Women's Basketball Cruises to Victory Over Youngstown State, 91-60 11/30/02
Six players score in double figures for Commodores

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt women's basketball team (3-0) advanced to the championship game of the First Tennessee Tournament, as it defeated Youngstown State (1-2), 91-60, on Saturday afternoon in its 2002-03 home opener at Memorial Gymnasium.

The Commodores will play at 2 p.m. Sunday against the Harvard Crimson, who defated Central Michigan, 69-58. The Commdores will be looking for their 24th-consecutive Vanderbilt Tournament victory and their 12th-consecutive championship.

The Vanderbilt-Youngstown State game was the two teams first meeting. The Commdores came out of the gates rather sluggish, as the Penguins trailed 9-8 less than four minutes into the contest. The one-point margin would be the closest Youngstown State would get the entire game, as Vanderbilt immediately went on a 11-0 run over the next four minutes to stretch the lead to 12 points.

The Commodores largest lead of the first half was 26 points, which was the margin at the end of the first half (52-26). Vanderbilt's 52 first-half points were its most points in a half since December 31, 2001 when it scored 53 points against Canisius in the first half. The Commodores finished the half shooting 18-for-35 from the field for 51 percent.

Senior guard Ashley McElhiney led the way in the first half, as she tallied 11 points, six assists and four rebounds. Nine of her 11 points came on three-point field goals (3-for-5). Junior guard Hillary Hager chipped in with with 10 points.

The Commodores did not skip a beat in the second half despite scoring 13 fewer points. They finished the second half shooting 59 percent from the floor, which came on 16-of-27 shooting. Vanderbilt extended the lead to 33 points late in the contest, which was its largest lead of the game.

McElhiney was the story of the game, as she finished with 14 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. She has now recorded double-digit assists in two of the Commdores first three games, while having done it eight times over her career.

Head coach Melanie Balcomb received a well-balanced performance from her entire team. Along with McElhiney, five other players scored in double figures. Senior center Chantelle Anderson finished as the high scorer for Vanderbilt with 16 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high tying six blocks.

Forwards Jenni Benningfield and Tia Battle scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, while guard Ashley Early finished with 13 points. Hager scored two points in the second stanza to give her 12 for the game.

Youngstown State guard Barb Fabianova kept the Peguins in the contest, as she finished with 20 points, which included six three pointers. Center Tara Fleming posted 12 points and nine rebounds for the Penguins. They will now play Central Michigan at 12 p.m. Sunday.