Dec. 29, 2014
UPDATE ON THE DORES
RECORD: 7-4
CURRENT STREAK: Lost two
UPCOMING GAMES:
Monday: host James Madison, 7 p.m.
Jan.2: at Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
Jan.5: host Tennessee, 6 p.m.
Although it’s still the Holiday season, it’s back to business this week for the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team. The Commodores, in fact, have a busy stretch ahead, and will play three games in the span of seven days, beginning with Monday’s home game against James Madison (9-1). Here’s a closer look at what’s ahead for the team, along with a quick recap of Vanderbilt’s last game.
ALMOST TIME TO TURN THE PAGE
Monday’s game against James Madison is a “transition game” for the Commodores in a couple of ways. Not only is it Vanderbilt’s final contest of 2014, it is also the Commodores’ final tune-up before getting into SEC play. (Vanderbilt does, however, have one more non-conference game on the schedule: After playing three SEC games, the Commodores host Alabama-Huntsville on Jan. 15).
GAME WITHIN THE GAME
The floor won’t be idle during halftime of Monday’s game against James Madison. A group of students from Charlotte Middle School will be on the court for a scrimmage game.
BIG CHALLENGES
The Commodores will be challenged quickly when they open their SEC schedule. The slate begins with two games against Top-10-ranked teams — Texas A&M and Tennessee — who have a combined record of 21-3 (as of Dec. 29). Vanderbilt travels to College Station to face the No. 5-ranked Aggies (11-1) on Friday night, and then return home to host No. 8-ranked Tennessee (10-2) on Jan. 5.
GIVE AWAYS & PROMOTIONS
When the starting lineups are being introduced on Monday, the members of Vanderbilt’s starting five will each throw a T-shirt into the crowd. So be sure to make some noise when your favorite player is announced — you might just get a T-shirt from her! Vanderbilt fans can also look forward to several in-game promotions, including the T-shirt toss (thrown by cheerleaders during timeouts) and gold-shaker giveaways, along with free posters and wallet-sized schedules that are available at the marketing tables. After the game, the Vanderbilt players will throw miniature basketballs into the stands
POSING WITH THE COMMODORES
Vanderbilt fans can get their picture made with large cutouts of the VU players at all home games this season. The 6-foot cutouts are located in the Southeast and North lobbies.
LAST TIME OUT
In its most recent contest, the Commodores suffered a 71-67 setback against Dayton at Memorial Gym on Dec. 21. The defeat, which marked VU’s first home loss of the season, came just three days after the Commodores had been saddled with a disappointing 80-67 loss to Marquette on the road. In the loss to Dayton, Vanderbilt trailed by as much as nine points early in the second half, but battled back to tie the game at 51-51 on a jumper by Rachel Bell with 7:32 to go. Dayton, however, made a series of big plays down the stretch, including a three-point play by Austria Kelley with 1:08 remaining that gave the Flyers a four-point cushion, and Dayton held on from there. … Heather Bowe finished with a team-high 15 points. Dayton’s Andrea Hoover, the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, scored a game-high 20 for the Flyers. … Kristen Gaffney and Morgan Batey added 13 points apiece, and Bell had 11 for the Commodores, who were once again without the services of injured post players Marqu’es Webb and Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau
