Vanderbilt (4-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Alabama State (1-4, 0-0 SWAC)
Friday, Nov. 21 2025 • 11 a.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network+
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics App • Live Stats • Game Program • Game Notes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 17-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team opens a brief two-game weekend homestand this Friday, as the Commodores host Alabama State. Tipoff against the Lady Hornets is set for 11 a.m. CT in Memorial Gymnasium and streams live on ESPN+.
Starting Five
>> Vanderbilt heads into Friday’s game against Alabama State sporting a 4-0 record after posting an 87-49 victory at Western Kentucky on Wednesday night to complete a two-game road trip. The Commodores are off to a 4-0 start for the fourth-straight season, marking the first time in program history that Vandy has begun four-consecutive campaigns winning its first four games.
>> The Commodores are 53-19 against non-conference foes in the Ralph era, while Vanderbilt is 34-3 inside Memorial Gym against non-league teams. Vandy is 48-21 at home under Ralph’s direction.
>> The Dores have won 21-straight non-conference home games dating back to the 2022-23 season. Vanderbilt is riding a nine-game winning streak against non-SEC teams in regular-season play coming into Friday.
>> Friday’s game marks the third time that Vanderbilt and Alabama State have faced off in the Ralph era. The Dores are 2-0 in the previous matchups, winning 94-42 in Nashville during the 2021-22 campaign, then posting an 88-42 victory in Memorial Gym in 2023-24.
>> It is the fourth all-time meeting between the Commodores and Lady Hornets. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 3-0 in a series that dates back to the 1991-92 season, though this will be the third meeting since the 2021-22 campaign. Ironically, the Dores have held ASU to 42 points in all three games. The 88-42 Vanderbilt victory in the last contest between the two schools on Nov. 20, 2023, matched the exact same score from the first game of the series played on Nov. 22, 1991.
Game Coverage
Friday’s contest streams live on SEC Network+ at 11 a.m. CT. Alex Gould and Richard Hendrix will be on the call. Fans can listen to Jake Lyman locally on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Commodores app outside of Nashville.
Education Day
This Friday will be Education Day at Memorial Gymnasium. Vanderbilt will host several local area school students to help ring in the new basketball season. Fans can purchase tickets to Monday’s season opener by clicking the link here.
National Rankings
Vanderbilt came in at No. 17 in both the Associated Press top 25 and in the USA Today/WBCA coaches poll this week. Vandy’s No. 17 ranking in the AP poll marks the program’s highest placement in the AP top 25 since Week 15 of the 2013-14 campaign, when the Dores were ranked No. 16.
Blakes’ Scoring Streak
Sophomore Mikayla Blakes is riding a 23-game double-digit scoring streak that dates back to last season. The guard has scored 20-plus points 16 times during the streak, which includes a 28-point performance at Western Kentucky in her last time out. Blakes has registered 10 or more points in 36 of the 37 career games she has played at Vanderbilt.
In-State, Nonconference Game
The Commodores will take on a nonconference foe from the Volunteer State for the 14th time under head coach Shea Ralph. Vandy is 9-4 against non-SEC teams from Tennessee under Ralph. The Dores are 126-46 all-time against schools from the Volunteer State outside of the SEC.
Balanced Scoring
Vanderbilt has had three or more players score double-digit points in three of its four contests to open the 2025-26 season. Recently, the Commodores had four players score double figures in Wednesday’s victory at Western Kentucky.
Dores Bring the Height
Vanderbilt has eight players who are 6-2 or taller on its 2025-25 season, with the tallest player being 6-6 center Aalyah Del Rosario. The 2025-26 Commodores hold an average height of 6-1, a growth spurt of four inches compared to their team average height of 5-10 from a season ago.
Scouting the Lady Hornets
Alabama State holds a 1-4 overall record. The Lady Hornets recently dropped a 77-71 decision to NAIA member Faulkner University their last time out on Nov. 16. ASU is in Year 12 under head coach Johnetta Hayes, who is 155-157 overall at the school.
Junior Shamya Reid is the lone double-digit scorer for Alabama State, as the 5-6 guard is putting up 10.0 points per game. ASU has three players averaging 5.6 points or more per game this season, with junior Charlese McClendon leading the group at 9.2 points per game.
The Lady Hornets are averaging 57.8 points per game, while giving up 70.2 points. Alabama State is shooting 39.9 percent from the floor and 27.9 percent from behind the arc. Defensively, ASU allows teams to shoot 38.0 percent from the field and 30.1 percent on 3-point field goals.
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