Jan. 6, 2013
OXFORD, Miss. — The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team ran its winning streak to nine games on Sunday, January 6, defeating Ole Miss, 76-57. The Commodores improved to 12-3, 2-0 in SEC play, while the Rebels fell to 7-8, 0-2 in conference action.
Tiffany Clarke led the Vanderbilt effort with 25 points and 13 rebounds. It was her fourth double-double of the season. Jasmine Lister contributed 13 points and 10 assists for her third double-double of the year. It marks the second time this season Commodores posted double-doubles in the same game.
Kady Schrann and Christina Foggie joined the duo in double figures, posting 15 and 13 points, respectively. Elan Brown scored four point while grabbing seven rebounds.
Ole Miss was led by 15 points from Diara Moore. Tia Faleru contributed 10 points and seven rebounds for the Rebels. Vanderbilt held the home team to 35.4% shooting and forced 13 turnovers.
“I like what we’re bringing as a team; we’re tougher mentally and physically,” Vanderbilt head coach Melanie Balcomb said. “They’re enjoying themselves, enjoying working hard and we’re having good results.”
Clarke echoed that sentiment.
“We definitely have more fun because we trust each other,” the senior said. “The feeling of `We’re one,’ makes us have more fun. We know we have each other’s back so we’re able to play more free and it shows on the court.”
Similar to Thursday’s contest against Mississippi State, the Commodores steadily built a first half lead. Vanderbilt used a 55.6% (15-27) shooting percentage to open up a 40-19 lead at the intermission.
Lister was the big reason for the 21-point margin, as she connected for three field goals and hit a pair from the line for 11 points, while dishing out six assists. She had a hand in nine of Vanderbilt’s 15 first-half field goals.
The second half was the Tiffany Clarke show. After missing her first four field goals and having eight points at the break, the senior scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half. One of the top shooters in the SEC, she finished 11-20 from the field in the contest.
The victory marked the fourth consecutive road win for Vanderbilt (preceded by wins at Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Western Kentucky). It’s the first time that has happened since early in the 2009-10 campaign when the Commodores won at Southern Illinois, St. Joseph’s (Pa.), Wright State and Quinnipiac to open the season.
The Commodores are back in action on Thursday, January 10, at South Carolina. Tipoff at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia is set for 6:00 p.m. CT.
