Nov. 10, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt dug itself out of an early hole against Middle Tennessee. But the Dores didn’t have enough gas to hang on.
Turnovers and fouls helped a new-look Vanderbilt women’s basketball squad drop its home opener against nearby Middle Tennessee, 65-54, on Friday night.
Let’s clean the glass from Vanderbilt’s loss:
THE SKINNY: MTSU imposed its will early by hitting its first four shots and building an 11-4 lead. At the end of the first quarter, the Commodores trailed 22-14 thanks to 10 points in the paint from the Blue Raiders. Vanderbilt rallied to take a 23-22 lead with 6:34 until half on a Kayla Overbeck layup, but MTSU took a 30-26 lead in to the break. But foul trouble and mistakes plagued the Commodores in the second half, allowing MTSU to maintain control until the end.
TURNING POINT: Overbeck fouled out with 3:59 left in the third quarter and Middle Tennessee leading 40-29. At the time, she led Vanderbilt with 10 points, and the Dores never found the same energy in the sophomore’s absence. Middle Tennessee ended up scoring 19 points in the third quarter.
IMPACT PLAYER: Chelsie Hall. The freshman guard showed a spark in her first collegiate start, finishing with nine points, three assists and three rebounds. Still, Hall showed her youth in coughing up six turnovers on the night.
STARTLING STAT: 19 – turnovers for Vanderbilt. The Commodores forced 17 miscues from MTSU but effectively negated that defense by turning the ball over on their own. The Blue Raiders scored nine points off those turnovers.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Commodores begin Stephanie White’s second season 0-1.
WHAT’S NEXT: Vanderbilt hits the road to take on Central Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.