.
l Ringing the Bell: Junior guard Rachel Bell has established herself as a consistent force for the Commodore offense. Bell, who leads the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game, has reached double figures in 16 games, including six of past seven. Bell has gone 6-of-12 from 3-point range over the past two games and is shooting 41.7 percent from behind the arc for the season. She averaged 15.3 points per game during a seven-game stretch from Nov. 20 through Dec. 8.
l Last time out: The Vanderbilt women were unable to slow down the SEC’s leading scorer on Sunday at Memorial Gym. Florida’s Ronni Williams exploded for a career-high 43 points and also pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds to help the Gators saddle the Commodores with a 93-73 loss at Memorial Gym. The Commodores (11-11, 1-8) were led by Rebekah Dahlman’s 18 points. Kayla Overbeck had her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Erin Whalen and Rachel Bell added 14 points apiece for Vanderbilt. Trailing 65-46 early in the fourth quarter, the Commodores reeled off a 10-0 run to trim Florida’s lead to 65-56 with 5:16 remaining. But Williams halted the Commodores’ run with a jumper at the 4:57 mark, and Vanderbilt never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
l Last year’s games vs. Kentucky: Vanderbilt split a pair of games with the Wildcats last season, with each team winning on the opponents’ home floor. Here’s a brief recap:
Vanderbilt 71, Kentucky 69 (Jan. 28, 2016): The Commodores stunned the No. 12-ranked ‘Cats 71-69 in Lexington, marking Vanderbilt’s first road win over ranked opponents since Dec. 16, 2012 and ending the Commodores’ nine-game losing streak in the series. Christa Reed knocked down two 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds, including the go-ahead shot with 1:26 to play, and the Commodores secured the victory when Marqu’es Webb blocked a potential game-tying shot by Kentucky’s Janee Thompson with two seconds left. Reed scored all of her team-high 19 points in the second half and and Rebekah Dahlman added 18 points. Reed sustained a busted lip — and had a tooth knocked loose — when she took an elbow to the face in the second half.
Kentucky 71, Vanderbilt 55 (Feb. 8, 2016): Alexis Jennings had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the No. 18-ranked Wildcats to the win in Nashville. Janee Thompson added 15 points for Kentucky, and Evelyn Akhator had 10 points and six rebounds. Christa Reed finished with 17 for the Commodores. who trailed 28-19 at the half and were down 46-32 at the end of the third period. Vanderbilt cut the deficit to eight points on two occasions in the fourth quarter, but Kentucky never allowed the Commodores to mount any prolonged scoring runs.
l Looking ahead: The Commodores visit Miss. State on Feb. 9.