Vanderbilt (12-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Alabama A&M (7-4, 0-0 SWAC)
Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 • 11 a.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network • Tickets
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics App • Live Stats • Game Notes
Starting Five
>> Vandy returns from the holiday break to play its final nonconference game of the 2024-25 season. The Commodores sport a 12-1 record overall after posting a 103-68 victory over West Georgia in their last outing on Dec. 21. It was the fourth time this season the Dores have scored over 100 points in a game. Freshman Mikayla Blakes scored a game-high 24 points to extend her double-digit scoring streak to 13 games to begin her Vandy career. Sophomore Khamil Pierre posted her fourth-straight double-double with a 23-point, 10-rebound performance against the Wolves. Pierre’s double-double against WGU was her 10th of the season, which is second-most in NCAA Division I.
>> Sunday’s contest continues a season-long four-game homestand for the Commodores. The Alabama A&M game is the second contest of the homestand, as the Dores defeated West Georgia 103-68 on Dec. 21. Vandy concludes its extended stay at home with Georgia (Jan. 2) and Kentucky (Jan. 5) during the first week of the new year to open SEC play.
>> Vanderbilt is 32-3 at Memorial Gym vs. non-SEC teams under head coach Shea Ralph. The Commodores have won 19-straight home games against nonconference teams, a streak that dates back to the 2022-23 campaign. Overall, Vandy is 45-13 against nonconference schools in the Ralph era.
>> The Commodores stand at 12-1 through their first 13 games for the second-straight season. It is the first time the Dores have opened back-to-back seasons at 12-1 or better since the 2003-04 and 2004-05 campaigns. Vanderbilt comes into Sunday seeking a second-straight 13-1 start, as Vandy began the 2023-24 season at 16-1.
>> Vandy and Alabama A&M will meet for the fourth time on the hardwood. The Dores have claimed victory in all three previous matchups. The last contest between the two schools came on Nov. 21, 2022, with Vanderbilt collecting a 76-46 win in Memorial Gymnasium. The first meeting came on Nov. 22, 2005, in Nashville, as the Commodores posted an 80-29 victory.
Game Coverage
Sunday’s contest against Alabama A&M airs live on SEC Network, with Sam Gore and Tamika Catchings calling the action. Fans can listen to Jake Lyman locally on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Commodores app outside of Nashville.
Gameday Information
Click the link here for the latest gameday information on entrance, construction, parking, and ticketing information at Memorial Gymnasium. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking the link here.
Superhero Sunday
Bang! Boom! Pow! Make plans to be at Memorial Gymnasium for Superhero Sunday, where there will be fun activities for all ages, including photo opportunities, a mask-making station, and more. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking the link here.
NET Ranking
Vanderbilt enters the weekend holding a NET ranking of 12. The Commodores came in at No. 7 in the first NET ranking of the 2024-25 season, the highest NET ranking in program history. The NET is an evaluation tool used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee to determine seeding and at-large bids.
Receiving Votes
The Dores earned 19 votes in this week’s Associate Press Top 25 Poll and 17 votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. It marks the fourth-straight week that Vanderbilt has been featured in both major women’s college basketball polls.
Pierre’s Double-Double Streak
Sophomore Khamil Pierre has posted a double-double in four-consecutive games coming into Sunday’s contest against Alabama A&M. It is tied for the second-longest double-double streak at Vanderbilt since 1999-00 with Mariella Fasoula, who had four in a row in 2019-20. Current Vanderbilt assistant coach Ashley Earley’s six-straight double-doubles in 2004-05 is the longest streak since 1999-00.
Moore Climbing Up Vandy’s All-Time Scoring List
Senior Iyana Moore has scored 1,055 points at Vanderbilt, which puts her at No. 34 on the school’s all-time scoring list. Moore is one point behind Liz Sherwood (1,056 points) for 33rd on the list, three points behind Christa Reed (1,058 points) for 32nd, and 37 points from Dee Davis (1,092 points) for 31st.
Scoring Streaks
A trio of Dores enter Sunday’s contest on a double-digit scoring streak. Sophomore Khamil Pierre has registered 10-plus points in 15-straight games, while freshman Mikayla Blakes is riding a 13-game double-digit scoring streak to open her career. Senior Iyana Moore has scored double figures in six-straight games.
Breaking the Century Mark
Vanderbilt scored 100-plus points for the fourth time this season in the 103-68 win over West Georgia on Dec. 21. It is the first time since the 1994-95 campaign that the Commodores have scored 100 points in four or more games. Vandy previously registered a 102-50 win over Lipscomb in the season opener on Nov. 4 and on Nov. 22 in a 104-59 win over Samford. More recently, the Dores scored a 106-40 win over Evansville on Dec. 14. The 106 points are the most points Vandy has scored under head coach Shea Ralph.
A Look at the Bulldogs
Alabama A&M comes into Nashville sporting a 7-4 overall record. The Bulldogs have won six of their last eight games, which includes a 55-53 win over Central Arkansas in their last contest.
Senior Kaila Walker paces AAMU at 13.6 points per game. The 5-5 guard scored 20 or more points in three outings this season, including a 30-point performance in an 80-77 win at North Alabama on Dec. 17. Senior Lauryn Pendleton also averages double-digit points at 10.9 points per contest. Senior Kourtney Rittenberry (9.2 ppg) and senior Alisha Williams (9.0 ppg) each put up 9.0 points or better per contest. Wilson paces the Bulldogs with 9.5 rebounds per game.
As a team, Alabama A&M averages 63.1 points per game through 11 contests this season. The Bulldogs are shooting 37.1 percent from the floor and 28.1 percent from behind the arc. Defensively, the Bulldogs are giving up 63.6 points per contest. Opponents are posting a 43.4 percent field goal percentage against AAMU, while teams are hitting 29.4 percent of their 3-point field goal attempts against Alabama A&M.
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