Jan. 20, 2018
Vanderbilt (5-15, 1-5 SEC at Alabama (13-6, 3-3 SEC)
Sunday Jan. 21, 2018 | 2 PM CT | SEC Network+
Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Coleman Coliseum)
Complete Game Notes (PDF) | Livestats | SECN+
Starting Five
1. After three consecutive home games, the Commodores are back on the road this weekend when they travel to Alabama to face the Crimson Tide. The teams will square off at 2 pm CT from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in their lone meeting this season. Vanderbilt is looking to maintain momentum after a good showing against the defending national champion, South Carolina Gamecocks. Vanderbilt leads the series 34-14 and has won eight of the last 10 meetings between the teams.
2.Vanderbilt enters Sundays’ contest on the heels of a 95-82 loss to the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday. Erin Whalen led the way with a career-best 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. Christa Reed also added a season-high 23 points, just two points shy of her career best. Cierra Walker was also in double figures for the fourth straight game with 13 points and a team-high six rebounds. Vanderbilt’s 82 points are the most points of the Commodores in SEC play and the second most all season.
3. Sunday’s meeting between the Commodores and Crimson Tide will be the 48th meeting between the two teams, with Vanderbilt leading 34-13. Vanderbilt has won eight of the last 10 meetings between the teams and nine of the last 10 regular-season meeting, despite a 20-point loss to the Crimson Tide in the 2017-18 SEC Tournament in Greenville, SC. The last 10 meetings between the teams have been fairly close with the average margin of victory being 9.8 points per game.
4. Erin Whalen had led the Vanderbilt reserves against South Carolina with a career-best 25 points of the bench. Whalen’s 25 points marked the third game in the last four games in which Whalen has reached double figures. Whalen is averaging 14.25 points per game over the last four games, nearly 6.5 points per game over her season average of 7.9 points. Whalen averaged just 5.5 points per game over the first 10 games and has upped her average to 10.2 points per game over the last 10 games.
5.Christa Reed is inching her way closer to 1,000 points with a season-high 23 points against the Gamecocks. Reed, who entered the game needing 96 points to reach the milestone, is now just 73 points away and will need to average just 7.4 points per game the rest of the season to hit the milestone, well within range of her 9.8 points per game average. Reed has reached double figures three times in the last four games and is averaging 10.3 points per game in SEC action.
Setting the Scene
After three consecutive home games, the Commodores are hitting the road when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama. The teams will tipoff Sunday at 2 pm on SEC Network+.
Last Time Out
Vanderbilt dropped a 95-82 contest to the defending national champion, South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday night in Memorial Gym. Erin Whalen led the offense with a career-best 25 points off the bench, while Christa Reed added a season-high 23 points. Cierra Walker extended her double figures scoring streak to four straight games with 13 points and a team-best six rebounds.
Scouting Report
Alabama enters Sundays’ game with a 13-6, 3-3 SEC record after a 73-54 home loss to Texas A&M on Thursday. The Crimson Tide opened the SEC slate with a 3-1 record and has a 1-2 record at home. Hannah Cook leads a pair in double figures with 11.5 points per game while Ashley Williams is also adding 10.8 points per game and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game. The teams have non-conference common opponents in NC State and Lipscomb.
With A Win
The Commodores will pick up their second SEC win and first SEC road win of the season. Vanderbilt would move to 6-15, 2-5 SEC and win for the 14th time in Tuscaloosa.
Whalen Strong off the Bench
Erin Whalen had a career-best 25 points off the bench against the defending national Gamecocks. Whalen’s 25 points are the most for the Charlotte native this season and marked her fifth career 20-point game. Whalen has peaked in SEC play and is averaging 10.7 points per game in SEC games, increasing her average by 5.5 points per game in league play.
Christa Reed Nets 23 vs. South Carolina
Christa Reed had one her of best games of the season against South Carolina netting 23 points for a season-high against the Gamecocks. Reed scored 20 or more points for the first time this season and for the eighth time in her career.
Turnovers Not a Problem vs. Gamecocks
The Commodores have struggled with turnovers this season but had a season-low eight turnovers against the defending national champions. Vanderbilt’s low prior to the South Carolina game was 10 in a loss to Belmont.
They Shoot, They Score …
Not only did the Commodores take care of the ball, they also shot the ball well. For the third time this season, Vanderbilt shot better than 50 percent (33-of-65) and tallied 82 points, the second most points for the Commodores this season, trailing just the 92 points they scored in a win over Lipscomb. Vanderbilt’s 82 points are a season-high in SEC play.