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Home > SECWB News & More! > SEC Teams > Vanderbilt > Vanderbilt vs. UAB Preview
Vanderbilt vs. UAB Preview
by LeAnne Harrington, SECWB.com
Posted: November 9th, 2007 @ 12:22am
The Vanderbilt Commodores, ranked #17 in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll, open their 2007-2008 season by hosting the University of Alabama - Birmingham Blazers on Friday night, November 9. Vanderbilt, the defending SEC Tournament champions, are coming off a 28-6 season which included advancing to the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, but with the graduation of three key players from last year‘s starting lineup, this year’s squad will sport some new blood.
Replacing first team All-SEC player Carla Thomas, conference assist leader Dee Davis and Caroline Williams, who was second in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, will be a tall order for Coach Melanie Balcomb, but so far she seems pleased with the way this team is meshing. Vanderbilt won both of their pre-season exhibition games, crushing NAIA opponent Cumberland University 104-43, and then beating Division II Anderson University 76-41. Although neither school could be accused of playing SEC-caliber ball, it allowed the VU coaches to gauge the Commodores progress so far, and also presented the opportunity to start two different point guards. In the game against Cumberland, sophomore Merideth Marsh ran the point, while freshman Jence Rhoads got the start against Anderson. Who gets the nod tomorrow evening? Not sure, but look for the remaining spots in the starting lineup to be filled by senior Liz Sherwood at center, junior Christina Wirth at forward, junior Jen Risper at guard and sophomore Jessica Mooney at the other guard position. Through 2 exhibition games, Sherwood has scored 39 points in 40 minutes of play.
The UAB Blazers, coached by Virginia alum Audra Smith, compiled a 19-13 record in 2006-2007, finished second in Conference USA and made it to the second round of the WNIT. UAB returns 4 starters from last year’s team, and is led by senior Diamond Rogers, a 5’11” guard/forward who was second on the team in scoring last season, averaging 15.3 ppg while earning second team All-Conference USA honors. Rogers also led the team in rebounding, averaging 7.8 boards a game, and has been chosen first team All-Conference USA in their pre-season coaches poll. This multi-threat athlete also set a new UAB single season record for 3-point field goal percentage, and can score from anywhere on the court. Returning to the court (and most likely to the starting lineup) after a red shirt season last year will be senior Crystal McFadden, a 5’10” guard who has tallied impressive numbers in her first 3 seasons at UAB: 1,065 career points, for an average of 13.1 ppg, while also adding 386 rebounds, 118 assists and 113 steals during her career.
Vanderbilt and UAB have met 3 previous times, with Vanderbilt winning all 3 games. The most recent contest was in Birmingham last year, when the Commodores defeated the Blazers 85-63. Game time is set for 7 pm CST at Memorial Gym.
Interesting notes about fourth-year UAB head coach Audra Smith:
- UAB is Smith’s first head coaching position. Previously, she spent 10 years as an assistant under Debbie Ryan at Virginia.
- Smith was also a standout player at Virginia from 1989-1992, competing in 3 straight Final Fours.
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