Feb. 16, 2008
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| | TV: Fox Sports Net | Radio: 560 AM
VU Notes | UT Preview & Notes | Standings | Season Stats
Upcoming Home Games, Call 322-GOLD for Tickets:
Sun., Feb. 17, vs. Tennessee at 2:30 p.m. CT (Sold Out)
Sun., March 2, vs. Alabama at 2 p.m. CT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 25th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team plays host to top-ranked Tennessee on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2:30 p.m. CT inside historic Memorial Gymnasium.
Commodore officials announced last week that tickets for the nationally televised (Fox Sports Net) Southeastern Conference contest were sold out — marking the fourth time that the matchup has been sold out in Nashville. The most recent sell-out came on Feb. 16, 2002 — Vanderbilt’s last win in the series.
The Commodores (19-6, 8-2 SEC) roll into Sunday on a six-game winning streak. Vanderbilt is 5-0 at home in the conference so far this season, and has won nine consecutive home SEC contests dating back to last season. In the mid-week, the Commodores defeated Kentucky, 66-49, to take a two-game hold on third place in the SEC.
Vanderbilt stands only one-half game back of the second-place Lady Vols (22-2, 8-1 SEC). At 8-2 in conference play, the Commodores have secured their best-ever start since the league expanded to a 14-game schedule in 1998. A win on Sunday would equal the Commodores’ best-ever conference mark (9-2) from the 1993 and 1994 seasons, played with an 11-game schedule. Last year, Vanderbilt won 10 conference games for the first time in school history.
Tennessee’s 78-62 home loss to LSU was only the second setback of the season for the Lady Vols. The Commodores are looking for their first win over Tennessee in 15 tries, dating back to consecutive VU victories in 2001 and 2002.
Junior Christina Wirth continues to lead the Commodores offensively, averaging nearly 15 points per SEC contest. The Mesa, Ariz., native ranks among the league’s Top 10 in scoring, field-goal percentage, three-point shooting (both percentage and makes) and minutes played.
The defensive side of the ball has seen a marked improvement in conference play, as the Commodores have lowered their opponents’ scoring average and three-point shooting accuracy. Junior Jennifer Risper is tied for the conference lead with nearly three steals per game.
Point guard play has also bolstered the Commodores. Freshman Jence Rhoads and sophomore Jessica Mooney both rank in the conference’s top five for assist-to-turnover ratio in league contests. Their play could be key for Vanderbilt, as UT forced the Commodores into a conference season-high 24 turnovers last month in Knoxville.
Following Sunday’s contest, only one home game remains on Vanderbilt’s schedule. The Commodores will travel to Arkansas and Auburn before returning home to play host to Alabama on March 2. This year’s SEC Tournament will be played just miles from VU’s campus at Nashville’s Sommet Center (March 6-9).
