No. 12 Commodores Defeat South Florida, 76-68

Dec. 17, 2006

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. — The 12th-ranked Commodore women’s basketball team defeated South Florida, 76-68, at the St. Pete Times Forum Sunday.

Junior Liz Sherwood and sophomore Christina Wirth each posted double-double performances for Vanderbilt (9-1) — the second time this season that a pair of Commodores have achieved the feat in the same contest.

Sherwood led all Commodores with 19 points and pulled down a career-high-tying 13 boards. Wirth scored 12 and had a personal-best 11 rebounds.

Senior Carla Thomas also posted double-figures scoring in the game with 18 points. She jumped two spaces to 12th all-time in scoring at Vanderbilt, passing Julie Powell and Donna Harris.

Senior Dee Davis dished out seven assists and came up with a game-high four steals.

Jessica Dickson led all scorers with 23 points, and pulled 11 rebounds for the Bulls (8-2).

The Commodores led by as much as 13 in the first half before the Bulls put together a run to take a lead early in the second half. Sherwood scored 10 in the second half, including a number of putbacks, to help the Commodores gain the final lead with 7:30 remaining.

Vanderbilt returns home this week to play host to the VU Holiday Classic, Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 20-21) at Memorial Gymnasium. Longwood and Indiana State visit Nashville to play in the tournament’s opening game at 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday, followed by a contest between Vanderbilt and neighboring Lipscomb. Thursday’s games begin at 1 p.m., with the consolation game preceding the championship.