Jan. 7, 2018
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KNOXVILLE, TENN. — The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team (4-13, 0-3 SEC) gave the No. 7 Tennessee Lady Vols (15-0, 3-0 SEC) all they could handle for 35 minutes of the game before the nationally-ranked Volunteers pulled away in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to remain undefeated.
The Skinny
Date: Jan. 7, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM CT
Place: Knoxville, Tenn. (Thompson-Boling Arena)
At The Top of the Charts
Points: Cierra Walker — 20 points
Rebounds: Chelsie Hall — 8 rebounds
Assists: Cierra Walker — 6 assists
Steals: Three with 2 steals
How It Happened
First Quarter: Tennessee 16, Vanderbilt 16
The Lady Vols opened the game with an 8-0 run early which forced Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie White to call a timeout to help the Dores regroup. A basket underneath from Christa Reed at the 6:33 mark stopped the Tennessee run and gave the visiting Commodores some momentum. The biggest spark was Erin Whalen who had eight points off the bench and. The Dores battled back to tie the game three times in the first quarter and with a late bucket underneath from Autumn Newby tied the game at 16 after one period of play.
Second Quarter: Tennessee 37, Vanderbilt 32
The second quarter was characterized by timely buckets from Whalen and Walker who combined for five treys in the first half. Vanderbilt was 4-of-4 from long range through the media timeout of the second quarter and ended the second half with six treys. Walker was a perfect 3-of-3 from long range in the second quarter. Tied at 28 out of the media timeout, Tennessee used a 10-0 run over a 3:45 span to take a 34-28 lead with 2:12 left in the quarter before the Commodores were able to close strong with a jumper from Reed late in the quarter as Vanderbilt trailed by just five points at halftime.
Third Quarter: Tennessee 65, Vanderbilt 62
Out of the locker room, Cierra Walker drilled her fourth triple of the afternoon d remained perfect from the floor on the afternoon. The Volunteers were able to extend their lead to seven points on the strength of six points from Mercedes Russell, who ended the game with a career-best 33 points. The Commodores wouldn’t go quietly as Chelsie Hall, who was scoreless is the first half, scored six straight points and completed a three-point play to cut the lead to one possession midway through the quarter. Cierra Walker drilled her fifth trey and remained perfect from the field with a huge triple to give the Dores a lead — which they would extend to four points with 1:35 left in the quarter. The teams battled through the final minute but a triple from Meme Jackson gave the home team a three-point lead at the buzzer..
Fourth Quarter: Tennessee 86, Vanderbilt 73
The home team jumped out to an eight-point lead — matching its largest of game — with a 6-1 run to open the quarter forcing a timeout. The Commodores got themselves back in it courtesy of a huge triple from Walker, who closed the game with a career-high six three pointers and a season-high 20 points, just one-point shy of her career-best. The Lady Vols dialed up the pressure late in the fourth quarter and were able to turn the Dores over on three straight possessions, capitalizing on the other end to take a nine-point lead, one they would expand to double digits en route to their 15th straight win.
Inside the Lane
-Erin Whalen was in double figures for the fifth time this season and the third time in the last five games.
-Cierra Walker earned her third start of the season and reached double figures for the second time in the last three games with 20 points to go with a career-best five three-point field goals.
-Rachel Bell streak of eight straight games in double figures was snapped with just two points today against Tennessee.
-Chelsea Hall reached double figures for the fifth straight game
-Chelsie Hall posted a career-best eight rebounds
-Vanderbilt’s 10 three-point field goals mark the third this season the Commodores have posted double-digit three-point field goals.
Up Next
The Commodores will head back to Nashville to host No. 17 Missouri on Thursday night at Memorial Gym. The game will air on SEC Network+
Next Five Games
Jan. 11 — vs. Missouri, 7 pm
Jan. 15 — vs. Kentucky, 6 pm
Jan. 18 — vs. South Carolina, 7 pm
Jan. 21 — at Alabama, 2 pm
Jan. 28 — vs. Texas A&M, 2 pm
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.
