Game 1: Vanderbilt (6-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Arizona (6-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 • 3:30 p.m. CT
Game 2: Vanderbilt (6-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Cal (6-0, 0-0 ACC) or Michigan State (6-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 • 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. CT
Acrisure Arena • Palm Springs, Calif. • TruTV • HBO MAX
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics App • Live Stats • Game Notes
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team heads to the Golden State looking to keep its perfect record intact, as the Commodores are set to play in the Acricure Classic on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Commodores open their two-game stay at Acrisure Arena Tuesday against Arizona for a 3:30 p.m. CT contest that airs live on TruTV and streams on HBO Max.
Starting Five
>> Vanderbilt heads to the Acrisure Classic sporting an unblemished 6-0 record after posting a 104-59 win over Samford last Friday. The Commodores got a pair of double-doubles from sophomore Khamil Pierre (21 points, 12 rebounds) and graduate student Leilani Kapinus (11 points, 10 rebounds) in the victory. It is Pierre’s fifth double-double of the season, while it is Kapinus’ first double-double at Vanderbilt. Vandy scored a season-high 104 points against the Bulldogs. It was the second time the Dores have surpassed the century mark this season, as a season-best six Dores scored double-digit points.
>> The Commodores are among 43 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division I. Vandy is seeking to open a second-straight season at 7-0. The only other time that occurred in school history were the 1991-92 and 1992-93 campaigns.
>> Vanderbilt and Arizona will meet for the fourth time on the hardwood this Tuesday. The Dores own a 2-1 record against the Wildcats, winning the first two meetings on Dec. 2, 1992, in Tucson, Arizona (73-63), and Dec. 29, 1994 (79-39) in Nashville. The last matchup came on Nov. 25, 2021, with Arizona posting a 48-46 victory with a buzzer-beating shot in the United States Virgin Islands.
>> Vandy is 40-13 overall against nonconference teams under head coach Shea Ralph. Vanderbilt will take on Arizona for the second time in the Ralph era. The Dores will be seeking to avenge a 48-46 loss to the Wildcats at the 2021 Paradise Island Jam in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, during Ralph’s first season at Vandy.
>> The Dores take on either California or Michigan State in their second game at the Acrisure Classic, based on the result of the Arizona game. Wednesday’s contest takes place at either 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. CT live on TruTV and streaming on HBO Max.
Game Coverage
Tuesday’s contest against Arizona airs live on TruTV and streams simultaneously on HBO Max, with Cindy Brunson and Christy Winters-Scott calling the action and Autumn Johnson reporting on the sidelines. Fans can listen to Jake Lyman locally on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Commodores app outside of Nashville.
Double-Double Duo
Sophomore Khamil Pierre and graduate student Leilani Kapinus became the first Commodore teammates to record a double-double in the same game this season in Friday’s win over Samford. Pierre registered 21 points and 12 rebounds to post her fifth double-double of the season, while Kapinus collected 11 points and 10 rebounds to record her first at Vanderbilt. It is the first time since March 7, 2024, that two Vanderbilt players posted a double-double in the same game, as Pierre and Sacha Washington accomplished the feat against Florida in the second round of the 2024 SEC Tournament.
Sharing The Ball
Vanderbilt dished out a season-high 23 assists in Friday’s win over Samford. The Commodores have collected 20 or more assists in back-to-back games coming into the Acrisure Classic, as they also posted 22 assists in the victory over Hampton on Nov. 20. Graduate student Jordyn Oliver has handed out three or more assists in each of the last four games, with a high mark of six against Butler on Nov. 17.
Breaking the Century Mark
Vanderbilt scored 100-plus points for the second time this season in the 104-59 win over Samford on Nov. 22. The 104 points against the Bulldogs are the most scored in a game under head coach Shea Ralph. Vandy previously registered a 102-50 win over Lipscomb in the season opener on Nov. 4. The last time the Commodores scored over 100 points in multiple games in a season came during the 2010-11 campaign.
Winning Big
Vanderbilt holds the 11th-best margin of victory in the nation coming into the Acrisure Classic. The Commodores have been beating teams by an average of 48.7 points per game this season. Vandy has posted four wins of 40-plus points through the first six games of the 2024-25 season.
Pierre’s Streak
Sophomore Khamil Pierre enters Tuesday’s game riding a nine-game double-digit scoring streak dating back to last season. It is the longest double-digit scoring streak of her Vandy career, as the 6-2 forward averages 17.0 points per game during the stretch.
Elite Defense
The Dores have been locking up teams with high efficiency this season. Vanderbilt ranks 11th in the nation in points allowed at 48.7 points per game. The Commodores have held foes to 55 or fewer points in all but one of their games this season. Vandy’s 24.5 turnovers forced per game is 23rd-best in all of NCAA Division I, while their plus-11.3 turnover margin is 11th nationally. Vanderbilt is also holding teams to the 39th-lowest field goal percentage in the nation at 34.5 percent.
Dynamic Duo
Vanderbilt’s high-scoring duo of sophomore Khamil Pierre and freshman Mikayla Blakes both rank inside the top 15 in NCAA Division I in field goals made. They are just one of two sets of teammates to sit inside the top 15 nationally, as Pierre ranks fifth with 51 shots made, while Blakes is tied for 14th with 43 made field goals.
Double-Double Machine
Khamil Pierre is tied for first in NCAA Division I with five double-doubles entering the week. She is one of two players nationally to collect five or more double-doubles during the 2024-25 season. Pierre is also among four NCAA Division I players who have posted a double-double in all but one game their team has played this season. She is one of seven players nationally to average over 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game this season.
Historic Start
Freshman Mikayla Blakes has scored 14-plus points and collected at least two steals in each of her first six games to begin her Vanderbilt career. She is the first Dore since at least 2009-10 to open their Vandy career with six-straight games with 14-plus points and two-plus steals.
Scouting The Wildcats
Arizona heads to the Acriscure Classic with a 6-1 record through seven games this season. The Wildcats went 1-1 last week, dropping their first game of the year at Northern Arizona (92-75) before knocking off Grambling (84-60) at home Saturday night.
Sophomore Breya Cunningham leads the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg), while freshman Lauryn Swann is putting up 10.4 points per contest. Arizona has a trio of players averaging higher than 8.6 points per game, led by sophomore Skylar Jones.
The Wildcats are putting up 74.0 points per game. Arizona is shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from behind the arc. Opponents are putting up 59.0 points per game against the Wildcats, as foes are shooting 34.8 percent from the floor and 25.4 percent on 3-point field goals.
A Quick Glance at California and Michigan State
California is a perfect 6-0 this season. The Golden Bears average 82.5 points per game on a 48.1 field goal percentage as a team. Defensively, Cal gives up 55.7 points per contest, as teams are shooting 34.8 percent from the floor against them. Sophomore Lulu Twidale leads a quartet of double-digit scorers for the Golden Bears at 18.3 points per game.
Michigan State also sports a 6-0 record heading out to the Acrisure Classic. The Spartans put up 96.3 points per game this season, which is the fourth-highest team average in NCAA Division I. MSU is shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from behind the arc as a team. Michigan State is holding teams to 45.8 points per game, the fifth-lowest in the country. Grace VanSlooten paces a trio of double-figure scorers for the Spartans at 16.7 points per contest.
Follow Us
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, follow @VandyWBB on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.
