Defense Leads Women's Basketball to 66-43 Victory Over UNC-Charlotte 12/31/02
Anderson leads Commodores with game high 15 points

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt women's basketball team got back on the winning track by defeating North Carolina-Charlotte on Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium, 66-43. With the win, the Commodores move to 8-2 on the season, while the 49ers fall to 6-5.

While the Commodores did not play their strongest game on the offensive end, their defense was stellar the entire afternoon. Head coach Melanie Balcomb's squad held the visiting 49ers to 32 percent shooting from the field and 11 percent shooting from three-point range.

The 43 points scored by Charlotte was the fewest points it has scored this season, while it was the fewest points Vanderbilt has allowed.

Both teams struggled on the offensive side of the ball, as Vanderbilt went into the half with only a 24-14 lead. The Commodores finished 10-for-25 for 40 percent in the first half, while the 49ers shot 7-for-32 for 22 percent. Vanderbilt went 3-for-8 from three-point range, while Charlotte was 0-for-11 from behind the arc.

One of the stories of the first half was Vanderbilt's leading scorer Chantelle Anderson getting into early foul trouble, as she picked up two personals in the first 1:03 of the game. The senior was able to avoid another foul, as she finished the half with only two points and two rebounds in only12 minutes of action.

With the preseason All-American on the bench, forward Jenni Benningfield helped pick up the slack on the offensive end. In 13 minutes of action, she scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Guard Abi Ramsey chipped in with five points.

Vanderbilt turned up its level of play on both ends of the court in the second half en route to its 23 point victory. Anderson was also able to avoid foul trouble, as she poured in 13 points in the second half to give her a game high 15. She also grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots.

While Benningfield only scored two points in the second half, she still finished with 10 points and a game high 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Ramsey had a productive afternoon for the Commodores, as she tallied 13 points and five rebounds. The sophomore went 3-for-4 from behind the arc. Guard Ashley McElhiney recorded nine points and dished out eight assists.

The Commodores only took 50 shots for the game; however, they still shot an outstanding 48 percent from the floor. They also had a lot of success from behind the arc, and they dropped seven of their 16 three-point attempts.

Charlotte was led by guard Leslie Cook, who finished with 10 points. Cook recorded both of the 49ers three pointers, as the team finished 2-for-18 from outside.

The women's basketball team returns to action at 7 p.m. (EST) Thursday, January 2, against the University of Louisville at historic Freedom Hall in Louisville.