Jan. 30, 2018
Vanderbilt (5-17, 1-7 SEC) at Ole Miss (11-10, 1-7 SEC)
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018 | 6 PM CT | SEC Network+
Oxford, Miss. (The Pavilion at Ole Miss)
Complete Game Notes (PDF) | | SEC Network+ | Listen Live
Starting Five
1. The Commodores will hit the road on a Thursday for the first time in SEC action when they travel to Oxford, Miss., to take on Ole Miss. The teams will square off on the SEC Network+ at 6 pm CT. Vanderbilt, who is coming off a 91-67 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M in their last outing, is looking to snap it current two-game skid when it takes on the Rebels. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series, 32-16 and has won 10 of the last 12 meetings.
2. Vanderbilt enters Thursday’s contest after dropping a 91-67 contest to No. 15 Texas A&M on Sunday. The Commodores were led by Chelsie Hall who had 16 points and led a trio of players in double figures. Joining Hall in double figures was Kayla Overbeck with 14 points and Christa Reed with 13 points. Reed also led the way on the glass with six rebounds. Vanderbilt is averaging 69.2 points per game in SEC action but in two of the last three games has scored 75+ points including a SEC-high 82 points against South Carolina.
3. Thursday’s meeting between the Commodores and Rebels will be the 49th meeting between the teams. Vanderbilt enters Thursday’s game as winners of 10 of the last 12 meetings but will be making their first appearance in Ole Miss’ new arena, The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Despite holding a series advantage, the Commodores have only won in Oxford eight times, the last coming in 2013-14. In the last four regular-season meetings the margin of victory is just 7.75 points.
4. Chelsie Hall has been having a great freshman season and leads the Commodores in scoring with 13.1 points per game, which ranks No. 2 among SEC freshmen scorers. The Florida native, has posted 15 games in double figures this season to lead the Dores and has reached double figures in eight of the last 10 games. Over the last 10 contests, Hall is averaging 14.4 points per game and is averaging 12.6 points per game in SEC contests.
5. Christa Reed is nearing the 1,000-point mark after recording 13 points against Texas A&M. Reed, who has been in double figures in each of the last four games, needs just 48 points to reach the milestone. Reed will need to average 6.0 points per game over the final eight games of the regular season to hit the mark. Reed is averaging 10.0 points per game and 10.9 points per game against SEC foes.
Setting the Scene
-The Commodores will hit the road for their first midweek SEC contest when they travel to take on the Ole Miss Rebels on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 6 pm CT from The Pavilion at Ole Miss and will be available on SEC Network+.
Last Time Out
-Vanderbilt dropped a 91-67 contest to No. 15 Texas A&M on Sunday. Chelsie Hall led the Vanderbilt offense with 16 points. Hall was joined in double figures by teammates, Kayla Overbeck and Christa Reed with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Reed also added a team-best six rebounds and reached double figures for the fourth consecutive game.
Scouting Report
-Ole Miss enters Thursday’s game with an 11-10, 1-7 SEC record after a 69-49 loss to Mississippi State on Sunday. Junior Madinah Muhammad leads the way with 17.8 points per game and leads a pair of players in double figures. Alissa Alston is also in double figures with 14.4 points per game. Freshman Promise Taylor leads the rebounding efforts with 6.4 rebounds per game to go with 9.5 points per game. Ole Miss has dropped its last four games and seven of its last eight contests.
With A Win
-The Commodores will pick up their second SEC win and snap their current three-game skid. The win would also move the all-time series to 33-16 and give Vanderbilt its third straight win over the Commodores and 11th win in the last 12 meetings.
Hittin’ The Road
The Commodores will hit the road for the first time on a Thursday in SEC play this week when they travel to Ole Miss. While Thursday may be the first SEC road trip it won’t be the last over the final month of the regular season, Vanderbilt will hit the road for three of the four Thursday’s with the lone home game coming on Feb. 15 when they host Mississippi State for the annual Pink Game. The Dores are hoping to turn the tide on the road in final month of the regular season and pick up their first SEC road win.
Chelsie Hall Doing Chelsie Hall Things …
Freshman Chelsie Hall has put together an impressive freshman campaign thus far. The rookie from Boca Raton, Florida is leading the Commodores in scoring with 13.1 points per game and has started every game this season. She’s reached double figures in 15 games this season and in eight of Vanderbilt’s last 10 games, including a career-best 26 against Belmont. Hall’s scored 20+ in three contests this season.
Christa Reed Drops Double Figures for Third Straight Game
Christa Reed has stepped up her offensive production over the last four games. The senior is averaging 15.0 points per game over the last four games, 5.0 points over her 10.0 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 five of the last six games.
Overbeck at Her Best Off the Bench
Kayla Overbeck has had a bit of an up and down sophomore campaign but has been strong off the bench for the Commodores. In the five games she’s started this season, she’s averaging 6.4 points per game compared to 8.9 points per game in contests she has come off the bench. Of Overbeck’s 10 games in double figures, just one has come in a start when she scored 15 points against Lipscomb.
Dores Offense Settling In
Vanderbilt’s offense over the last three games has been improved. Entering the Texas A&M game, Vanderbilt had shot better than 50 percent from the field in games vs. Alabama and South Carolina. The Vanderbilt offense has been efficient over the last six contests, with an average of .482 percent (162-336) from the floor and 72.8 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 .741 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 .909 percent Sophomore. Kayla Overbeck is also getting it done from the free throw line. She’s 13-of-15 over the last five games and on the year is shooting .792 (42-of-53) from the charity stripe.