Jan. 18, 2018
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A gutsy effort from Vanderbilt wasn’t enough against the defending national champions on Thursday.
Facing No. 10 South Carolina, the Commodores trailed by single-digits for much of the second half but were unable to close, falling to the visiting Gamecocks 95-82 at Memorial Gym.
Here’s how it went down:
THE SKINNY: South Carolina was the aggressor early, jumping out to a 7-0 lead to steal early momentum. But despite leading by as many as eight points, the Gamecocks led by just four at the end of the first quarter. In the next period, South Carolina hit its first five shots before Vanderbilt found its own groove. Two Christa Reed free throws with one second to play had the Dores trailing 48-40 at half. Despite slicing the deficit to just one bucket late in the third, Vanderbilt allowed South Carolina to regain momentum in the fourth and hold on for the win in the second half.
TURNING POINT: Kaleigh Clemons-Green sank a floater with 2:40 left in the third to trim South Carolina’s lead to 62-60. But the Gamecocks ended the quarter on an 11-2 run, capped by a running 3-pointer from Alexis Jennings at the buzzer. That sent USC into the fourth quarter leading 73-62.
IMPACT PLAYER: Christa Reed and Erin Whalen. Vanderbilt’s senior-sophomore duo carried the scoring load against South Carolina. Reed finished two points short of a career-high with 23 points while Whalen notched a new career-high with 25 points.
STARTLING STAT: 56 – USC’s points in the paint. South Carolina’s Alexis Jennings and LeLe Grissett – among others — had their way with the Commodores in the post. The Gamecocks amassed a whopping 56 points in the paint, including 27 from Jennings alone.
WHAT IT MEANS: In its third meeting against a top-15 opponent in four games, Vanderbilt’s determined effort falls short against South Carolina. The Commodores fall to 5-15 overall and 1-5 in SEC play.
WHAT’S NEXT: Vanderbilt travels to Alabama on Sunday for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff on SEC Network+.
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.