Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball — undefeated through six games — has been dominant in 2024, to say the least. Eleventh in NCAA Division I in points per game (89.3) and twelfth in points per game allowed (48.7), the Commodores have been on a tear through the early parts of the season. Led by Sophomore Khamil Pierre and first-year Mikayla Blakes, the Commodores have beaten each of their opponents by 13 or more and by an average of 40.6. If it weren’t for its bottom-half strength of schedule, Vanderbilt would have almost certainly been ranked in Monday’s most recent AP Poll.
The Commodores will look to change this at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational when the stakes get a little higher. If Vanderbilt beats Arizona in its opening matchup on Nov. 26, it will play either Michigan State or Cal, two other undefeated programs that have been making noise of their own.
Arizona, the worst team in the field by way of record (6-1), still won’t be an easy opponent. The Hustler looked at the defining matchups for the Commodores’ clash with the Wildcats.
The charity stripe
If the Wildcats do one thing well, it’s getting to the free-throw line. They shoot 0.399 free throws for every field goal attempt, the 21st-most of any team in the nation. Vanderbilt sits on the other side of this spectrum, shooting just 0.24 free throws per field goal attempt, the 83rd-fewest of any team. The Wildcats make 74.8% of their free throw attempts when they get to the line, while Vanderbilt makes 71.8%.
Vanderbilt might have a real problem if the referees are active in this game. A free throw disparity could suffocate Vanderbilt’s momentum and keep Arizona in the game.
Ball security
Vanderbilt keeps the ball safe: The Commodores turn the ball over on only 14.2% of their plays, the 16th-lowest rate in NCAA Division 1, compared to a much more reckless Arizona team that turns the ball over on 22.5% of its plays, the 90th-highest rate among all teams.
Vanderbilt has also been great at forcing turnovers, as its opponents have turned the ball over on 29.5% of their plays, good for 15th-best in the nation. Blakes, Pierre, Madison Greene and Leilani Kapinus have been leaders on that front, each nabbing over two steals per game. Arizona forces turnovers on 21.9% of its opponents’ possessions, which is right around average. This is a huge disparity, and fans should not be surprised to see Vanderbilt win the turnover battle rather handily.
The glass
Vanderbilt has been dominant on the offensive glass so far this season, getting the ball back on 47.5% of missed shot attempts, the 4th-most of any team in the country. The Wildcats have been strong on the defensive glass this year — at least relative to most of Vanderbilt’s opponents — securing rebounds 72.9% of the time after misses.
Vanderbilt will miss Sacha Washington — who missed the team’s first six games despite optimism of a return coming soon — in this one, as she recently announced she would be out for the year with a blood clot in her right calf. Last season, Washington averaged 7.9 rebounds per game and was an essential piece in making it to the NCAA tournament. Pierre, Kapinus and Aiyana Mitchell, among others, will need to continue to attack the glass to fill the 6’2 void that Washington left.
The Wildcats will present a tough problem, largely in the form of Breya Cunningham. The 6’4 sophomore has averaged 12.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and will be the tallest player on the court (along with Mitchell and Justine Pissott) on Nov. 26.
There’s reason to believe that the ‘Dores can neutralize this threat: Vanderbilt has been even better at limiting its opponents’ second chances, bringing down the board 74.7% of the time. As Arizona only gets offensive rebounds 33.2% of the time, around average among all teams, Vanderbilt seems set to dominate on the glass on both sides of the court.
There isn’t much Arizona does better than Vanderbilt, aside from getting to the free throw line. However, if there’s anything that the fall season of NCAA sports — from football to men’s and women’s basketball to soccer — has taught us, it’s to never count out the underdog.
Vanderbilt will tip off against Arizona on Nov. 26 at 3:30 p.m. CST. The winner will face the winner of Cal vs. Michigan State in the finals on Nov. 27 at 3:30 p.m. CST.
