NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After making two road trips in the first week of the season, Vanderbilt is returning home again for a longer stay.
The Commodores begin a three-game homestand at Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday against Tarleton State at 11 a.m. CT, followed by games against Austin Peay on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Saint Joseph’s on Sunday at 2 p.m. All three games will be aired on SEC Network+.
Vanderbilt is coming off a quality road win over Columbia that gave the Dores a 3-0 record for the first time since 2014-15. It’s the first time the Dores have started a season 3-0 with two of the wins coming on the road since 2006-07.
In the wake of season-ending injuries to three starters before the first game tipped off, graduate transfers Ciaja Harbison (Saint Louis) and Marnelle Garraud (Boston College) have assumed even bigger roles than expected.
The two have not only contributed statistically, but have provided leadership and veteran savvy to help the team weather early challenges.
Harbison has scored 28 points and 27 points in Vandy’s road wins while also facilitating the offense with five-plus assists in all three games.
Garraud scored 15 second-half points in a home win over Samford, and sparked Vandy’s first-half rally against Columbia on Sunday with a plethora of 3-pointers.
Although Vandy only has nine healthy players in the lineup this season, the Dores have managed to remain undefeated by spreading out the minutes and receiving contributions from every player on both ends of the court.
Scouting Report
Tarleton State: This will be the first-ever meeting between Vanderbilt and Tarleton State.
The Texans are 2-0 this season with victories over Arlington Baptist (90-40) and UNT Dallas (73-46). They have five players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Teresa Da Silva (15.0 points/game) and Nyajah Mitchels (13.0).
Tarleton State was picked to finish 10th out of 13 teams in the Western Athletic Conference preseason media poll and tied for 11th in the WAC coaches’ poll.
The Texans are coming off a historic season, registering the first winning season at the NCAA Division I level. They had a seven-win improvement from the previous year, finishing 16-13 overall.
Tarleton State returned six players and welcomed nine new players this season. Seynabou Thiam set a program single-season record for total blocks last season with 63. Jenna Dick was the team’s top 3-point shooter at 43.3 percent (45 of 104).
Austin Peay: Vanderbilt is 16-1 all-time against the Governors, including 9-0 at home. Austin Peay’s lone win over the Dores came in their very first meeting in 1977-78. The teams last met in 2018-19, a 99-70 Vandy win to stretch their series win streak to 16 straight.
Austin Peay is 2-0 this season, with wins over Cumberland (81-35) and Chattanooga (58-53).
Graduate senior guard Yamia Johnson is averaging a team-leading 20.0 points, Mariah Adams is averaging 15.5 and Mahogany Vaught is averaging 14.0. Gabby Zapata Smalls leads the team in rebounding (8.0).
Entering its inaugural season in the Atlantic Sun Conference, the Governors were picked to finish fifth in the preseason ASUN media poll and ninth in the coaches’ poll.
Johnson and graduate senior guard/forward Ajah Wayne were preseason All-ASUN selections.
Saint Joseph’s: Vanderbilt is 3-1 all-time against the Hawks, with the lone loss coming in their first meeting in 1988-89. The Dores defeated Saint Joseph’s last season in Philadelphia 64-45.
The Hawks were picked to finish sixth out of 15 teams in the Atlantic 10 preseason coaches’ poll.
Saint Joseph’s returned three players from last season’s Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team, including A10 Rookie of the Year Talya Brugler. Along with Mackenzie Smith and Julia Nystrom, the trio combined to average 25 points per game.
Sixth-year senior Katie Jekot was a preseason second-team all-conference selection and Brugler was a third-team selection. Paula Maurina transferred to Saint Joseph’s from Hartford, where she averaged 13.0 points and 3.9 rebounds last season.
Saint Joseph’s head coach Cindy Griffin notched her 400th career victory last week.
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.
