Nov. 28, 2008
Vanderbilt 82 – Davidson 50
November 28, 2008 – Memorial Gymnasium
Attendance: 3,832
Starting five, starting fast:
Head Coach Melanie Balcomb has used the same starting lineup of forwards Christina Wirth and Hannah Tuomi with guards Jence Rhoads, Merideth Marsh and Jennifer Risper in all six games this season. The Commodores have struck first in each contest, scoring the game’s first nine points on Friday against Davidson. Vanderbilt held the Wildcats scoreless for the first 4:37 of the game before Davidson’s Mercedes Robinson connected on a layup.
Back in Double-figures:
After failing to score in double-figures for the first time in eight games against Michigan, senior Christina Wirth scored 10 points in the first 15 minutes against Davidson. Wirth’s frontcourt mate, sophomore Hannah Tuomi, continued her turn as the only Commodore to score 10-or-more points in every game this season — notching 12 points in the first half to lead all Vanderbilt scorers.
The first twenty:
Davidson fought back to stay in the game throughout the opening stanza. The Commodores would end the half on a 10-2 run to grab a 12-point halftime lead. Vanderbilt was outrebounded, 15-14, in the first 20 minutes, but did not all Davidson any offensive boards following the Wildcats’ 11 misses.
Drought with No chance of rain:
To open the second half, Vanderbilt again held Davidson scoreless for the first 4:44. The Wildcats were unable to get off a field-goal attempt in the first four minutes plus of the second half, turning the ball over on their first five possessions. Mercedes Robinson again broke Davidson’s scoring drought, but not until the Commodores had used a 10-0 run to build a 21-point advantage, 45-24.
After scoring only 42 points on Sunday at Michigan, Vanderbilt exceeded that point total with 16:44 remaining in the game on a layup by Hannah Tuomi.
Jordan makes debut:
Freshman forward Jordan Coleman made her collegiate debut midway though the second half. Coleman had been sidelined for Vanderbilt’s first five games while nursing a stress reaction in her leg. Two minutes into her initial action, Coleman scored with a turnaround jumper in the paint. The Lake Mary, Fla., native finished with three points in her first game as a Commodore.
