Vanderbilt (4-1) jumped out quickly from the opening tip, scoring on a three by Jullian Danker and a layup from Chantelle Anderson to grab a 5-0 lead 47 seconds into the game. However, WKU proceeded to go on a 10-0 run over the next 1:58 to take a 10-5 lead on a jumper by Camryn Whitaker (So., Cynthiana, Ky.) at the 16:27 mark. Vanderbilt was able to battle back and tie the game a 14-14 with 13:39 to play when Zuzi Klimesova connected on a fast break layup. After the Lady Toppers went back up by two on a Kristina Covington (Jr., Elizabethtown, Ky.) jumper, Danker hit a three at the 13:17 mark to give the Commodores a 17-16 advantage, one they would not give up the rest of the night. That sparked a 13-4 VU run that built the lead to 30-20 on a layup by Anderson with 6:21 remaining. Vandy got the lead as high as 15 points in the first half when Klimesova hit a jumper at the 1:58 mark to make it a 44-29 score. However, the Lady Toppers outscored Vandy 7-2 the rest of the half to cut the lead to 46-36 going into intermission
Vandy came out hot again in the second half, scoring the first eight points to build the lead to 54-36 on a three by Jenni Benningfield a the 18:11 mark. But WKU used a 10-2 run of its own, pulling back within ten points (56-46) with 15:44 to go. The Commodores were able to keep the lead in double figures, however, and used an 11-2 run over a 4:50 span to get the lead to 20 points (78-58). The VU lead grew as high as 28 points (89-61) when Anderson knocked down two free throws with 4:51 remaining. The margin remained above 20 points until the closing seconds when Whitaker knocked down a three for the final points of the game.
Four Lady Toppers finished in double figures, with Natalie Powers (Sr., Owensboro, Ky.) leading all scorers with 30 points. Covington finished with 23, while Leslie Logsdon (So., Munfordville, Ky.) and Whitaker chipped in 12 and 10, respectively. Whitaker also dished out 11 assists and committed only one turnover. Anderson led the Commodores with 24 point on 9-of-12 shooting, while Klimasova finished with 20 points. As a team, the Commodores shot 63% from behind the three point arc.
The Lady Toppers head back on the road Saturday when they travel to Montana for an 8:35 p.m. (CST) showdown with the University of Montana Lady Griz.
-- WKU --
