The No. 17 Vanderbilt Commodores (4-0) returned home to Memorial Gymnasium to take on the Alabama State Lady Hornets (1-4). Thus far, the Commodores have been off to a dominant start this season, most recently defeating Western Kentucky on the road 87-49. Vanderbilt dominated the game against Alabama State, forcing 25 turnovers and outrebounding the Lady Hornets 48-36.
First quarter
After trading two missed shots, Galvan was able to steal the ball on the baseline, getting it out to Blakes, who drew a foul while spinning towards the basket. She made one of her two free throws, getting the Commodores on the board first. Washington imposed herself early on too, scoring back-to-back layups, the latter an and-one to push the Vanderbilt lead to 6-2. Then, after forcing four Lady Hornet turnovers within two and a half minutes, Vanderbilt finally cashed in as Blakes sank a 3-pointer.
Then, Amari Franklin converted a driving layup over Washington, Vanderbilt responding quickly as Mwenentanda drove and scored on a contested layup. Coming off the first timeout of the game, Aga Makurat hit back-to-back 3-pointers on the wing, giving Vanderbilt its first double-digit lead of the day at 17-7.
The Commodores closed the first quarter by going on a swift 7-2 run, Jada Brown and Makurat both connecting from behind the arc to finish the first period of play. By then, Vanderbilt led 24-9.
Second quarter
Alabama State got on the board first in the second quarter as Amari Franklin found her mark from three. However, Vanderbilt scored immediately, coming back up the floor with Mwenentanda hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Yet, Vanderbilt would run mostly dry for nearly three minutes, not logging a field goal across that stretch. Finally, Mikayla Blakes came around a screen and was fouled while shooting a three, earning her three free throw attempts, which she converted.
Alabama State’s Kaia Ponder came back with a score of her own, knocking down a steady midrange jump shot. But she’d then foul Blakes on the ensuing possession, letting the star guard get two more free throws down. Following that, Blakes stole the ball from the Lady Hornets twice in a row, her first steal leading to an uncontested layup for herself and the second leading to a Makurat layup in transition.
The Commodores continued to keep on the gas, holding Alabama State to no field goals for nearly five minutes. In that time, Vanderbilt piled on the score. Aiyana Mitchell knocked in two free throws, Blakes hit a fancy move to get in the paint for a layup, and Ava Black delivered two back-to-back 3-pointers to finish the first half with Vanderbilt up 50-22.
Third quarter
Vanderbilt started the second half on fire, bursting out on an 8-0 run, highlighted by six points from Washington in the post and a smooth pump fake and layup by Blakes. Alabama State got itself on the board off an inbound drive and layup by Charlese McClendon, Pissott striking back for Vanderbilt with a deep three of her own. Then, after two missed free throws by Clearia Peterson, Pissott collected the rebound and helped Vanderbilt drive it up for the floor, getting the ball to Blakes, who created a wide-open midrange jumper to further the margin to 39 points.
Taylor Smith finally broke the Vanderbilt run for the Lady Hornets with a 3-pointer. Still, Vanderbilt surged ahead once more, Galvan and Makurat getting back-to-back buckets on an off-the-dribble jumper and a layup, respectively. The Commodores would make their next two shot attempts as well as Jada Brown found Aiyana Mitchell alone in the paint for a layup before Makurat sank her fourth 3-pointer of the day in transition. Vanderbilt would finish the third quarter strong, holding a commanding 77-28 lead.
Fourth quarter
Makurat, already having a career day, knocked in her fifth 3-pointer to open up the fourth quarter. Then, off an opposing turnover, Makurat sought to make her sixth but missed, Black corralling the ball and getting it to Galvan, who drove through the Alabama State defense for a second-chance layup. On the subsequent Commodore possession, Brown found Aalyah Del Rosario down low for an and-one layup, Rosario converting the free throw immediately after.
Two minutes would pass as the teams traded missed shots and turnovers. The Commodores would break their minor scoreless streak on a beautiful pass from halfcourt by Brown to Makurat, who laid it up and in without any pressure around her. Even with a final string of baskets from Alabama State, Vanderbilt took the victory with relative ease, winning by 54.
Next up, Vanderbilt will continue its five-game homestand against Tennessee State. Tipoff is set for Sunday, Nov. 23, at 12 p.m. CST.
