Feb. 23, 2018
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As Senior Day approaches for Vanderbilt women’s basketball, Commodore senior guard Myka Dancy has taken time to reflect on her college career. A former walk-on, Dancy now recognizes just how fleeting the life of a student-athlete can be.
“I feel like time definitely flies,” Dancy said.
But, she offers a qualifier.
“Don’t get me wrong, I can feel it in my body and my bones,” the senior joked. “I’m a little tired.”
Following Vanderbilt’s home game vs. Arkansas on Sunday (2 p.m. CT SEC Network+), the Commodores will honor Dancy and senior guards Rachel Bell and Christa Reed during Senior Day ceremonies. As that trio prepares to play its final game at Memorial Gymnasium, all three have begun to look back upon their Commodore careers.
“We’ve been through everything together,” Bell said. “The last coaching staff, this coaching staff – we’ve been through it all together. Our careers have helped us become really close, and we’ll always have those memories.”
Bell and Reed arrived at Vanderbilt ahead of the 2014-15 season, while Dancy joined one season later as a sophomore. Bell and Reed developed from role players into consistent starters by their sophomore seasons. Bell, a native of Cumberland Furnace, Tenn. and a former McDonald’s All-America nominee, led the Dores in scoring (11.3 points per game) last season, one year after Reed finished as the team scoring leader (11.6) in 2015-16. This season, both seniors eclipsed the 1,000-point scoring mark for their careers.
Dancy, meanwhile, has become a vocal leader as a walk-on in 14 career appearances as a Commodore. But head coach Stephanie White said all three seniors – a relatively soft-spoken group – have stepped up as leaders when needed.
“Rachel, Christa and Myka have done everything we’ve asked of them from day one,” White said. “I think the biggest thing is they have all tried to step outside their comfort zone this year. Their on-court presence is big, but their off-court presence, that ability to become a leader and do something that’s not natural, is big. That speaks to their selflessness and them wanting to leave the program in a better place than they found it.”
Amid coaching change and fewer wins than anticipated, Bell, Dancy and Reed say they have grown exponentially since arriving on campus as wide-eyed freshman.
“I’ve grown a lot,” Bell said. “I came in freshman year and let a lot of adversity affect me, my happiness and how I was on a daily basis. Through obstacles and adversity, I’ve definitely matured. I’ve learned how to leave my stuff out of the gym and have positive energy on the floor.”
Added Dancy: “I came into Vanderbilt as a super quiet, super shy person. I didn’t want to say much. Now I’m trying to be as vocal as I can in practice. It’s really been a full turnaround for me.”
The seniors’ final season in black and gold hasn’t gone as planned, but the three veterans expect to end their Commodore careers on a high note. With a win over Arkansas on Senior Day, Vanderbilt could carry that momentum into next week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville. The tournament begins Feb. 28 at Bridgestone Arena.
But first, Vanderbilt’s seniors might have to fend off some emotions on Sunday in Memorial Gym.
“I’m not much of a crier, but who knows?” Bell said. “It may happen. It’s going to be a special moment.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.