In a battle for conference superiority, Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball will take on the Miami Hurricanes in the second annual edition of the SEC/ACC Challenge. The game will tip off at 4 p.m. CST at the Watsco Center in Miami and will stream on the ACC Network.
Vanderbilt comes into this game 8-1, with its only loss coming at the hands of Michigan State in the Acrisure Holiday Invitational. Miami still boasts an undefeated 8-0 record. However, Vanderbilt ranks seventh in the NCAA’s NET ranking nationally while Miami sits at No. 69.
Battle of the backcourts
The Miami Hurricanes are led by the 5’6 guard duo of sisters Hanna and Haley Cavinder. These identical twin fifth-year graduates helped lead Miami to its first-ever Elite Eight run during the 2023 NCAA Tournament, so they know how to step up in the biggest moments. Haley Cavinder leads the Hurricanes in points and assists per game (18 and 4.7, respectively), while Hanna Cavinder (8.8 points and 4.4 assists) leads in minutes played (33.1) and contributes intangibly through hustle plays and experience. The Commodores will need to contain the Cavinders’ chemistry — a borderline twin telepathy — if they want to limit the veteran backcourts’ presence.
However, Vanderbilt has something, or rather someone, that the Hurricanes do not: Mikayla Blakes. Blakes comes into this game as the leading first-year in the nation in scoring. Averaging 19.6 points per contest (and 3.9 assists per game), she’ll look to have a big game, especially if leading scorer Khamil Pierre (19.9 points per game) is still sidelined. Pierre was seen wearing a boot and using crutches to walk before Vanderbilt’s win over Appalachian State last weekend, so her status is up in the air.
Vanderbilt’s past two games have featured a balanced scoring attack with four players reaching double figures, so other players should have no problem filling in for Pierre’s scoring absence.
Capitalizing on turnovers
Vanderbilt ranks tenth in the nation in turnover margin at plus-9.89 — meaning its opponents turn the ball over at a much higher rate than it does. In their past three games, the Commodores have averaged 28 points off turnovers and 15 fast-break points. That includes contests against Power Four foes in Arizona and Michigan State. In the Hurricane’s past three games, they have averaged 15 points off turnovers and 7 fast break points against far lesser competition (Campbell, Charlotte and Quinnipiac). It might be a tough task without Pierre, who leads the team in steals (3.5 per game), but Vanderbilt capitalizing on turnovers and going on scoring runs early could earn it some separation from the Canes.
On the glass
Vanderbilt’s frontcourt may be outsized in this matchup with Miami’s Natalija Marshall and Cameron Williams standing at 6’5 and 6’3, respectively. Assuming Pierre is still sidelined for this contest, Vanderbilt’s Aiyana Mitchell will be its tallest forward in the starting lineup at 6’4. Jane Nwaba, who has seen time at forward for the ‘Dores, only stands at 5’10. With Pierre being Vanderbilt’s leading rebounder (10.9 per game), the rest of the team will need to be aggressive and contribute on the glass.
Despite the size in Miami’s frontcourt, the Hurricanes’ leading rebounder is actually Haley Cavinder, who averages 6.4 rebounds per game despite her short stature. With Miami averaging 22 3-point attempts per game (and only converting on 28%), Vanderbilt will have to pull down long rebounds and prevent second-chance opportunities. On the other side of the court, if the Black and Gold can capitalize on offensive rebounds (for which they rank No. 10 in the country with 17.4 per game) and extra possessions, they should be able to pull away fairly quickly.
Miami and Vanderbilt have faced off on three other occasions, with their last meeting coming in 2018 when the Hurricanes easily beat the Commodores 90-65. Miami leads the all-time series 2-1, so Vanderbilt hopes to even the score this Wednesday.
Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CST inside the Watsco Center in Miami, Florida.
