Hall fuels Vanderbilt in loss to MTSU

BOX SCORE

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Chelsie Hall collected 23 points, but the Commodores fell short in a close 65-58 loss to Middle Tennessee State University Friday night in the Murphy Center. 
 
The Skinny
Date: Nov. 9, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM CT
Place: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Murphy Center)
 
At the Top of the Charts
Points: Chelsie Hall – 23 points
Rebounds: Brinae Alexander, Mariella Fasoula – 7 rebounds
Assists: Chelsie Hall, Jordyn Cambridge – 3 assists
Steals: Kaleigh Clemons-Green – 2 steals
 
How It Happened
First Quarter: MTSU 23, Vanderbilt 11
The squads exchanged points to open the quarter, but Middle Tennessee buried a triple to break a 4-4 tie and ignite 17 unanswered points for a commanding 20-4 lead. The Blue Raiders shot 60 percent from three while holding the Commodores without a 3-pointer in the first period. 
 
Second Quarter: MTSU 34, Vanderbilt 21
Vanderbilt held Middle Tennessee to just 11 points and 25 percent shooting in the second stanza. LeaLea Carter drove in hard to spark a 9-0 run for the Commodores that spanned over the final three minutes and into the half. 
 
Third Quarter: MTSU 47, Vanderbilt 32
Hall laid one in to open the half and cut the lead to 11, 34-23, but MTSU answered with a 3-pointer and back-to-back jumpers to extend its lead to 18, 41-23. A triple from Kaleigh Clemons-Green set the quarter score, 47-32. 
 
Fourth Quarter: MTSU 65, Vanderbilt 58
Vanderbilt came into the fourth quarter hot, opening on a 12-3 run to cut it to six, 50-44, with 3:33 left to play. However, made free throws kept the Blue Raiders in front. Hall buried a trey with 1:29 left on the clock to cut the lead to five, 56-51. But MTSU made nine of its 11 attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch to set the final score, 65-58. 
 
Inside the Lane
Middle Tennessee shot 50 percent from three on the night while holding Vanderbilt to just 31.3 percent. The squad also out-shot the Commodores in the field, 42.9 percent to 34.5 percent. 
-Vanderbilt edged MTSU on the offensive boards, 9-to-7.
-The Commodores forced 23 turnovers. 
-VU placed three in double-digits in Kaleigh Clemons-Green (10), Mariella Fasoula (10) and Chelsie Hall (23).
-Brinae Alexander and Fasoula tied to lead all players with seven boards each. 
-Vanderbilt drops to 0-2 on the season while MTSU improves to 1-0. 
 
Dangerous with Double-Digits
Sophomore Chelsie Hall neared her career-high (26) tonight by netting 23. This marks the 21st career game that she has been in double-digits. 
 
Up Next
Vanderbilt will welcome in Austin Peay on Monday. Tip is set for 7 p.m. 
All game times CENTRAL
 
Keep Up with the Commodores
For more information on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team check them out on the website at www.vucommodores.com, Twitter at @VandyWBB, Instagram at @VandyWBB and on Facebook at Vandy Hoops.