Vanderbilt (12-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Radford (4-9, 0-0 Big South)
Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 • 1 p.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network • Tickets
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics app • Live Stats • Game Notes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team closes out the 2023 calendar year this Sunday with its final nonconference matchup of the regular season, as the Commodores take on Radford. Tipoff from Memorial Gymnasium is set for 1 p.m. and will air live on SEC Network.
Starting Five
>> Vanderbilt holds a 12-1 overall record after picking up a 73-41 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson at Memorial Gym on Friday. It was the fifth-straight win for the Commodores, while the 12 victories match Vandy’s win total from a season ago. The Dores got a 14-point performance from juniors Sacha Washington and Iyana Moore, while freshman Khamil Pierre added 12 points off the bench.
>> The Commodores’ 12-1 record this season is tied for the second-best start through the first 13 games in program history. Vanderbilt has held a 12-1 record or better through the first 13 games six different times prior to this season, with the most recent occurrence taking place during the 2011-12 team’s 12-1 start.
>> Vandy comes into its matchup against the Highlanders seeking their best start to a season through 14 games since the 2006-07 campaign. The Commodores opened the 2006-07 season with a 14-1 overall record.
>> Sunday’s contest will be the third all-time meeting between Vanderbilt and Radford. The Commodores are a perfect 2-0 against RU, with both games taking place in Nashville. The last matchup came on Nov. 8, 2019, where the Commodores picked up an 80-46 win at Memorial Gymnasium.
>> The Dores are a perfect 8-0 at home this season, with each win coming against a nonconference foe. Vanderbilt has won 10-straight games against non-SEC teams dating back to last season.
Game Coverage
Sunday’s contest will stream live at 1 p.m. on SEC Network. Fans can also listen to the game on the Vanderbilt Commodores app or on 94.9 The Fan in the Nashville area.
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Join us at Memorial Gymnasium this Sunday as we countdown to 2024. Free New Year’s Eve accessories will be available for fans while supplies last.
NET Ranking
Vanderbilt holds a NET ranking of 56 coming into the weekend, which is a 43-spot improvement from the Commodores’ final NET ranking of the 2022-23 season. The NET is an evaluation tool used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee to determine seeding and at-large bids.
Receiving Top-25 Votes
Vanderbilt earned three votes in this week’s USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. It is the first time this season that the Commodores have received votes in either of the major two women’s college basketball polls.
Looking for a Perfect December
Vanderbilt is a perfect 5-0 in December games. If the Commodores pick up a win over Radford on Sunday, it gives the Dores a perfect record for the month.
The 2023 Record
A win on Sunday would secure a winning record for the Commodores during the 2023 calendar year. Vanderbilt is currently 15-14 overall in 2023.
Moving Up the Steals List
Jordyn Cambridge’s 290 career steals are the third-most in program history. The guard needs four more steals to move past Karen Booker (293; 1984-87) for third on the list.
Success Against Nonconference Teams
The Commodores have won 14 of their last 15 games against nonconference teams. The lone loss during this stretch is an eight-point loss at No. 5/10 NC State back on Nov. 29. Vanderbilt is 32-12 against non-SEC teams under head coach Shea Ralph.
Winning Streak
Vanderbilt comes into Sunday on a five-game winning streak. It is the second time this season that the Commodores have won five or more consecutive games, as Vandy opened the year by winning seven-straight games
Back to Over .500
Friday’s victory pushed head coach Shea Ralph’s overall career record at Vanderbilt to 40-39 through three seasons. Overall, as a player, assistant coach, or head coach, Ralph holds a record of 755-140.
Racking Up the Wins
With a win on Sunday, Vanderbilt will enter SEC play with a total of 13 wins. That would tie the program record for most wins heading into SEC play, matching the 13-win total of the 2006-07 team.
Scouting the Highlanders
Sunday’s contest will be the first game in 10 days for Radford. The Highlanders last played on Dec. 21, where they suffered a 74-50 loss at the College of Charleston that put them at 4-9 overall this season. Radford currently holds a NET ranking of 299.
Sophomore Ashlyn Traylor-Walker leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game. The 5-8 guard is riding a 10-game double-digit scoring streak coming into Sunday’s game. She is shooting 38.7% from the field and has dished out a team-high 34 assists.
Radford is averaging 54.7 points per game and is shooting 36.2% from the field. The Highlanders have struggled from behind the arc this season, as RU is only making 26.5% of its 3-point field goal attempts. Defensively, Radford is giving up 63.9 points per game. Teams are shooting 39.6 from the floor against RU, while opponents are connecting on 30.3% from behind the arc.
Follow Us
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, follow @VandyWBB on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X.
