INDIANAPOLIS. – On Tuesday, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) named Vanderbilt women’s basketball sophomore Khamil Pierre as one of five USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week.
It is the first USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week selection for Pierre. She joins Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, Kansas’ S’Mya Nicholas, California’s Marta Suarez, and Wisconsin’s Serah Williams as the latest USBWA National Players of the Week.
The Phoenix, Arizona, native was named SEC Player of the Week earlier on Tuesday. Additionally, Pierre was also selected as this week’s runner-up for the Associate Press National Player of the Week. The forward was also named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.
Pierre averaged an SEC-best 42.0 points, 18.0 points, and 8.0 steals this week, as Pierre set the Vanderbilt women’s basketball single-game scoring record with a 42-point performance against Evansville in a 106-40 win on Dec. 16. The 42 points are the most scored in an NCAA Division I game this season, while it is the most points scored by an SEC player since 2020.
The sophomore put on one of the most memorable performances in Vanderbilt women’s basketball history, as she registered 42 points, 18 rebounds, and eight steals in the win over the Purple Aces. Her 42-point performance set a new program record for most points scored in a single game, passing the previous mark of 41 points shared by Chantelle Anderson (Feb. 8, 2001) and Ciaja Harbison (Jan. 29, 2023).
The 42 points, 18 rebounds, and eight steals against Evansville establish new career highs for Pierre in each category. Pierre’s combined 60 points and rebounds are the most collected by a Vanderbilt women’s basketball player in a game in program history. Her 42-point performance last Saturday also extended her career-long double-digit scoring streak to 13 games dating back to last season. Pierre also collected her eighth double-double of the season, which is tied for the sixth-most in a season since 1999-00.
The 6-2 forward started her day with a bang against the Purple Aces, scoring 20 points in the first quarter. Pierre’s performance in the opening frame on Saturday marked the most points scored by a Commodore in the first quarter in program history. Additionally, Pierre ties Marnelle Garraud’s program record for most points scored in any quarter, which was set on Jan. 16, 2023, in the fourth quarter at Arkansas.
Pierre’s eight steals against Evansville are tied for the sixth-most steals in a game in program history. Her 18 rebounds are tied for the 16th-most rebounds grabbed in a game by a Commodore in school history.
The sophomore currently leads Vanderbilt in scoring (22.9 ppg), rebounds (11.8 rpg), and steals (4.0 spg). Pierre is the only player nationally to rank in the top five in all three categories, as she ranks third in rebounds and steals per game, while her 22.9 points per game average is fifth-best throughout NCAA Division I.
The Vanderbilt women’s takes to the road on Thursday for the final time in 2024 as the Commodores head north to take on Dayton. Tipoff against the Flyers is set for 6 p.m. CT and streams live on ESPN+.
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