Women's Hoops Head Into SEC action 11-3

Women’s Hoops Head Into SEC action 11-3

1/3/2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sophomore center Liz Sherwood posted a career-high 28 points as Vanderbilt’s dominant inside game led to a 72-57 win over Western Kentucky Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium.

Junior forward Carla Thomas returned from an injury that forced her out of a pair of games to post the Dores’ second double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Ashley Butler and Crystal Kelly scored 16 apiece to lead the Lady Toppers, who trailed by as much as 24 points before pulling to within 10 at the 2:40 mark of the second half. But time and again, the Commodores fed the ball into the low post, tallying 38 points in the paint for the evening.

As a team, the Commodores shot 51 percent from the floor, and connected on 17-of-19 free throw attempts. Western Kentucky made it to the line 30 times on the night, but hit only 63 percent of its charity tosses.

Ahead 20-19 with nine minutes remaining in the first half, the Commodores broke off a 23-2 run to take control of the game. Vanderbilt’s post players, including Sherwood, Thomas and senior Nicole Jules, combined for 15 of the run’s 23 points.

Vanderbilt returns to action this weekend, opening up Southeastern Conference play with a 2 p.m. CT tip-off at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.) on Sunday, Jan. 8.