Dec. 12, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Squeaks and bounces reverberated through a near-empty Memorial Gym on a recent December morning. Following a sweat-inducing women’s basketball practice, the court in cavernous Memorial was vacant with the exception of three figures: Commodores’ head coach Stephanie White, freshman guard Chelsie Hall and a student manager.
The rest of Vanderbilt’s squad had headed to the locker room for the morning. But Hall and her coach stuck around to hone some fundamentals.
“We were working on her getting in the paint,” White recalled later. “Right now, she’s got to learn how to protect the ball a little better, develop ways to get around help defenders. The next phase will be decision-making.”
Extra work is the norm for Hall, one piece of a freshman pair already making an impact for Vanderbilt this season. Hall and fellow freshman Autumn Newby have become mainstays in the Commodores’ starting lineup; Hall has started all 10 games and Newby has started the past nine. For the second season in a row, White’s squad had a decidedly freshman feel to it.
But the youngest Dores have shown out thus far in 2017. Hall ranks second among SEC freshmen in scoring (13.3 points per game) and has recorded six games in double figures. Newby, meanwhile, is a beast on the glass whose 8.0 rebounding average is third-best among SEC freshmen. Newby already has three games with double-figure rebounds.
Vanderbilt’s two newcomers have seemingly found their niche despite a steep learning curve.
“Adjusting to the college game has been a little challenging,” said Newby, who averaged a double-double as a prep senior in Lawrenceville, Ga. “When you get to college, everyone is on your level or better. You have to step up your game a lot just to keep up. But I think Chelsie and I have done a good job of adjusting to the game and the pace.”
Vanderbilt entered the year returning a host of experience, including five sophomores who played significantly as freshmen. Two of those sophomores earned All-SEC Freshman honors in forwards Kayla Overbeck and Erin Whalen. But the Commodores also lost proven leadership in departing seniors Minta Spears and Marqu’es Webb. That’s where White has been most impressed with Hall and Newby thus far.
“Where both of them have exceeded expectations is in their leadership, leading by example in how hard they play,” White said. “Chelsie’s starting to be a little more vocal, and Autumn is really coming on in practice. It’s been impressive.”
Hall’s agility and Newby’s penchant for cleaning the glass has earned them starting roles. Hall has led the Commodores in scoring twice, including a career-high 25 points in an 88-79 loss to Ball State on Nov. 20. Newby, meanwhile, has paced Vanderbilt in rebounding in six contests.
Starting for the Dores is a point of pride for both freshmen.
“I knew Coach White was putting me in for a reason,” said Hall, a Seffner, Fla. native. “I just knew I had to give it all I had when I was on the floor and just play my game.”
Added Newby: “There should be some leadership and leading by example [as a starter]. If you’re starting, Coach White trusts you on the floor. You have to lead by example, bring energy, all of it.”
White hopes Vanderbilt’s freshmen can help spark a reversal in fortunes prior to its gauntlet of SEC play. The Commodores are 3-7 this season, but following a 1-6 start, they have won two of three ahead of Saturday’s home date with Memphis at Memorial Gym.
Hall and Newby are proud to make an early impact for Vanderbilt. But now they’re ready to win, too.
“It’s important that we start playing to our full potential,” Newby said. “Entering SEC play, you have to be playing to your full potential. We just have to put these losses behind us and come out strong in these next few games.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.