Women's Hoops Down The Dogs

Women’s Hoops Down The Dogs

1/12/2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sophomore Liz Sherwood scored a game-high 22 and junior Carla Thomas scored the 1,000th point of her career as the 21st-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team defeated Mississippi State, 87-48, in its Southeastern Conference home opener Thursday at Memorial Gymnasium.

Thomas came into the game with 999 career points and took just 21 seconds to score her first basket. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native became the 26th Commodore to score 1,000 career points, but only the 11th Dore to achieve the feat during her junior season.

Following Thomas’ bucket, Vanderbilt jumped out to a 14-0 lead, holding Mississippi State scoreless through the first media timeout. The Commodores never looked back, opening up a 46-15 halftime lead. The 31-point halftime advantage was VU’s largest of the season.

Sherwood led four Commodores in double-figures while also grabbing a career-high nine rebounds. Junior Caroline Williams and freshman Christina Wirth poured in 14 apiece, each connecting on four three-pointers. Wirth’s total, a career high, came in the first game of her career that she has not started.

Senior Nicole Jules also added 10 points for Vanderbilt. The Lady Bulldogs were led by Heather Hollis’ 22 points.

On the day, Vanderbilt shot 58 percent from the field. Sherwood, who leads the nation in field goal percentage at 69.7 percent, connected on 9-of-12 shots from the field. The Commodore defense held MSU to 28 percent shooting while claiming a season-high 14 steals.

With the game under control, the Commodores used four different point guards. Junior Cherish Stringfield, senior Erica Grimaldi and freshman Holly Rogers each spelled junior Dee Davis, with Stringfield (seven) and Rogers (six) both accumulating career high assist totals.

The Commodores hit the road this weekend to continue league play at South Carolina. The game is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. CT.