February 15, 2007

Williams' Career Night Carries VU to Fifth Straight Win

Feb. 15, 2007

STAR OF THE GAME
WilliamsWHERE THERE’S A WILLIAMS … Senior guard Caroline Williams scored a career-high 24 points Thursday, besting a 23-point performance against Charleston Southern in VU’s 2005 Thanksgiving Tournament. Williams entered the game as the top three-point shooter in the Southeastern Conference (second in the nation) and connected on 6-of-12 long-range attempts. STATEMENT MADE BEFORE MEDIA Before the first media timeout, that is…. Vanderbilt has made a habit of getting out of the gate quickly in each of its last five contests (all wins). Vanderbilt has outscored its opponents by a combined 50-8 in the opening four-plus minutes (before the first media timeout) of those contests. MORE POST-GAME NOTES Dee Davis, the SEC’s leader in assists, dished out six … Carla Thomas scored in double-figures for the 86th time in her career (the 21st time in a row this season) … Vanderbilt now holds a two-game lead (plus the tiebreaker) over Mississippi State in the SEC standings. The Commodores are currently in line for the fifth seed at the SEC Tournament, which begins in two weeks.

STAR OF THE GAME

WilliamsWHERE THERE’S A WILLIAMS …
Senior guard Caroline Williams scored a career-high 24 points Thursday, besting a 23-point performance against Charleston Southern in VU’s 2005 Thanksgiving Tournament. Williams entered the game as the top three-point shooter in the Southeastern Conference (second in the nation) and connected on 6-of-12 long-range attempts.

STATEMENT MADE BEFORE MEDIA
Before the first media timeout, that is…. Vanderbilt has made a habit of getting out of the gate quickly in each of its last five contests (all wins). Vanderbilt has outscored its opponents by a combined 50-8 in the opening four-plus minutes (before the first media timeout) of those contests.

MORE POST-GAME NOTES
Dee Davis, the SEC’s leader in assists, dished out six … Carla Thomas scored in double-figures for the 86th time in her career (the 21st time in a row this season) … Vanderbilt now holds a two-game lead (plus the tiebreaker) over Mississippi State in the SEC standings. The Commodores are currently in line for the fifth seed at the SEC Tournament, which begins in two weeks.

Next Home Game: Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. South Carolina

Box Score | Quotes | AP Gallery

Charles Davis Book Drive This Sunday
Bring a children’s book to Sunday’s home game against South Carolina in support of the Charles Davis Foundation and receive one FREE admission.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Caroline Williams scored a career-high 24 points and No. 12 Vanderbilt dominated the first half to take an 84-64 victory over Mississippi State on Thursday night.

Carla Thomas added 12 points and Jennifer Risper 10 for the Commodores (22-4, 8-3 Southeastern Conference), who scored 20 points off Mississippi State’s 15 first-half turnovers.

Marneshia Richard had 15 points for Mississippi State (16-10, 6-5). Alexis Rack added 14 and Tysheka Grimes 11.

Vanderbilt led 43-25 at the break, and by as many as 23 late in the second half.

Williams entered the game as the SEC’s top 3-point shooter and went 6-for-12 from beyond the arc.

Vanderbilt scored 36 points in the paint compared to 18 for Mississippi.

The Commodores return to action this Sunday as they take on South Carolina at 2 p.m. CT in Memorial Gym. To order tickets, call (615) 322-GOLD (option 1).