Justine Pissott’s Steal Seals It: Vanderbilt Senior Delivers in Every Way on Senior Day
Justine Pissott Just Works
Justine Pissott is mostly known as the pure three-point threat from anywhere beyond the arc, often helping the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team when they need it most. Shooting 44.5 percent from beyond the arc, 45.1 percent from the field, and averaging right around 12 points per game, when her shots go up, you normally expect them to fall.
However, in No. 5 Vanderbilt’s 81-79 victory over No. 16 Kentucky, Pissott didn’t have her best results, scoring just eight points on 3-for-11 shooting. Still, she didn’t allow that to affect her. Even on a day where she didn’t shoot her best, Justine Pissott was still on time with a clutch three to tie the game at 77 with 2:21 to go. That wasn’t all for Pissott.
Justine gave it all on Senior Day in Memorial Gymnasium, adding six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal that came at the most important time of the game.
With the game on the line and the Dores clinging to an 80-79 lead, they would have to stop Kentucky’s star player in Clara Strack one more time. According to Mikayla Blakes afterwards, they knew the ball would go to her. That makes all the sense, as Strack is an all-around versatile player who can shoot it with the best of them.
“We knew the ball was going to her, and we’ve been told this whole week when it goes to her, know who you can help off of and who you can’t. Then, I’m pretty sure Justine had a really good dig. So the ball got loose,” said Blakes.
With the ball inbounded to Strack, as she began her drive with Aiyana Mitchell guarding her, Justine Pissott read it perfectly. Instead of following Asia Boone all the way to the perimeter, she slid back and caused the deflection and steal to all but seal the game. Blakes still had to make a free throw at the other end, and Kentucky was left with just 0.4 seconds for pure luck that resulted in nothing. The damage had been done.
“She’s not just a shooter anymore. She’s a leader on our team. She’s somebody that everybody trusts on the offensive and defensive end, and she knows that we need her on the court,” said Shea Ralph after the game.
When you are great at something, it is hard for people to see you as anything else. That is the case with Pissott. She is one of the best three-point shooters to ever play at Vanderbilt, but what people often miss is her contributions on the defensive side of the floor and doing her part on the boards as well.
As Blakes said last month after the Michigan game, she’s a worker and instills confidence in those around her.
“She continues to push me to be better every day and she gives me confidence even when she may not think she does,” she said. “So I think her growth just needs to be studied. Like she just came out and she’s just a worker. I don’t even know if I can say more on it but she’s just doing everything she can.”
Vanderbilt has needed every ounce of contributions from the team, and this season especially, Justine Pissott has stepped up to the challenge of being everything this team needs. Yesterday was just the latest example of Pissott’s “whatever the team needs” mindset, and was probably the biggest defensive moment of the season for her.
“She got huge deflections, huge blocks, huge rebounds, and then she made an enormous three when we had to have it. That’s what leaders do. That is incredible growth by that kid,” Ralph explained.
The 6-foot-4 senior from Toms River, N.J., still has plenty left in the tank to aid the Vanderbilt Commodores as they continue their historic run this season. Something tells me that you will see a new level of Justine Pissott in the coming weeks.
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