NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt saw three players reach double figures and led for all but the first 12 seconds of an 81-57 blowout of Presbyterian on Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium.
Brinae Alexander led the Commodores (7-5) with 21 points, while De’Mauri Flournoy poured in 12 and Demi Washington and Iyana Moore each added 10. Vanderbilt racked up 19 assists on 31 made baskets and forced 22 Presbyterian turnovers.
Vandy next takes to the road to face Saint Joseph’s (4-6) at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Alexander began Saturday’s affair by draining a left-corner 3 for Vandy 13 seconds in, and the Commodores never looked back. They made their first four shots to build a 10-3 lead and then went ahead 13-4 on another Alexander triple.
Vanderbilt ended the first 10 minutes with a 23-10 lead thanks to a 56.3 shooting clip and five 3s.
Presbyterian started the second quarter on an 8-2 run to get to 25-18 and then cut the deficit to 27-21 on Maleia Bracone’s triple from the top of the key. Vandy’s hot shooting took a sharp temperature drop in the second quarter as they missed 13 of their first 15 shots.
Vanderbilt would build the margin back up to 35-25 going into the break, despite making just four field goals in the second period and giving up 16 points in the paint in the first half.
The Dores righted themselves in the locker room and began the third quarter with five straight makes to go up 47-28. Washington’s finish after cutting through the lane put Vandy ahead 51-28 with 5 1/2 minutes to play in the period.
An Alexander 3 from the right corner and a Kaylon Smith layup on successive possessions allowed Vanderbilt to take a 60-29 lead with 2:44 on the clock in the third quarter. That margin was much too large for the Blue Hose to overcome down the stretch.
Presbyterian, which only had eight active players Saturday, was led by Bracone and Nyah Willis, who each scored 14 points.
