Dec. 31, 2017
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BATON ROUGE, La. — Rachel Bell and Chelsie Hall combined for 37 of Vanderbilt’s 65 points but the Commodores couldn’t overcome 22 turnovers in a 85-65 loss to LSU in their SEC opener on Sunday afternoon.
The Skinny
Date: Dec. 31, 2017
Time: 3:00 PM CT
Place: Baton Rouge, La. (Pete Maravich Center)
Records: Vanderbilt (4-11, 0-1 SEC), LSU (9-3, 1-0 SEC)
At The Top of the Charts
Points: Rachel Bell – 19 points
Rebounds: Autumn Newby — 7 rebounds
Assists: Chelsie Hall – 6 assists
Steals: Chelsie Hall — 3 steals
How It Happened
First Quarter: LSU 18, Vanderbilt 13
Vanderbilt scored the first points of the game and took an early five-point lead but the Tigers found back cut the lead to one point, 9-8, at the media timeout. Rachel Bell and Chelsie Hall combined for 11 of Vanderbilt’s 13 first points but it was three straight threes form Chloe Jackson that gave the home team an 18-13 lead at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter: LSU 40, Vanderbilt 31
LSU extended its lead to 27-17 with a 9-3 spurt to open the second quarter, holding the Commodores without a bucket for the opening 2:40 of the quarter before a bucket from Hall ended the drought. Hall, who reached double figures in the second quarter, combined with Rachel Bell to score 26 of Vanderbilt’s 31 first-half points. The Commodores made a run at the Tigers late sparked by a triple from Bell as LSU took a 40-31 lead into the break.
Third Quarter: LSU 55, Vanderbilt 52
The Dores used a 7-0 run to cut the once 16-point lead down to four points at the 6:19 mark of the third quarter. Rachel Bell, who had the first four points of the quarter, scored six points in the run. Vanderbilt clamped down on the defensive end of the floor and really got on the glass in the second half. Trailing 45-40, a bucket from Rachel Bell and a triple from Cierra Walker, tied the game at 45 forcing LSU to call a timeout. The Dores who held the Tigers scoreless for 2:23 used a 14-3 run to tie the game up — just the second tie of the game. LSU used four unanswered to take a 51-49 lead with 1:51 left in the quarter before two free throws form Overbeck gave the Dores the lead. LSU us a late layup from Chloe Jackson to take a 55-52 lead into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter: LSU 85, Vanderbilt 65
LSU opened the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 10-point lead at the 7:54 mark forcing a Vanderbilt timeout. Cierra Walker was clutch in the second half, scoring each of her 11 points after the break, including going 3-of-5 from long range. Despite opening the quarter trailing by just five points, the Tigers outscored Vanderbilt 30-13 in the quarter to pull away. The Commodores got as close as nine points in the final five minutes of the game but couldn’t get any closer as they fell in their SEC opener for the fourth straight year.
Inside the Lane
-Today’s game is the first time the Commodores and Tigers have opened SEC action against each other.
-The Commodores dropped their SEC opener for the fourth year. This was also the fourth straight year Vanderbilt opened the SEC slate on the road.
-Rachel Bell moved to No. 33 on the all-time scoring chart with 19 points vs. LSU and now has 1,046 career points. Bell reaches double figures for the seventh straight game.
-Chelsie Hall reached double figures for the third straight game with 18 points. Hall was in double figures for the seventh time in the last 10 games.
Up Next
The Commodores will open the SEC home slate against Georgia on Thursday at Memorial Gym. Tipoff is set for 7 PM CT and will air on SEC Network+
Next Five Games
Jan. 4 — vs. Georgia. 7 pm
Jan. 7 — vs. Tennessee, 11 am
Jan. 11 — vs. Missouri, 7 pm
Jan. 15 — vs. Kentucky, 6 pm
Jan. 18 — vs. South Carolina, 7 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.
