Nov. 5, 2011
Box Score | 
Green’s Photos | 
Game Highlights | Player Interviews
The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team took its lone exhibition contest of the 2011-12 season, defeating Clayton State, 75-59, on Saturday, November 5 at Memorial Gym.
Jasmine Lister led the way for the Commodores, scoring 18 points, while adding four assists. Christina Foggie added 13 points with five rebounds and five steals, while Clair Watkins contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
Clayton State, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, was led by Genesis Kelly, who scored 15 points. Brittany Hall added 12 points and six steals.
The Lakers gave Vanderbilt all it could handle for over a half. It took a Jordan Coleman jumper at the buzzer to give the Commodores a 33-32 lead at the break. Vanderbilt then broke it open with a 24-0 run from the 15:43 mark until 6:25 remained in the game, taking a 65-44 lead. Vanderbilt would outscore the Lakers, 42-27, in the second half, en route to the 75-59 final.
The defense keyed the run for Vanderbilt, especially the play of the senior Coleman and three freshmen – Watkins, Kady Schrann and Maggie Morrison.
“Jordan’s our best defensive player as a senior,” said Vanderbilt Head Coach Melanie Balcomb. “She’s rebounding and giving us a lot at that end of the floor. Her play at the defensive end, it ignited the freshmen.”
Watkins, Schrann and Morrison combined for nine steals in the contest. Other impressive defensive numbers included six steals from Elan Brown and five from Foggie. The Commodores scored 32 points off 33 Laker turnovers, 23 of which were Vanderbilt steals.
Vanderbilt’s ability to put away Clayton State was what impressed Balcomb the most, especially with the Commodores missing Tiffany Clarke and Gabby Smith.
“I hand-picked (Clayton State),” said Balcomb of selecting one of the best Division II squads in the country. “I was tired of playing easy exhibition games. I thought they’d be good and our kids did not. They found out.”
Clarke and Smith missed the contest with concussions. They are both day-to-day.
Vanderbilt opens its 2011-12 season on Friday, November 11, when they host Alabama A&M. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Gym.
