(Dover, Del.) – The Delaware State women's basketball team (0-1) will continue its early slate of road games Thursday evening (8 p.m.) in Nashville, Tenn. against the No. 25 Vanderbilt Commodores (2-0) of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
The Opponent
» No. 25 Vanderbilt Commodores (2-0, 0-0 SEC)
The Commodores enter Thursday evening's matchup coming off blowout victories at home over Appalachian State in their season opener, 96-53, and Western Kentucky earlier in the week, 85-60. With these wins, Vandy broke into the USA Today's Top-25 rankings at No. 25.
Offensively, guard Rebekah Dahlman leads VU in scoring (20.5 ppg), whereas Preseason All-SEC First Teamer, Christina Foggie, averages 18.5 points per game while shooting 56 percent (10-of-18) from the field.
» The Head Coach: Now in her 12th season, Melanie Balcomb currently holds a 261-106 overall record as VU's all-time winningest head coach. Throughout her tenure, the Commodores have made the NCAA Tournament each season, including four trips to the Sweet 16, while winning three SEC Tournament Championships.
» The Series: The Hornets are 0-1 all-time against Vandy. Their lone meeting occurred in the opening round of the 2006-07 NCAA Tournament with the Commodores pulling out a 62-47 victory.
A Win Would Mean…
» The Hornets would be 1-1 for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
» DSU's first road win since beating FAMU, 57-53, on Jan. 23, 2013.
Last Time Out…
DSU fell 97-67 in its season opener on the road to Old Dominion.
In the loss, ODU's Stephanie Gardner poured in a career-high 21 points, while the Lady Monarchs outrebounded DSU, 56-50, along with totaling 31 second-chance points. From beyond the arc, meanwhile, ODU went 11-for-26 (.423), whereas DSU went 3-for-9 (.333).
The bright spot for DSU offensively, on the other hand, featured three players finishing in double figures, led by guard Raven Bankston (8-of-12) and forward Tierra Hawkins (7-of-16) both totaling 18 points. Hawkins also added eight rebounds, while guard Raine Bankston chipped in with 11 (3-of-11) points and three assists.
Also, turning in a solid performance was forward Deanna Harmon with a team-high 11 rebounds, to go along with nine (3-of-6) points.
Bankston Named MEAC Rookie of the Week
Monday afternoon, freshman Raven Bankston was named MEAC Rookie of the Week after totaling 18 (8-of-12) points, five rebounds and a steal in DSU's season loss at Old Dominion.
The freshman out of Detroit, Mich. also went 2-for-3 (.666) from beyond the arc to lead the Lady Hornets.
With this feat, Bankston is the first Hornet to earn this recognition since Tierra Hawkins garnered the award three times during the 2011-12 season, as she went on to be named MEAC Rookie of the Year.
Milestone Watch
After scoring a team-high 18 points in DSU's loss at ODU last week, junior Tierra Hawkins pushed her career-point total mark to 986. With this performance, she is now 14 points shy of reaching 1,000.
Last season, she finished fourth in the conference in scoring (17.1 ppg), seventh in rebounding (7.4 pg) and second in field goal percentage (.509). Her 529 points last season were the third most by any Hornet since the 1985-86 campaign.
With these efforts, the Clinton, Md. native, earned 2013-14 Preseason All-MEAC Second Team honors.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
The 2006-07 season for the Lady Hornets, which ended with a 62-47 loss against Vandy in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, was one to remember.
Despite the loss, DSU made its first trip ever to the Big Dance by way of defeating Morgan State, 55-42, to capture the program's lone MEAC Tournament Championship. In addition, forward Raquel Collier (2004-08) earned MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors, whereas head coach Ed Davis (2000-12) was named MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Coach.
That season, the Lady Hornets finished with a 20-13 (12-6 MEAC) record.
Through One Game Last Season…
The Lady Hornets were 0-1 coming off a 90-50 loss at Kentucky.
Next Up for the Lady Hornets…
Will be their home opener next Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) against Wilmington.
