Women's Basketball Blows by Holy Cross on Fan Appreciation Day, 86-54 1/4/03

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt women's basketball team gave its supporters something to cheer about on Fan Appreciation Day, as it defeated Holy Cross, 86-54, in front of a Memorial Gymnasium crowd of 8,919. Saturday's attendance was the 12th largest crowd all-time for a Vanderbilt women's basketball game and the third largest non-Tennessee game. With the victory, the Commodores move to 9-3 on the season, while the Crusaders fall to 6-5.

Saturday's game between the Commodores and Crusaders was only the second meeting between the two teams. During the 1995-96 season, Vanderbilt defeated Holy Cross, 80-50, in Nashville.

The Crusader jumped out to an early 5-4 lead a little more than three minutes into the game, but the Commodores went on a 19-2 run over the next eight minutes to take a decisive 23-7 lead - one it would not relinquish.

The Commodores went into halftime with a decisive 25 point lead (47-22), which tied their biggest lead throughout the first 20 minutes. Vanderbilt shot the lights outs in the first half, as it went 19-for-31 for 61 percent. Seven of the Commodores 19 field goals came from three-point range.

Senior Chantelle Anderson had a solid first half, as she dropped in 10 points (5-for-5 from the floor), grabbed three rebounds and sent back four Holy Cross shots. Sophomore Abi Ramsey added eight points, while senior Ashley McElhiney scored eight points and dished out six assists.

Despite grabbing eight more offensive rebounds then Vanderbilt (11-3), Holy Cross struggled from the field making only nine of 23 shots for 27 percent.

The Commodores continued their outstanding play in the second half, as they stretched the lead to as many as 35 points. The only area Vanderbilt was beaten was on the offensive glass, as Holy Cross grabbed 17 offensive rebounds to the Commodores seven.

While Vanderbilt's shooting percentage dropped a little bit, it still shot 14-for-26 for 54 percent. For the game, the Commodores shot an incredible 58 percent, while also shooting 46 percent from three-point range. They finished with 11 three-point field goals.

Vanderbilt's starting five all finished the game in double figures. Anderson concluded her afternoon with 20 points, five rebounds and five block shots. She finished 9-for-10 from the floor. Junior Hillary Hager also had a solid afternoon, as she tallied 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Nine of her points came from behind the arc.

McElhiney, Vanderbilt all-time assists leader, dished out 10 more and scored 12 points. Sophomores Jenni Benningfield, Tia Battle and Ramsey all registered 10 points.

Holy Cross was led by center Katie O'Keefe, who finished with 10 points and five rebounds. The Crusaders knocked down seven three-point baskets on the afternoon.

Vanderbilt will conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule at 6:05 p.m. (CST) Monday, January 6, against Duquesne in Pittsburgh, Pa. This will be the first meeting between these two teams. Melanie Balcomb's squad kicks off the SEC season on Sunday, January 12, against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.