Dec. 5, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tulane’s Kolby Morgan had a big night, but it was the Vanderbilt players who hit the biggest shots in the fourth quarter.
Erupting for 30 points in the final 10 minutes, the Commodores downed Tulane 74-63 on Monday night and extended their winning streak to seven games. Rachel Bell scored 14 points to lead five players in double figures for Vanderbilt (8-1), and Marqu’es Webb pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds.
Morgan poured in 34 points, going 14-of-26 from the floor, for Tulane (5-3). She also had seven rebounds and five steals. But Vanderbilt overcame Morgan’s heroics by generating a dominating second-half performance, during which the Commodores outscored Tulane 48-30.
Vanderbilt was especially sharp in the fourth quarter, making 10-of-17 shots from the floor, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. For the period, Vanderbilt outscored Tulane, 30-18.
The Commodores trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and were down 45-44 entering the fourth quarter. But Cierra Walker’s 3-pointer in the opening minute of the fourth quarter gave Vanderbilt the lead for good.
Christa Reed finished with 13 points and Walker had 12 points, going 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Kayla Overbeck added 11 points and eight rebounds, and Erin Whalen scored 10 points and had a team-high four assists for the Commodores, who were playing their third game in the span of four days. (Vanderbilt won the Air Force Classic on Saturday with a win over SIUE after defeating Air Force on Friday).
Vanderbilt’s defense limited Tulane to 37 percent shooting from the floor (26-of-70). The Green Wave entered the night shooting 48 percent from the floor — which ranked among the top 15 in the nation. The Commodores also kept Tulane off the free throw line, as the Green Wave finished just 4-of-6.
Vanderbilt visits ETSU on Thursday.
