Dores Host Razorbacks

The Vanderbilt women's basketball team closes a two-game homestand on Thursday with a 6:30 p.m. contest vs. Arkansas on SEC Network+

Vanderbilt (RV/RV) (15-4, 2-3 SEC) vs. Arkansas (8-12, 1-4 SEC)
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 6:30 p.m. CT

Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network+Tickets
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics AppLive StatsGame Notes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team continues SEC play Thursday, as the Commodores take on Arkansas at Memorial Gymnasium. Tipoff against the Razorbacks is set for 6:30 p.m. on streams live on SEC Network+.

Starting Five
>> The Dores enter Thursday fresh off a thrilling 71-70 win over then-No. 15-ranked Tennessee this past Sunday at Memorial Gym. Freshman Mikayla Blakes’ putback tip-in with 0.8 seconds remaining lifted Vanderbilt to its first win over the Lady Volunteers since the 2013-14 season, while the Commodores earned their first victory over a ranked team since knocking off No. 15/21 Florida on Feb. 24, 2022, at Memorial Gymnasium. It is also the second time the Dores have beaten a ranked opponent in the Ralph era.

>> Vanderbilt’s win over Tennessee put the Commodores at 15-4 overall and 2-3 in SEC games. The Commodores come into their contest against Arkansas receiving votes in both major college women’s basketball polls. Vandy picked up nine votes in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 and seven votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.

>> The Commodores are 11-1 at Memorial Gym this season. Vanderbilt has won 12 of its last 13 home games dating back to the 2023-24 campaign. The Dores are 44-18 at home under head coach Shea Ralph.

>> Thursday’s matchup between the Commodores and Razorbacks will be the 41st all-time meeting between the schools. Vanderbilt holds the all-time series lead at 28-12 and has won each of the last two contests. The Dores are 3-1 against Arkansas in the Ralph era, which includes last season’s 62-53 victory in Fayetteville.

>> Vandy is 16-2 all-time at Memorial Gymnasium against Arkansas. The Commodores won the last meeting between the two in Nashville on Feb. 9, 2023, as Vanderbilt claimed a 78-70 victory.

Game Coverage
Thursday’s contest against Arkansas streams live on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app, with Alex Gould and Richard Hendrix calling the action. Fans can listen to Jake Lyman locally on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Commodores app outside of Nashville. Fans can also follow along via live stats.

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.

Pride Night
Thursday will be the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team’s annual Pride Game. Vanderbilt Athletics invites all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies to attend the program’s annual Pride Game. Fans will receive a free limited edition Vanderbilt women’s basketball Pride t-shirt and pennant while supplies last. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking the link here.

Ahead of the Pride Game, The Lipstick Lounge in Nashville is hosting a Pregame Happy Hour for all Vanderbilt women’s basketball fans starting at 5 p.m.

Blakes Hauling in the Honors
First-year Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes won a pair of weekly national awards on Tuesday after her 23-point performance, which included a game-winning tip-in vs. No. 15 Tennessee. Blakes was named the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week, sharing the honor with Nebraska’s Britt Prince.

Additionally, the NCAA’s Autumn Johnson named Blakes the NCAA Player of the Week after her 23-point effort against the Lady Volunteers.

NET Ranking
Vanderbilt enters Thursday holding a NET ranking of 21. 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 the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee uses to determine seeding and at-large bids.

Pierre’s Elite Numbers
Sophomore Khamil Pierre currently ranks third all in NCAA Division I in double-doubles with 11 and field goals made with 169. The 6-2 forward ranks in the top 15 nationally in six categories. She is the only NCAA Division I player placed in the top 15 in scoring (6th: 22.3 ppg) and steals (11th; 55 and average over 22.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game this season.

Blakes’ Case for National Freshman of the Year
Freshman guard Mikayla Blakes is making a strong case for national freshman of the year consideration. The 5-8 guard leads all NCAA Division I freshmen in scoring (20.2 ppg) and points scored (383). Blakes ranks in the top five among freshmen nationally field goals made (2nd; 133), steals (3rd; 47), steals per game (4th, 2.47), free throw percentage (4th, 85.4%), and made 3-point field goals (4th, 41). She has scored 20-plus points in 11 games this season which leads all NCAA freshmen.

Lending a Hand
The Commodores rank 25th nationally in assists per game at 17.6. Vanderbilt handed out a season-best 30 assists against Alabama A&M on Dec. 29. The Dores have dished out 20 or more assists in seven games this season.

The Dores are also 15th in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio at 1.31, which is fourth-best in the SEC. Graduate Jordyn Oliver is 15th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio at 2.81, while her 3.8 assists per game ranks 12th in the SEC.

Dynamic Duo
Sophomore Khamil Pierre and freshman Mikayla Blakes are the only pair of teammates in all of NCAA Division I to average over 20.0 points per game. Pierre enters the weekend ranked sixth nationally at 22.3 points per contest, while Blakes’ 20.2 points per contest is 20th in the nation and is the highest scoring average by a freshman in NCAA Division I this season. Combined, Pierre and Blakes are averaging a combined 42.5 points per game this season.

Scouting the Razorbacks
Arkansas comes into Thursday at 8-12 and 1-4 in SEC play. The Razorbacks are 139 in the most recent NET rankings.

Izzy Higginbottom’s 23.6 points per game paces Arkansas, which leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally. Kiki Smith also averages double-digit at 11.1 points per contest.

The Razorbacks are putting up 70.1 points per game through 20 games this season. Arkansas is shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 31.2 percent on 3-point field goals. Defensively, teams are putting up 75.7 points per game against Arkansas while shooting 40.9 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent from behind the arc.

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