NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team will play its final nonconference game on Wednesday afternoon before launching into SEC play.
The Commodores (8-5) host Alabama A&M (1-7) at 1 p.m. CT (SEC Network+) in Memorial Gymnasium.
Vandy is coming off two straight overtime wins in which graduate guards Ciaja Harbison and Marnelle Garraud took turns scoring 31 points to help secure the victories. In Vandy’s 72-71 overtime home win over Lipscomb last Sunday, Harbison scored her 31 points on 11 of 20 shooting and made the game-winning free throws in the final seconds. In the Dores’ 75-70 overtime win over Louisiana Tech on the road 10 days earlier, Garraud scored 31 points on 11 of 19 shooting, including 7 of 13 from the 3-point line.
Harbison is averaging a team-leading 18.9 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Dores. Both marks rank No. 2 in the SEC. Garraud is averaging 13.6 points and leads the SEC with 34 3-pointers made. Sophomore Sacha Washington tops Vandy in rebounding at 7.4 per game.
Harbison, who missed three games with an injury, has reached double figures scoring in six straight games she’s played and has eclipsed the 30-point mark twice this season.
Vandy has limited opponents to 39.1 percent shooting and 29.1 percent from the 3-point line. The Dores are forcing 18.4 turnovers and averaging 8.8 steals per game.
Scouting Report
Alabama A&M
Vanderbilt is 2-0 all-time against Alabama A&M, with both wins coming at home. The last meeting between the programs came in the 2011-12 season, an 86-55 win for the Dores.
Alabama A&M is averaging 50.9 points per game and 31.6 shooting from the field, including 25.2 percent from the 3-point line. The Bulldogs have committed 18.1 turnovers per game while forcing 16.8.
Toni Grace leads Alabama A&M in scoring at 10.9 points and is the only Bulldog averaging in double figures. Amiah Simmons averages 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
The Bulldogs are coming off their lone victory, a 53-37 win over South Carolina State last Sunday. They have faced two other SEC opponents this season, losing to Alabama 98-51 to open the season and to Ole Miss 74-28 in late November.
Alabama A&M returned two players from a team that finished last season 15-14, including 13-5 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (second place).
Tickets: Students will continue to receive free admission to all home basketball games. In addition, single-game sales, mini-plans and group ticket options are available. To view the promotional schedule, click here.
