Game 35: Vanderbilt (NCAA Sweet 16)

It's a quick turnaround after our game on Tuesday as we play again on Saturday. Vanderbilt hasn't played since Monday. This marks the second straight season that we have played Vandy in the Sweet 16. Last year we beat them 80-66 as we swamped them with defense and a quick tempo

The Commodores have won five straight including the SEC Tournament. They sit at 26-8 and among the common opponents were Virginia Tech (W, 72-43) and Mississippi State (L, 61-66). They are known for switches defenses to try and throw teams off. Expect to see some junk defenses along with what looked like some match up zone. Since the injury to Hanna Toumi, they have had to go small as they play four guards and one post.


PPG/OPP: 71.8/58.3
FG%/OPP: .456/.404
3FG%/OPP: .359/.322
FT%/OPP: .733/.683
RPG/OPP: 34.5/33.8
ASSISTS/OPP: 15.4/11.7
TOS/OPP: 14.6/20.3
STEALS/OPP: 10.2/5.3
BLOCKS/OPP: 1/9/2.5

Starters
- #34 Christina Wirth. 6'1 senior guard/forward. At this point, the team's main presence in the paint. Leads the team in scoring and is second in rebounding. Main offensive threat having taken almost 200 more shots than the next person on the team. Will shoot the 3 and does it at a .387 clip. second on the team in steals. shoots 73.5% from the line.
- # 23 Merideth Marsh. a 5'9 junior guard. second on the team in scoring and mainly an outside shooter as 201 of her 293 shots have taken place outside the three-point line, where she shoots .393. Doesn't help rebound that much. Only missed five of 48 shots from the charity stripe.
- #2 Jennifer Resper. 5'9 senior guard. she has become the new post player with the loss of Tuomi and while small she can do a great job posting up bigger players and then using a quick move to take them to the basket. Has only taken two 3s all year and shoots 50% from the floor. Leads the team in steals and is second in assists. I think she is the heart of soul of the team. Can get into foul trouble.
- #20 Jessica Mooney. 5'8 junior guard. Averages 7.6 points per game. Will shoot the 3 if open, but only makes 25%. not a big rebounder with only 2.2 per game. Leads the team in blocked shots, meaning she comes from behind to get the ball. Third in steals.
- #22 Jence Rhodes. 5'11 sophomore guard. Averages 6.1 points per game. Only taken four 3s all year, more likely to dribble and drive to the bucket. Leads the team in assists and is second in blocked shots. Shoots 84% from the line.

The Bench
- #24 Tia Gibbs. 5'9 freshman guard. mainly stays away from the paint as she has only taken 26 free throws all year. Will shoot the 3 and makes .338 from there and has taken 48 shots inside the arc. Not a big rebounder.
- #3 Chanel Chisholm. 5'11 sophomore guard. Doesn't shoot the 3. makes 50% of her shots. will help on the glass and create steals.
- #5 Lauren Lueders. 5'8 junior guard. Averages 8 minutes per game. Mainly a 3-point shooter. Doesn't help rebound. more of a point guard.
- #12 Jordan Coleman. 5'11 freshman forward. Has taken 25 shots all year and only plays only 5.8 minutes per game. Not a three-point threat.

Keys to the Game
- Rebound. Again we have a height advantage and we need to control the boards on both ends of the floor.
- Control Wirth. The offense flows through her. Limit her touches and force her to play defense and it will limit Vandy's chances.
- Dictate the pace. We can't let Vandy set up their defense and the best way to do that is to play fast. They have given up more than 70 only five times this year.
- We need a third scorer. Just like against Utah, someone else has to step up. Last year against Vandy, Marah had a huge game and we are going to need her and Lynetta to show what made them H.S. AAs.
- Play defense and limit the turnovers.
- EAT KIDS

Before we start, we will know who we play. I hope it's not Benedict Arnold and his Cardinals.