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Vanderbilt hits the road for a pair of tough challenges

steph whitesteph white

GAME NOTES

NASHVILLE  – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team hits the road for a pair of tough challenges this weekend. The squad takes on No. 17 NC State on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina before traveling to Uncasville, Connecticut to square off against No. 2 UCONN at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can watch Thursday’s game on ACC Network+ and Saturday’s on ESPN3, follow live stats or listen to Max Herz on WNSR 560 AM or 95.9 FM.
 
STARTING FIVE

  1. Vanderbilt won its first contest of the season on Monday night in Memorial Gymnasium against Austin Peay, 99-70. This was the first game all season that the Commodores had a lead headed into the half, 42-35.
  2. Vanderbilt outscored APSU 57-35 over the final half and out-shot the Govs from the field (60.3 percent to 38.8 percent), beyond the arc (46.2 percent to 31.4 percent) and from the stripe (76.7 percent to 41.2 percent).
  3. Multiple Commodores had outstanding performances in Monday night’s contest, one of which was junior Cierra Walker. Walker had 16 second-half points. She drilled four triples on the night. Walker shot 44 percent from beyond the arc and 57 percent from the field. The Oregon City, Oregon native netted 22 points for a new career-high. Her previous of 21 was set against SIUE on December 3, 2016.
  4. Chelsie Hall nearly surpassed her career-high of 26 at Middle Tennessee State last Friday by netting 23 with 14 second-half points. The sophomore then racked up 12 against Austin Peay for her 22nd game straight in double-digits.
  5. Cierra Walker netted a new career-high of 22 points on Monday. Her previous high of 21 was against SIUE on December 3, 2016. The junior had 12 points from beyond the arc.

 
SCOUTING REPORTS
NC STATE

  • NC State has won 20 consecutive non-conference games played on its home court.
  • Five Wolfpack players are averaging double-digit scoring this season.
  • Junior guard Aislinn Konig has hit at least one three-pointer in 35 consecutive games dating back to November 15, 2017. She hit 91 last season for a new program-record.

UCONN

  • UCONN boasts three players that were named to watch lists for awards specific to their positions: Napheesa Collier to the Katrina McClain Award (top power forward), Katie Lou Samuelson to Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (top shooting guard) and Crystal Dangerfield to Nancy Liberman Award (top point guard).
  • The trio was also named to the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch list.
  • The Huskies are currently 2-0 on the season with wins over Post University and Bridgeport.

 
UP NEXT
The Commodores return home for a pair of contests against Tennessee State on November 21 and Presbyterian on November 25.