Women's Basketball Dominates Reebok Lady Stars in Exhibition Finale, 87-54 11/10/02

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt women's basketball team concluded the exhibition portion of its schedule with a 87-54 victory over the Reebok Lady Stars on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium. The Commodores conclude the preseason with 2-0 record.

Vanderbilt jumped out of the gates quickly with a 10-2 run, but the Reebok Lady Stars came back with its own 7-2 run to cut the lead to 12-9. Forward Jenni Benningfield led the early Commodore charge, as she scored seven of their first 10 points. She finished the first half with eight points, which came in just nine minutes of action.

The Commodores took a 35-28 lead into the locker room at halftime. Their biggest lead of the half was eight points, which they had on two seperate ocassions. Senior All-American center Chantelle Anderson got out to a slow start, but turned it on late to finish the half with 13 points and nine rebounds. Guard Ashley McElhiney was forced to sit on the bench for all but seven minutes of the first half, as she picked up two early personal fouls.

The Reebok Lady Stars were able to hang around in the first half by the play of center Jill Chapman and forward Melina Griffin. Chapman, who played collegiate ball for Indiana University, finished the half with 13 points and four rebounds. Griffin, who played for Purdue, chipped in with 11 points for the Lady Stars.

Both teams came out of the blocks quickly to start the second half. The Lady Stars were able to cut the lead to 44-39 with a little over 15 minutes remaining in the second half, but the Commodores went on a 18-4 run over the next five minutes to stretch the lead to 19. The 19 point margin with 10 minutes remaining would be the closest the Lady Stars would get.

Vanderbilt finished with four players in double figures. Anderson turned in a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Forward Tia Battle had a strong game for head coach Melanie Balcomb, as she tallied 12 points. Guard Hillary Hager and forward Nicole Jules both registered 11 point performances for the Commodores.

Chapman finished the game as the Lady Stars' leading scorer and rebounder, as she turned in 19 points and eight rebounds. Griffin chipped in with 16 points and four rebounds.

The Commodores will hit the road for the start of their 2002-03 season when they take on Boston University at 3 p.m. (EST) Saturday, November 23, at Case Gymnasium in Boston. The game can be heard on WNSR 650AM or on-line at vucommodores.com.