NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Midway through the basketball season, Jence Rhoads' foot ached.

It was the best thing that could have happened to the Vanderbilt University freshman.

"I think it happened for a reason," said Rhoads, who had a stress fracture in her foot.

The injury allowed Rhoads, who collected almost as many accolades at Slippery Rock High as her 2,170 points, some perspective.

"It was a chance for me to get better mentally and emotionally more than just to have my foot heal," she said.

Rhoads didn't miss a game with the bum foot, but she was replaced in the starting lineup for seven games while it mended.

When she returned to full strength — and to the starting five — she found she gained more than just a sound foot. She found some peace of mind, too.

One of her best games came against Mississippi Jan. 27. Rhoads scored six points with eight assists and four steals.

It was the game in which Rhoads turned the corner and drew the praise of Vandy coach Melanie Balcomb.

"She's making it look easy, and that's what a good point guard does," Balcomb said after the Ole Miss game. "She's starting to understand what we want. Each game she builds more confidence. She's a lot more aggressive, which is getting us better shots. She's attacking a lot more, taking the pressure off her."

Like Vanderbilt, Rhoads finished strong.

She led the team in assists with 114 and had a nearly 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Rhoads averaged only 3.8 points per game, but her role was not to shoot.

"It was an amazing experience," Rhoads said. "For my first year, I had a lot of ups and downs, but I had a variety of experiences."

Vanderbilt struggled during the middle part of the season, but won nine of its final 10 games heading into the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

The Commodores lost in the second round of the SEC tournament to rival Tennessee, but made a run in the NCAA tournament, losing Saturday to Maryland 80-66.

Vanderbilt made it to the Sweet 16 with a team full of underclassmen. Last year, the senior-laden Commodores lost to Bowling Green in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

"We're all freshmen, sophomores with a couple of juniors thrown in," Rhoads said. "We want to go even further in the tournament next year. Things look good for the future."

One of those juniors, leading scorer Christina Wirth, was impressed with how the younger players performed this season.

"Our freshmen have been amazing, ..." Wirth said. "They're all listening."

Rhoads, who has never been one to rest on her success, is determined to come back next season even stronger.

She said she was happy with her playing time — she averaged 25 minutes per game — but felt she could have played better at times.

"I have to work on everything," Rhoads said. "I have to particularly work on my shooting, as always, and my defense. I have to get quicker. Everyone at this level is really quick."

Rhoads laments the fact she will have to watch the rest of the NCAA women's tournament instead of playing in it.

Vandy won't be playing for a title, but if Rhoads had to pick one team to win it all, which one would it be?

Certainly not Tennessee.

"Gosh, no, I can't pick them," Rhoads said. "I have to support the SEC, though, so I'd like to see LSU win."