NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Before preparing to host rival Tennessee, the Vanderbilt Women’s basketball program hits the road to play an SEC program on the rise.
Vanderbilt (9-7, 0-2) will face Ole Miss (13-2, 2-0) on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT (SEC Network+) at the SJB Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi. The Commodores will return home to Memorial Gymnasium on Sunday for a showdown against the Lady Vols at noon CT (SEC Network).
Vanderbilt began SEC play last week with losses to Mississippi State and LSU. In the road loss to No. 9 LSU, graduate guard Ciaja Harbison finished with 27 points, seven assists and four steals.
Harbison, in her first season at Vandy after transferring from St. Louis, leads the SEC in assists per game (5.2), ranks second in scoring (18.5) and is tied for second in steals (2.2).
Graduate guard Marnelle Garraud is averaging 12.4 points per game for the Dores. Sophomore Sacha Washington is averaging 10.2 points, and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Washington ranks third in the SEC in blocks and sixth in rebounding.
Vanderbilt, which has played the entire season with a limited roster because of injuries, opened SEC play by facing two of the top rebounding teams in the conference in LSU (52.2, 1st) Mississippi State (43.8, 3rd). That trend will continue against Tennessee and Ole Miss, which rank fourth (43.4) and fifth (43.3), respectively, in the category.
Scouting Report
Ole Miss
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 35-18. The Dores are 9-14 on the road against Ole Miss. Vandy’s last win in Oxford came during the 2017-18 season. The Dores have won 11 of the last 14 meetings, but Ole Miss has won two of the last three.
Ole Miss is coming off a 61-50 road victory over rival Mississippi State, which was the program’s first victory in Starkville since 2007.
Senior guard Angel Baker is averaging a team-leading 14.6 points for Ole Miss. Junior forward Snudda Collins is averaging 11.9 points and junior forward Madison Scott is averaging 11.2 points and team-leading 9.1 rebounds. Scott ranks third in the SEC in rebounding. Graduate guard Myah Taylor ranks fifth in assists (4.7).
Ole Miss, coming off its first NCAA tournament appearance in 15 seasons, was picked to finish eighth in the SEC preseason poll.
Tennessee
The Lady Vols lead the all-time series 75-10. Tennessee has won four straight and 14 of the last 15 meetings. Vandy is 7-30 against Tennessee in Nashville, with the last home win coming in the 2013-14 season.
Senior forward Rickea Jackson, who transferred to Tennessee from Mississippi State, is averaging a team-leading 17.4 points per game, which ranks third in the SEC, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field, which ranks fourth. Senior guard Jordan Horston is averaging 15.3 points and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds. The Lady Vols lost senior center Tamari Key for the season after blood clots were discovered in her lungs.
Tennessee began the ranked No. 5 in the AP preseason poll before losing four of its first six games. The Lady Vols were picked to finish second in the SEC preseason poll.
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.
