Jan. 27, 2018
Vanderbilt (5-16, 1-6 SEC vs. No. 15/15 Texas A&M (16-5, 5-2 SEC)
Sunday Jan. 28, 2018 | 2 PM CT | SEC Network
Nashville, Tenn. (Memorial Gym)
Complete Game Notes (PDF) | | SEC Network | Listen Live
Starting Five
1.The Commodores return to the friendly-confines of Memorial Gym when they welcome No. 15 Texas A&M to Nashville on Sunday. The teams will square off in front of a nationally- televised audience on the SEC Network at 2 pm with LaChina Robinson and Tiffany Greene on the call. Vanderbilt is looking to turn the tide after dropping a heartbreaking 77-75 contest on the road at Alabama last Sunday. The series is deadlocked at 4-4 although the Aggies have won the last three meetings.
2.Vanderbilt enters Sundays’ contest on the heels of a heartbreaking 77-75 road loss at Alabama. The Commodores were led by 21 points from Chelsie Hall and 20 points off the bench from sophomore Erin Whalen, who reached 20 points for the second consecutive game. Autumn Newby led the rebounding efforts with a team-best six boards. Vanderbilt averages just 69.6 points in SEC but over the last two games is averaging 78.5 points per game – nearly 9.0 ppg over their season average.
3. Sunday’s meeting between the Commodores and Aggies will be the ninth meeting between the teams, with the series tied at 4. Texas A&M enters the game as winners of the last three meetings between the teams while Vanderbilt is in search of its first home win over the Aggies since 2013-14 – a thrilling 71-69 contest in Memorial Gym. The averaging margin of victory between the teams is 11.1 ppg with three of the last five being decided by 10 points or less.
4. Erin Whalen has been a spark off the bench for the Commodores in the last two games. Whalen has posted back-to-back games of 20 or more, including a career-best 25 points against South Carolina. The Charlotte, N.C., native is averaging 22.5 points per game over the last two and 15.4 points per game over the last five games. Whalen, who’s season average is 8.4 points per game, averaged just 6.6 points per game in the non-conference.
5. Christa Reed is nearing the 1,000-point mark after scoring 12 points at Alabama. Reed needs just 61 points to hit the milestone 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 9.9 points per game average. Reed has reached double figures four times in the last five games and is averaging 10.6 points per game in SEC action.
Setting the Scene
-After a road trip to Alabama, the Commodores are back at home at Memorial Gym when they host No. 15 Texas A&M on Sunday in the annual We Back Pat game. The teams will tipoff at 2 pm on the SEC Network.
Last Time Out
-Vanderbilt dropped a heartbreaking 77-75 road contest at Alabama last Sunday. Chelsie Hall and Erin Whalen combined for 45 of Vanderbilt’s 75 points against the Crimson Tide. Hall led the way with a game-high 21 points while Autumn Newby added a team-best six rebounds. Christa Reed was also in double figures with 12 points and for her third straight game in double figures.
Scouting Report
-Texas A&M enters Sunday’s game with a 16-5, 5-2 SEC record after defeating LSU, 69-59 on Monday night. Freshman Chennedy Carter leads the way with a whooping 20.8 points per game to lead a quartet of double figure scorers. Annriel Howard leads the way on the glass with 12.6 rebounds per game and is contributing 11.6 points per game. Khaalia Hillsman (15.8 ppg) and Danni Williams (14.6 ppg) round out the Aggies’ double-digit scorers. Texas A&M is winners of its last two games and has won five of its last six including an overtime win over Tennessee.
With A Win
-The Commodores will pick up their second SEC win and snap Texas A&M’s three-game win streak in the series. A win would also give the Commodores a 4-3 series advantage.
-A win would also give the Commodores its first win of the season over a ranked opponent and first since a road win over No. 12 Kentucky in 2015-16. It would be the first home win over a ranked opponent since knocking off No. 24 Missouri, 56-52 to close the 2015-16 regular season.
Another Day … Another Ranked Foe
The Commodores are used to playing ranked foes in the SEC and Sunday’s match up will be their fourth ranked opponent in the last six games. Vanderbilt is seeking its first win over a ranked opponent this season. Each of the ranked foes Vanderbilt has faced this season are currently in the top 15. The Commodores are looking for their first home win over a ranked foe since 2015-16 when they defeated No. 24 Missouri to close the regular-season.
USA Basketball Connection
Sunday’s game will feature a pair of USA Basketball U19 teammates in Vanderbilt’s Kayla Overbeck and Texas A&M’s Chennedy Carter. The pair teamed up over the summer to play in the U19 World Cup in Italy where they earned a silver medal. In addition to Overbeck and Carter, Tyasha Harris from South Carolina was a member of the team.
Whalen On Fire Off the Bench
Erin Whalen has been on fire off the bench for the Commodores especially over the last two games. The Charlotte, N.C., native has posted back-to-back 20-point outings, including a career-best 25 points against South Carolina. Over the last two games, Whalen is averaging 22.5 points per game and has been in double figures in four of the last five games. Whalen, who averaged 6.6 points per game in non-conference action, is averaging 8.4 points per game on the season, a number that has jumped to 12.0 points per game against SEC foes.
Whalen Perfect from Deep vs. Crimson Tide
Erin Whalen‘s range was on display against Alabama when the sophomore nailed a career-best five three-point field goals, on a perfect 5-of-5 outing from deep. Whalen has hit a triple in each of the last five games and over the last two games is averaging 4.0 3-PT field goals per game. #ShootersGonnaShoot
Chelsie Hall Gets Back in Her Groove
Freshman Chelsie Hall, fresh of her first scoreless game of her career, was back to her old self against the Crimson Tide. The freshman tallied her third career 20-point outing with a team-best 21 points and was one assist shy of a double-double with a career-best nine assists. Her nine assists are the most since Minta Spears had seven assists last season against LSU (Feb. 13). Hall’s nine assists is a season best for a Commodore.
Christa Reed Drops Double Figures for Third Straight Game
Christa Reed has stepped up her offensive production over the last three games. The senior is averaging 15.6 points per game over the last three games, well over her 9.9 season average. She tallied her first 20-point game with a season-high 23 points against South Carolina and has been in double figures in four of the last five games.
Dores Offense Settling In
For the second consecutive game, Vanderbilt shot better than 50 percent from the field against Alabama. The Commodores shot 51.1 percent (24-of-47) and tallied 75 points. This comes on the heels of a 50 percent outing against South Carolina where Vanderbilt shot 33-of-65 from the floor. The Vanderbilt offense has been efficient over the last five contests, with an average of .482 percent (135-280) from the floor and 74.0 points per game. In comparison, through the first two SEC game, Vanderbilt was shooting just .394 and averaging 58.5 points per game.
Charity Stripe Is Money for the Commodores
The Commodores are quite efficient from the line, shooting .744 which ranks No. 3 in the SEC. Vanderbilt has eight players shooting at least 70 percent or better from the stripe led by Erin Whalen who is a perfect 15-of-15 from the line this year while Christa Reed who is shooting .905 percent Sophomore. Kayla Overbeck is also getting it done from the free throw line. She’s 13-of-13 over the last four games and on the year is shooting .824 (42-of-51) from the charity stripe.
Sharpshooters Walker and Whalen
Cierra Walker has been lethal from long range since the start of SEC play. Walker is shooting .568 percent (21-of-37) from long range against SEC foes and is averaging 3.6 3-PT field goals over the last five contests. Erin Whalen has also got a hot hand from long range, she’s shooting .386 on the season from deep and the number increases to .517 percent in SEC play. As a team, the Commodores are shooting .401 percent from long range on the season and .432 in SEC play. The Dores .401 percentage ranks No. 5 nationally and is tops in the SEC.