NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team pounced on Alabama State early on Monday and never looked back, as the Commodores defeated the Lady Hornets, 88-42, in Memorial Gymnasium.
Vanderbilt had a total of nine different players score a basket in the win over Alabama State. Junior Sacha Washington paced the Commodores with a season-high 24-point performance. Sophomore Justine Pissott registered a career-best 16 points, while graduate student Jordyn Cambridge tallied 13 points and seven assists. Freshman Aga Makurat scored double-digit points for the second-straight game with an 11-point effort off the bench for Vanderbilt.
With the victory, Vanderbilt improved to 5-0 on the year. Coupled with last season’s 5-0 start, it marks the first time since the 2003-04 and 2004-05 campaigns that the Commodores have begun back-to-back seasons at 5-0.
Vanderbilt shot a season-best 59.3% from the field in the victory, while limiting ASU to 25.5% from the floor. The Commodores outscored the Lady Hornets 35-8 in points off turnovers, while Vandy held a 48-14 edge in points in the paint.
The Dores used an offensive barrage to separate themselves from the Lady Hornets in the opening quarter, as Vanderbilt outscored Alabama State 36-10 in the first stanza. The 36 points scored in the first were the most points the Dores have registered in any quarter this season.
Vanderbilt maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest against Alabama State. The Commodores used an 18-0 run between the third and fourth quarters to take a 46-point lead at 80-34 with 6:36 left to play. Vanderbilt led by as many as 48 points down the stretch before the Dores walked away with a 46-point victory.
Coach Ralph on the Win
“It was really important for us to get a consistent performance from start to finish. I felt like today was the most consistent we’ve played in any game this season. We got multiple contributions from people who came in from the bench. I loved how we shared the ball, and I thought our defense was pretty good. You want to make sure that when you go to a tournament like we’re about to go to, you want to feel confident in who you are and your identity, especially this early in the season. I feel like after today, we have a much better idea of who we are.”
Up Next
Vanderbilt will now head west, as the Commodores are set to participate in the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas. Vandy will take on Iowa State this Friday in Sin City, followed by a Saturday matchup with Northern Iowa. Both games will stream live at 3:30 p.m. CT on FloHoops.com.
Dore Notes
- Vanderbilt opened Monday’s game versus Alabama State with a season-high 36 points in the first quarter, which is the most points the Dores have scored in any quarter this season.
- The Commodores’ win over the Hornets is their eighth straight nonconference win and sixth consecutive win at home overall. Vanderbilt has now won 17 of its last 20 nonconference home games under head coach Shea Ralph.
- The Commodores are 5-0 to start back-to-back campaigns for the first time in 17 seasons.
- Vandy’s victory over Alabama State Monday marked the 15th win of the Ralph era by a margin of 15+ points.
- Sacha Washington scored a team-leading and season-high 24 points during Monday’s game, her second 20+ point game of the season.
- Washington has scored 15+ points in all five games thus far this season.
- Justine Pissott’s 16 points versus Alabama State is a new career best.
- Four Commodores were in the double figures Monday, Jordyn Cambridge (16), Aga Makurat (11) Pissott, and Washington. Vanderbilt has had at least three players score 10+ points in all five games so far this season.
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