Efficient shooting, playoff grit and aggressive rebounding earned Vanderbilt a quarterfinal berth in this year’s SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament. Khamil Pierre finished with a strong double-double, while star freshman Mikayla Blakes and senior Iyana Moore combined for more than half of the team's 84 points on Thursday.
Vanderbilt swept Tennessee this year with two close wins, a refreshing reboot to the cross-state rivalry after years of dominance by the Lady Vols. The Commodores have risen as a nationally competitive program under coach Shea Ralph, now in her fourth season at Vanderbilt, and the team boasts two of the country’s best young stars in sophomore Pierre and freshman Blakes. Both are WNBA prospects with several more years of college eligibility. Vanderbilt now eyes a Friday quarterfinal against perennial powerhouse University of South Carolina and a second straight March Madness berth.
Dores defend SEC honor with multidimensional 72-68 win over Columbia
Senior Moore showed veteran poise against Tennessee, stepping up on an otherwise lukewarm shooting day from Blakes. Moore was last year's go-to scorer, a role that shifted to make room for Blakes this season, and carried the Commodores through tight second and third quarters. Pierre’s defensive intensity earned her double-digit rebounds and three early steals, but landed her in foul trouble, limiting her minutes. After a scoring blitz from Blakes and big hits from Moore, who shot a perfect 4-4 from the three-point arc, Vanderbilt led by 15 going into the final quarter. Despite a few late turnovers from Pierre and Blakes, Vanderbilt controlled the paint and sank its free throws, fending off a push from Tennessee to secure the 84-76 win.
Vanderbilt came into the game with a few distractions. Blakes earned a second team All-American nod from The Athletic and all-SEC honors earlier this week. Her quick college success — including two conference games with more than 50 points — vaulted her into the women’s basketball stratosphere. Her scoring has broken records, but Blakes has also demonstrated an elite ability to draw fouls and clock assists, two more subtle stamps on the game. Conference awards ignored Pierre altogether, who finished in the SEC’s top five in points, rebounds, steals and double-doubles.
The snub prompted a statement from Ralph, who won nearly every type of formal recognition as a college point guard. She had the tough communications task of simultaneously defending her player’s honor and minimizing the importance of individual awards.
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“She is having an all-SEC-type season and is putting up numbers that are among the best in the nation,” says Ralph in a statement posted on Instagram. “With that being said, we know she is one of the best players in the country. We don’t need awards and recognition from outside of our program to validate Khamil’s talent.”
Pierre is one of five finalists for the Cheryl Miller Award, which recognizes the nation’s top small forward. Blakes too is short-listed for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, a positional honor for the nation’s top shooting guard.
The Commodores’ real roster drama will come down to Vanderbilt’s ability to keep its young talent. Pierre and Blakes could have their pick of top programs, and transfer offers will likely come with generous pay packages. A 2021 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for today’s "name, image and likeness" era, which enables college athletes to make money while in school, refiguring the landscape for top athletes.
Vanderbilt routes money to student-athletes via the Anchor Impact Fund, a nonprofit that reported more than $2 million in revenue in 2023. Vanderbilt isn’t subject to the same fiscal oversight as public universities, freeing up money to go where boosters choose — but successful football and men’s basketball seasons this year will likely pull resources in multiple directions.
For now, the Commodores have set the stage for an exciting March.
