Vanderbilt (3-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Butler (3-0, 0-0 Big East)
Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 • 2 p.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network+ • Tickets
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics App • Live Stats • Game Notes • Game Program
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team returns to Memorial Gymnasium Sunday, as the Commodores host Butler to open a three-game homestand. Tipoff against the Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m. CT, and streams live on SEC Network+.
Starting Five
>> The Dores return to the Music City a perfect 3-0 on the year after a successful trip to Tampa Bay. Vanderbilt knocked off South Florida, 62-49, Thursday night. Sophomore Khamil Pierre recorded her third-straight double-double to open the 2024-25 campaign, as she registered 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulls. Pierre was one of three Commodores that scored double figures against USF, with freshman Mikayla Blakes adding 16 points and sophomore Madison Greene chipping in a season-high 15 points in her first career start at Vandy.
>> Vanderbilt is 26-5 at Memorial Gym vs. nonconference foes under Shea Ralph. The Commodores have won 13 straight home games against nonconference teams, a streak that dates back to the 2022-23 campaign. In total, Vandy is 35-13 against non-SEC schools in the Ralph era.
>> Sunday’s matchup will be the fourth time Vanderbilt and Butler meet on the hardwood, with the first game taking place Nov. 24, 1990. The Commodores own a 2-1 record over the Bulldogs and are on a two-game winning streak against Butler. The two met last season, with Vandy picking up the 51-39 win on Dec. 7, 2023, in historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.
>> The Dores have been locking up teams and cleaning up the glass with high efficiency this season. Vanderbilt ranks 12th in the nation in both points allowed per game (45.3) and rebounds per game (48.7). The Commodores have held foes to 50 or fewer points in all three games this season. Vandy also ranks 14th nationally in offensive rebounds per game at 18.3 offensive caroms.
>> Plenty of basketball awaits the Commodores, as Vanderbilt is set to play in five games in 11 days. Sunday’s contest against Butler opens a three-game homestand for the Dores. Vandy also welcomes in Hampton (Nov. 20) and Samford (Nov. 22) before heading to Palm Springs, California, to play in the Acrisure Classic. The Dores will take on Arizona (Nov. 26) in the first game and then California or Michigan State (Nov. 27) in the next round.
Game Coverage
Sunday’s contest against Butler will stream live on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app, with Andrew Allegretta and Drew Maddux calling the action. Fans can listen to Jake Lyman locally on 94.9 The Fan and on 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.
Kids’ Club Day/Postgame Autographs
Celebrate our Junior Commodores with us during Kids’ Club Day! Mr. C’s Kids’ Club members are eligible for an exclusive giveaway at the Gate 1 marketing table, to be part of a pregame or halftime fan tunnel, and more. For more information, email porter.hassell@vanderbilt.edu.
All fans are invited to hang out after the game to get this year’s poster signed by the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team. Fans can click the link for tickets to Sunday’s game.
Receiving Votes in the AP Poll
The Dores earned 13 votes in the Associate Press Top 25 Poll, which marked their second-straight appearance in the AP poll.
Double-Double Machine
Khamil Pierre comes into Sunday’s game as the only player in NCAA Division I to post a double-double in every game they’ve played this season, with a minimum of three games played. Pierre is one of eight NCAA Division I players to have three or more double-doubles this season. She is also the first Commodore since Koi Love in 2020-21 to open a season collecting three-straight double-doubles.
Greene Making the Most of Her First Start
Sophomore Madison Greene shined in her first career start at Vanderbilt in the win at South Florida. The guard was inserted into the lineup with senior Iyana Moore battling back spasms and turned in a season-high 15 points. Greene hit a career-best five 3-point field goals against the Bulldogs. She is the first Commodore to hit five 3-pointers in a game since Justine Pissott against Dayton on Dec. 20, 2023.
Offensive Output
Vanderbilt is averaging 97.5 points per game through its first two home contests and is defeating teams by a margin of 54.0 points. The Dores scored over 90-plus points in back-to-back home games for the first time under head coach Shea Ralph to open the 2024-25 campaign. The last time the Commodores posted 90-plus points in two-straight games came during the 2020-21 season against VCU (90-81) on Dec. 17 and Gardner-Webb (97-58) on Dec. 20.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Like Vanderbilt, Butler enters Sunday’s matinee with a 3-0 record. The Bulldogs are coming off a 56-46 win over in-state foe Indiana last Wednesday. This will be BU’s second road contest of the season, as they previously won at Milwaukee in overtime, 79-70, back on Nov. 9.
Senior Caroline Strande leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 13.0 points per contest. The guard is shooting 39.3 percent from the field and leads the team with four made 3-pointers. She has registered double-digits in back-to-back games coming into Nashville, as she put up 17 points at Milwaukee and 14 points against the Hoosiers. Freshman Lily Carmody is also averaging double-figure points at 12.0 points per game off the bench.
As a team, Butler is averaging 74.0 points per contest through three games this season. BU is shooting 44.3 percent from the field and is connecting on 30.9 percent from behind the arc. Defensively, the Bulldogs are holding foes to 53.7 points per game. Teams are shooting 38.2 percent from the floor against Butler and 39.6 percent on 3-point field goals.
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