Nov. 18, 2006
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 15th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team won its home opener Saturday against Dartmouth, 79-49, in Memorial Gymnasium.
Carla Thomas led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field
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Senior Carla Thomas led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. All 12 of Vanderbilt players saw action during the game, with everyone scoring except for senior guard Caroline Williams. Williams came into Saturday’s game averaging 21 points in VU’s first two contests.
“The reason we got off to a slow start was because Caroline [Williams] and Carla [Thomas] were targeted as offensive threats,” VU Head Coach Melanie Balcomb said. “I’ve known [Dartmouth Head Coach] Chris Wielgus for a long time and she’s a very good coach. She had her team prepared and wanted to shut down our two offensive producers. That’s why Caroline didn’t score this evening.”
Vanderbilt’s defense forced 25 turnovers, while the offense shot better than 50% and committed only nine giveaways. The last time Vanderbilt had less than 10 turnovers was Jan. 15, 2006, at South Carolina (8).
Senior point guard Dee Davis had eight assists and no turnovers in the game to go along with two steals.
Freshman Merideth Marsh and sophomore Jennifer Risper and Christina Wirth scored eight points each. Dartmouth was led by 11 points each from Koren Schram and Cookeville, Tenn., native Ashley Taylor.
For Vanderbilt, it was the 21st consecutive victory in a home opener, dating back to a Nov. 28, 1986, victory over Mississippi Valley.
The Commodores continue their four-game homestand on Monday, Nov. 20, when Texas A&M-Corpus Christi visits Memorial Gymnasium. The Islanders play Saturday night at Belmont.
