Two More in Nashville

Matchup
• Vanderbilt and Furman have met just once before on the hardwood. The Commodores won in Nashville, 68-51, on Nov. 11, 2007. Vanderbilt went on to the Sweet 16 that season before falling to Maryland in Spokane.

• Vanderbilt is 25-8 all-time against Southern Conference opposition, most recently defeating Samford, 77-52, on Dec. 28 of last year. The most common SoCon opponents for the Commodores has been Chattanooga (11-6) and East Tennessee State (6-2)­—against all other SoCon teams, Vandy is 8-0.

• Vanderbilt is 15-2 all-time against its Tennessee State. Last season, in the first meeting between the Nashville counterparts since 2009, the Commodores topped the Tigers, 89-63, at Memorial Gymnasium. This will be Vanderbilt’s first trip to the Gentry Center since Dec. 10, 1991 — a 79-42 victory for Vandy. The last Tigers win in the series was on Nov. 19, 1979 (58-56 at TSU).

Vandy Facts
• Vanderbilt has had three different leading scorers and three different leading rebounders in its four games this season (five different players in total).

• Vanderbilt’s 16 steals against Saint Louis were the most since Dec. 22, 2008 against Liberty (17).

• Vanderbilt has outrebounded every opponent this season.

• Entering the week, Vandy was second in the SEC in steals (46) and free throw percentage (.725), third in turovers forced (20.5/game), fourth in field goal percentage (.458).

Court Marital
• Entering the week, sophomore Jordyn Cambridge led the SEC with 15 steals. She had 20 steals in 24 games last year.

• Cambridge was the first Commodore with seven steals in a game (Nov. 17 vs. Saint Louis) since Jennifer Risper on Nov. 23, 2008 against Michigan.

• Cambridge (5’9) also has hauled in a career-high six rebounds in each of the last two games, is third on the team in rebounding (4.0/game) and has four blocks this season (had two all of last year).

Alexander the Sophomore
• Sophomore Brinae Alexander has scored in double figures in all four games this season and in six straight overall. The last time she didn’t reach double figures was in Vanderbilt’s historic win at Tennessee last year (Feb. 28, 2019).

• In the season opener, Alexander (20 points, four steals) was the first Commodore in more than eight years to finish with 20+ points and 4+ steals in a game. The last Vanderbilt player to pull off the feat was Jence Rhoads when she went for 21 and 5 against Arkansas on March 4, 2010.

Full Steam Ahead
• Vanderbilt started 2-0 for the first time since 2014-15 (started 5-0) and is 3-1 for the first time since 2016-17 when the team began the season 10-1.

• Vanderbilt scored 80 points in its first two games for the first time in six years (2013-14)—the last time the Commodores reached the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores defeated Appalachian State (96-53) and Western Kentucky (85-60) to start that season.

All Hands on Deck
• Junior forward Autumn Newby ranks third in the SEC with 7.8 defensive rebounds per game. She has twice pulled down 13 rebounds in a game this season (Jacksonville State and Saint Louis). She is just the sixth Commodore since 2000 with six career 13+ rebound performances.

Home Port
• Vanderbilt opens the season with five straight games at Memorial Gymnasium.

• The Commordoes will not leave the friendly confines of the Music City for their first six games. The first road contest of the season will be at neighboring Tennessee State on Monday, Nov. 25.

• The first time the Commodores leave Nashville this season will be on a flight to the Bahamas. Vanderbilt will join Rutgers, Seton Hall and Georgia Tech at the Junkanoo Jam in Bimini, Nov. 28-29.

• The only other road contests for the Commodores in the nonconference season will be in Seattle, Washington. Vanderbilt will take on UC Irvine (Dec. 20) and Washington (Dec. 21) at the Husky Classic.

Mariella Fasoula
• Mariella Fasoula entered the week with an SEC-leading 30 made field goals.

• An All-SEC second team selection last year, senior Mariella Fasoula was named to the preseason All-SEC second team by the media and coaches this year.

• Fasoula was one of 20 players named to the Lisa Leslie Award preseason watch list. The three-year-old award is given annually to the nation’s top center.

• The Greece national team member and communication studies major started all 29 games for the Commodores in 2018-19. She scored in double figures in all but six of those contests and led the team with 15.9 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Looking Astern
• Mariella Fasoula had a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) with a career-high four assists and Autumn Newby pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Vanderbilt over Saint Louis 62-50 at Memorial Gymnasium on Sunday. Junior Chelsie Hall was the third Commodore in double figures with 14 points in addition to three assists.

• The Dores fell behind 10-2 in the early going, but led 26-25 at halftime and dominated the third quarter where they outscored the Billikens 18-4 to pull away. Sophomore Brinae Alexander added 17 points—all in the second half—as  Vanderbilt  held Saint Louis to just 27.9 percent shooting and forced 23 turnovers.

On Deck
• Vanderbilt will hit the road for the first time with a short drive across Nashville to take on Tennessee State at 6 p.m. Monday. After that, its off to the Bahamas for the Junkanoo Jam, Nov. 28-30, where the Commodores will take on Rutgers in the first round and then Seton Hall or Georgia Tech in the championship or consolation.

A Vandy Win Would…
… make the Commodores 4-1 for the first time since 2016-17 (started 10-1 in White’s first season).
… be the first time Vandy has won four of five since a nine-game winning streak from Nov. 16-Dec. 18, 2016.
… make the Commodores 9-1 in their last nine home nonconference games against unranked foes.

A Vandy Loss Would…
… be the first to a SoCon opponent since Jan. 3, 1988 (81-75 at Chattanooga).
… mark the first at home to a SoCon team since Jan. 10, 1981 (84-72 vs. Chattanooga).
… be less good than a win.