Nov. 4, 2011
The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team opens its 2011-12 season with an exhibition contest versus Clayton State on Saturday, November 5. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym.
Head Coach Melanie Balcomb enters her 10th season at the helm of the Commodore program, looking to continue a streak of 12-straight 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament bids. They are off to a solid start, receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls.
The Commodores return several of the key cogs from last year’s team, which finished third in the SEC. Sophomore guard Jasmine Lister led the team in scoring a year ago (11.8 ppg), while redshirt sophomore Stephanie Holzer, who was named the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year, led the team in rebounding at 6.0 rebounds per game, while averaging 11.1 points per game. Junior forward Tiffany Clarke, who averaged 9.9 points and 5.9 rebounds, returns after being named to the SEC All-Tournament team.
Other returners for Vanderbilt include senior Jordan Coleman, juniors Elan Brown and Gabby Smith and sophomore Christina Foggie.
The exhibition contest also will be the first look at freshmen Maggie Morrison, Nadine Ndip and Kady Schrann, as well as redshirt freshman Clair Watkins.
Clayton State enters as the defending NCAA Division II National Champion. Eighth-year Head Coach Dennis Cox returns three starters and sees his squad with a preseason ranking of No. 1 at the Division II level.
The Commodores open the regular season on Friday, November 11, when they take on Alabama A&M. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Gym.
