College of Charleston Cougars Back in Action at Vanderbilt
College of Charleston (4-4, 2-0 SoCon) at Vanderbilt (8-3, 0-0 SEC)
Game #9
December 22, 2012, 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Memorial Gym, Nashville, Tenn.
Live Stats/video: www.vucommodores/twitter @CofCWBasketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. - After a 19 day break following their 88-61 victory at UNCG the College of Charleston women’s basketball team is back in action as they take on Vanderbilt Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
OPENING THOUGHTS
CofC head coach Natasha Adair
On starting conference play 2-0
“Anytime you’re playing a conference game and then you add being on the road, and for us to fight our way to victory. Neither game was easy. Once you get into conference it’s very competitive. Our kids stepped up. We made plays, we got stops and did a lot of the little things we have been emphasizing. To have that momentum, we remind them daily of what they have accomplished and to not let up moving forward. “
On 19 day break between games
“I think we did a good job managing those 19 days. The kids were able to focus on exams when they needed to, but when we got in the gym they focused on getting better. You have to be smart and know your team. We broke it up and tried to do some different things with them. We did a captains practice where the seniors ran practice. That was good. When they graduate they are going to be in leadership roles and that is a way to help them out. We got back to the fundamentals and the little things, almost like a preseason.”
On playing Vanderbilt
“Vanderbilt is a very good team. Melanie Balcomb does a phenomenal job, but this is about our team. This is about us and we have a lot of good pieces. If we take care of the little things and compete, I’m very excited about on going on the road to Nashville and taking on a top opponent in the country in Vanderbilt.”
THE COACHES
College of Charleston
Natasha Adair
Career Record: 4-4 (1st year)
CofC Record: 4-4 (1st year)
Vanderbilt
Melanie Balcomb
Career Record: 409-201 (19th year)
VU Record: 246-97 (11th year)
THE SERIES
First meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING VANDERBILT
The Commodores are 8-3 on the year and come into the game riding a five-game winning streak. Most recently the Commodores knocked off No. 12 Oklahoma on the road 76-63. Vanderbilt has three players that are averaging in double-figures, led by Tiffany Clarke at 15.2 points per game.
INSIDE COFC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WITH NATASHA ADAIR
The Charleston Sports Network has launched a new coach’s show called Inside CofC Women’s Basketball with Natasha Adair. Each week assistant director of athletics communications Jeremy Rosenthal talks to Coach Adair about past and future games as well as a variety of topics and player features. The show can be viewed on CofCSports.com.
QUESTIONS FOR COACH ADAIR?
Viewers are strongly encouraged to submit questions to Coach Adair that she will answer on the show. If you have a question you can tweet it to @CofCWBasketball or email insidecofcwbasketball@gmail.com.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Cougars will be on the road for much of November and December as they play eight of their first 11 games away from TD Arena.
STRONG SUPPORTING CAST
The Cougars have gotten key minutes from their bench over the last five games especially. In the Cougars last five contests the reserves are averaging 20.4 points per game.
IT’S RAINING THREES
Junior guard Alyssa Frye set a new CofC single-game record for three-pointers in a game with seven in the win at East Carolina last Saturday. Frye connected on seven-of-10 from beyond the arc.
BROWN LEADING AT THE POINT
Junior point guard Jillian Brown has two 10 assist games this season and four double-digit assist games in her career. Brown ranks eighth on the CofC all-time assist list with 262 and is 11 shy of the seven spot. Brown is 12th among NCAA DI players in assist per game at 6.5 per contest.
ON THE GLASS
In the Cougars win at Elon the team had 21 offensive rebounds and converted them into 16 second chance points.
BLOCK PARTY
In the Cougars game at Miami (Ohio) last Friday seven different players recorded at least one blocked shot.
SHARING THE BALL
Against East Carolina the Cougars recorded 18 assists in the contest, the most since 21 assists January 16, 2010 in an 84-78 victory at Davidson.
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