Dec. 27, 2010
Vanderbilt Game Notes 
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Hilton Garden Classic
Delaware (6-3, 0-0 CAA) vs. Vanderbilt (8-3, 0-0 SEC)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 29 (4 p.m. CT)
Alcorn State (1-6, 0-0 SWAC) / Virginia Tech (7-4, 0-0 ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (8-3, 0-0 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010 (4 p.m./6 p.m. CT)
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
Venue: Cassell Coliseum (9,847)
Radio: 560 AM
TV: None
Webcast: hokiesports.com
Delaware Series: 0-0 – Virginia Tech Series: VU leads 2-0 – Alcorn State: 0-0
Last Meeting with VT: Nov. 29, 2008 in Nashville (Vanderbilt 72 – Virginia Tech 43)
Riding a season-best four-game winning streak, Vanderbilt returns to the court for the first time since breaking for Christmas on Dec. 21 when the Commodores travel to Blacksburg, Va., on Wednesday to play in the Hilton Garden Classic. Vanderbilt will open the two-day tournament against Delaware at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday and will play either Alcorn State or host Virginia Tech on Thursday.
Vanderbilt is 8-3 overall and will be playing its first neutral site game of the season when it faces the Blue Hens (6-3), who are led by All-American Elena Delle Donne. The sophomore is averaging 26 points per game under Head Coach Tina Martin, who is in her 15th season at Delaware. Wednesday’s game will mark the first meeting between the two schools.
When the Commodores play Delaware on Wednesday they will cap a 20-day period in which they played just two games due to final exams and Christmas. The Commodores defeated Western Kentucky 74-48 on Dec. 21 and did not return to the practice floor until Dec. 26.
Delaware began the season 5-0, but suffered its first loss of the season against Princeton, 68-50, on Dec. 1. Vanderbilt defeated Princeton 74-68 to win the Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 28.
Vanderbilt is used to playing in regular season tournaments. The Commodores have hosted a tournament each of the last 21 seasons, but regular season tournaments away from home are less common. Under ninth-year Head Coach Melanie Balcomb, Vanderbilt has previously played in four non-postseason tournaments during her tenure, and sports a 5-3 record with one tournament title. Vanderbilt’s last away tournament was Dec. 1 and 2, 2007 at the Contra Costa Times Classic in Berkeley, Calif. The Commodores defeated St. Mary’s 90-69 before losing to Cal, 67-59, in the championship. Vanderbilt’s tournament title came Nov. 22, 2003 at the Banknorth Classic in Vermont. Vanderbilt topped South Alabama and Vermont to claim the title.
Vanderbilt’s tournament games will air on 560 AM in Nashville with play-by-play announcer Charlie Mattos on the call. Fans may also listen to the games online by subscribing to All-Access on VUCommodores.com.
Last Time Out
Western Kentucky took Vanderbilt to overtime last season, and early on Dec. 21 it appeared that the Lady Toppers would again take the Commodores down to the wire in both teams’ final game before Christmas break.
However, the Commodores had other plans for how they would begin their holiday break.
After trailing by as many as seven points in the first half, the Commodores (8-3) turned the tables on Western Kentucky (4-7) midway through the first half and never looked back en route to a 74-48 win in front of the largest crowd of the season at Memorial Gym.
Vanderbilt trailed 16-9 with 11:28 to play in the first half before outscoring WKU 58-19 over the next 24:37 of the game to take a commanding 67-35 lead with 6:51 to play.
Getting Defensive
Vanderbilt has dialed up its defense during its four-game winning streak. In Vanderbilt’s last three games, opponents are shooting 31.8 percent from the floor (57-179) and 18.1 percent from three (8-44). The Commodores are also allowing just 55.6 points per game.
In Vanderbilt’s 74-48 win over Western Kentucky, the Commodores surrendered a season-low 48 points and held the Lady Toppers to 26.2 percent shooting and 7.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Both were season lows by a Vanderbilt opponent.
Foggie From the Line
Christina Foggie moved into the record book against Western Kentucky by making all 11 of her free throw attempts. The performance ranks as the ninth best in school history.
Road Blues End
After starting the season 0-3 on the road for the first time since the 1998-99 season when Vanderbilt lost at Oklahoma State, Miss. State and Indiana, Vanderbilt earned a much-needed road win on Dec. 19 at Duquesne (80-59). Vanderbilt is averaging 81.3 points per game at home and just 69.8 points on the road.
Multiple Starting Lineups
Vanderbilt used six starting lineups in the team’s first eight games this season. During Vanderbilt’s four-game winning streak, it has stuck with the same lineup of Hannah Tuomi and Rebecca Silinski at forward and guards Jasmine Lister, Jence Rhoads and Gabby Smith.
Foggie, Holzer Return
Vanderbilt had two key players return to its lineup on Dec. 19 at Duquesne. After missing the previous three games Christina Foggie (concussion) and Stephanie Holzer (back) played a large role in Vanderbilt earning its first road win of the season at Duquesne. The two combined to score 23 points and collect 14 rebounds. Their return came after a 10-day break for final exams.
Foggie scored 17 points and set a career high with six rebounds. She also made 5-of-9 three-pointers in 30 minutes. Holzer scored six points and collected eight rebounds in 13 minutes.
About Delaware
Delaware finished 21-12 last season and qualified for the WNIT. The Blue Hens return four starters from last year and were picked to finish third in the CAA this season.
This is the first all-time meeting between the two schools. Delaware has advanced to the postseason seven times in the past 10 years with its last trip to the NCAA Tournament coming in 2007.
Delaware is coming off a 50-44 loss to St. Joseph’s on Dec. 22. The Blue Hens were without the services of Elena Delle Donne, who missed the game due ot fatigue. She also missed the Princeton game due to fatigue.
About Alcorn State
Alcorn State is 1-6 overall and has not played a game since Dec. 11. Alcorn State’s only win was a 66-64 victory over Northwestern State on Dec. 4. Alcorn State’s last game was a 94-32 loss at Miami.
The Lady Braves are led by Carolinsia Crumbly and Kiara Ruffin, who each average 14.3 points per game. Vanderbilt has never played Alcorn State. Alcorn State finished 18-20 overall last season.
About Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has won two straight games and is 7-4 overall. The Hokies were picked to finish 11th in the ACC. Junior guard Shanel Harrison leads Virginia Tech with an 11.8 scoring average. The Hokies began the season 4-0 before losing three straight games.
Vanderbilt is 2-0 all-time against Virginia Tech with the last win coming Nov. 29, 2008 in the Thankgiving Tournament Championship game (72-43). The first meeting between the two schools came Nov. 29, 1991 at the opening game of the Coors Classic in Boulder, Colo. Vanderbilt won that meeting 78-63. Vanderbilt has never played in Blacksburg, Va.
The Commodores are 0-1 this season against the ACC after suffering a 72-66 loss at Florida Sate on Nov. 21, 2010.
Home Sweet Home
Vanderbilt is 7-0 at home this season for the first time since the 2008 season when Vanderbilt also started 7-0 at Memorial Gym before losing to Notre Dame. The Commodores finished their non-conference home slate undefeated for the first time since going 9-0 during the 2006-07 season.
Turnover Woes No More
After ranking 11th in the SEC in turnover margin and last in average turnovers entering the Southern Illinois game on Dec. 7, the Commodores have found ball security in their last four games. Before the SIU game, Vanderbilt was averaging 18.7 turnovers a game, but in the last four contests VU is averaging 11.25 miscues.
Against SIU, Vanderbilt committed a season-low eight turnovers, which was its fewest turnovers since having seven against Maryland on March 28, 2009 in the NCAA Sweet 16.
