Jan. 4, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville – Vanderbilt and Tennessee are two of the SEC’s premier women’s basketball programs, and that combined success is one reason why the in-state rivalry is important to both fan bases. Even in her first season, that much is clear to Commodores’ first-year head coach Stephanie White.
“The Vanderbilt-Tennessee rivalry is a big deal, no matter what,” White said. “You’ve seen moments in our history where it’s been a huge rivalry and we’ve had Memorial Madness in full effect.”
But the rivalry with Tennessee is also a chance for the Commodores to face off against a program whose perennial success remains a benchmark in the sport. “For us, it’s a measuring stick,” White said. “It’s an opportunity for our fans to see our program get better and for us to find a way to make this rivalry continue to flourish. We want to build on that.”
PODCAST: Coach White on Pat Summitt, UT rivalry
As the ‘Dores prepare to welcome Tennessee to Memorial Gym on Jan. 5, VUCommodores.com looks back at Vanderbilt’s top three moments in the Tennessee rivalry.
3. Jan. 11, 2009: Vanderbilt 74, Tennessee 58
Former head coach Melanie Balcomb had yet to beat Tennessee entering her seventh season as Vanderbilt’s coach. That changed in Jan. 2009, when the No. 7-ranked Lady Vols ventured to Memorial Gym riding a 16-game win streak in the in-state series. Jessica Mooney (15 points) led five players in double-figures for the Commodores, who forced 23 turnovers and won against Tennessee for the first time since 2002. A veteran Vanderbilt squad with two seniors and two juniors in the starting lineup carried that momentum into a 26-9 regular season, an SEC Tournament title and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
2. March 6, 1995: Vanderbilt 67, Tennessee 61
The Commodores disposed of Ole Miss and Georgia in the first two rounds of the 1995 SEC Tournament before facing off against Tennessee in the championship game in Chattanooga. However, recent history had not been kind to the Commodores, who had never beaten the Lady Vols in conference tournament play. But head coach Jim Foster’s crew engineered a 67-61 upset of the Lady Vols to win the program’s second SEC Tournament title. Vanderbilt went on to amass a 28-7 overall record and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen, where they ultimately fell to Purdue.
1. March 3, 2001: Vanderbilt 77, Tennessee 74
Top-ranked Tennessee entered its matchup with No. 15 Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament semifinals riding an 18-game win streak as it vied for its fourth straight conference tourney title. But the Commodores, under the tutelage of Foster, spoiled the Lady Vols’ hopes thanks to hot-shooting nights from Ashley McElhiney (27 points) and Chantelle Anderson (26) in the 77-74 upset. Vanderbilt fell to Georgia, 62-60, in the SEC Tournament championship game, but the ‘Dores went on to snag a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
