Feb. 25, 2016
Recap | Box Score | Howell’s Photos 
Vanderbilt Head Coach Melanie Balcomb
On their struggles this season:
“We always make a game of it at the end. We were down by 14, it’s always consistent. That’s our special number. We’re a really good team right now until half time, defensively. We did some things in the third quarter that we didn’t do, just being aware, a lack of communication, just making mistakes in our defensive execution. To start games we’re struggling in the beginning of the first, we’re getting behind right away. That’s because we’re waiting to see how hard they’re going to hit us and we’re timid at first. We’re pretty consistent in who we are. I think that we’ve grown a lot, I think that there are bright spots every game with different players. I think that we have certainly gotten better and better as the season went on. The tough part is you’re playing a top 15 team every night, so it looks like we’ve gotten worse when we’ve really gotten a lot better.”
On the bright spots this game:
“I felt like at times we had good execution on both ends of the floor, it just wasn’t consistent enough. There were a lot of “Backbreakers” where they get the loose ball and they score, we miss a layup and they go down and score, or they get an offensive rebound at the end that they shouldn’t get off the free throw. We have a whole list of “backbreakers”, and we actually measure them every day in practice and we measure them in games, and they get an efficiency rating. You have your positives, and the things that break the other team’s back, but we’re giving up too many “backbreakers” in games. We do it in practice as well. I think there were a lot of positives in that this team continues to fight, shows a lot of heart, and is working every day at getting better. We have a growth mindset right now. Do they take this to Missouri on the road and get one? I have no idea. But I think that they’re starting to own it. The competition that we’re playing right now is just a little too good for us and where we’re at.”
Vanderbilt guard Jasmine Jenkins
On what went wrong and what went well:
“It’s easy to start with the problems. We didn’t start the game well. When we did start playing well…we started trading baskets. When we were down 14 at one point, we can’t trade baskets.”
On senior night:
“It’s definitely surreal. It definitely flies by- time has wings. And like Morgan [Batey] said, I wouldn’t choose any other group of girls.”
Vanderbilt guard Morgan Batey
On what went wrong and what went well:
“We were able to get offense off of our defense. We increased the tempo and were able to find some looks from that. As we look forward to our last regular season game, that’s something we need to focus on: getting the ball out early, looking to get in transition. That’s where we’ve been the most successful.”
On senior night:
“It’s kind of surreal. It seems like [freshman, sophomore year] was just yesterday. We had these great senior classes that were showing us what it meant to be a Vanderbilt student, athlete, and person. It’s crazy to think that we’re that person now. It’s been a crazy ride, and I wouldn’t have asked for a different group of girls to have it with.”
