Dores Set for Top-15 Matchup – Vanderbilt University Athletics

No. 12/11 Commodores welcome in No. 5/5 LSU on Sunday at 4 p.m. for a nationally-televised contest on ESPN
No. 12/11 Vanderbilt (14-0, 1-0 SEC) vs. No. 5/5 LSU (14-1, 0-1 SEC)
Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 • 4 p.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn. • ESPN
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics App • Live Stats • Game Program • Game Notes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 12/11-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team is set for a top-15 matchup this Sunday at Memorial Gymnasium, as the Commodores welcome in No. 5/5-ranked LSU. Tipoff against the Tigers is set for 4 p.m. and airs nationwide on ESPN.
Starting Five
>> The Dores head into Sunday holding a perfect 14-0 record after opening SEC play with an 88-71 win at Arkansas on Thursday. Sophomore Mikayla Blakes equaled her season-high in scoring by dropping 35 points in Bud Walton Arena. The guard also dished out eight assists in the win over the Razorbacks.
>> The Commodores are off to the second-best start in program history, as Vandy stands at 14-0 coming into Sunday’s top-15 contest. The 14-straight wins to begin the 2025-26 season match the 14-0 start by the 1995-96 team. Only the 1992-93 Final Four team has gotten off to a better start, as that team opened the year 17-0.
>> Vanderbilt is riding a nine-game winning streak at Memorial Gym coming into Sunday’s matchup against No. 5/5 LSU. Vandy is 55-21 at home under Ralph’s direction, while the Dores are 14-18 in SEC play at Memorial Gym in the Ralph era.
>> The Dores and Tigers meet for the 55th time in a series that dates back to the 1985-86 season. LSU holds a slim 28-26 lead in the series, as the Tigers have won nine-straight games against Vanderbilt. Vandy is 0-5 under head coach Shea Ralph, while the Commodores are 15-6 all-time at Memorial Gym against the Tigers from Baton Rouge.
>> The Commodores have collected 50 wins over ranked teams since the start of the 2002-03 season. Vandy is looking for its fifth victory over a team ranked in either the Associated Press top 25 or USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll under head coach Shea Ralph. Vanderbilt won three games against ranked foes last season. The Dores are seeking their first win over a top-five team under Ralph.
Game Coverage
Sunday’s contest airs across the nation at 4 p.m. on ESPN, with Beth Mowins and Vanderbilt alumni Carolyn Peck on the call. Fans can listen to Jake Lyman locally on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Commodores app outside of Nashville.
Alumni Day
The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team will hold its annual Alumni Day on Sunday. Nearly 40 Commodore women’s basketball alumni will return to Memorial Gym. A special recognition for all Vanderbilt women’s basketball alumni in attendance, along with honoring members of the 1992-93 Final Four team, will take place on the court at halftime. Fans can purchase tickets to Sunday’s game by clicking the link here.
National Rankings
The Commodores came in at No. 12 in the Associated Press top 25 and No. 11 in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll this week. It marks the program’s highest ranking in either poll since the 2008-09 season.
It is Vanderbilt’s highest placement in the AP top 25 since Week 1 of the 2008-09 season, when the Dores were also ranked 12th.
It is Vandy’s third-straight week at No. 11 ranking in the USA Today/WBCA poll. It is the program’s highest placement in the coaches’ poll since 2008-09, when the Commodores ended the season at No. 8 in the nation.
NET Ranking
Vanderbilt holds a NET ranking of 13 heading into Sunday’s contest. Vandy has collected three Quad 2 and four Quad 3 wins through the first 14 games this season.
The Dores opened the season at No. 12 in the first NET rankings of the 2025-26 season. The NET is an evaluation tool used by the NCAA Selection Committee to determine seeding and bids.
Undefeated
Vanderbilt has won all 14 of its games this season, coming into Sunday’s SEC home opener against LSU. The Commodores are one of seven undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division I this season, and they are also one of two unbeaten SEC teams.
SEC Home Openers
Vanderbilt is 17-5 all-time in SEC home openers. The Commodores are 3-1 under Shea Ralph in the first conference home game of the season. Vanderbilt is seeking its third-straight win in its SEC home opener on Sunday against LSU.
A Ranked Matchup on West End
Sunday marks the first time a ranked Vanderbilt team has hosted a ranked opponent at Memorial Gym since the 2013-14 season. The last time took place on Feb. 2, 2014, when the No. 16/18 Commodores defeated No. 17/15 Texas A&M, 71-59.
Additionally, Sunday will be the first top-15 women’s basketball matchup at Memorial Gym since 2006-07, when No. 12/12 Vanderbilt posted a 68-58 victory over No. 7/7 LSU on Feb. 22, 2007.
Elite Scorer
Sophomore Mikayla Blakes’ career scoring average of 23.7 points per game is not only tops among all active SEC players, but with Southern Cal’s JuJu Watkins missing this season due to injury, the Vanderbilt guard currently holds the highest career scoring average amongst all active NCAA Division I players.
Earlier this season, the Somerset, New Jersey, native recently became the fastest SEC player to score 1,000 points at the NCAA Division I level, accomplishing the feat in 42 games. Blakes is one of nine NCAA Division I players since 1981-82 to score 1,000 points in 42 games or fewer.
Washington’s Break Into The Top 10
Graduate Sacha Washington recently broke into the top 10 in school history in both career rebound and blocks. Washington currently sits 10th on both Vanderbilt’s all-time rebounding (823) and blocks (121) lists. The 6-2 forward leads all active SEC players in rebounds, while she is the only active SEC player to amass over 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 100 blocks in their career.
Seeking a Top-Five Win
The last time Vandy knocked off a team ranked in the top five in either poll came on March 8, 2009, when the Dores defeated No. 6/5 Auburn, 61-54, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to win the 2009 SEC Tournament. The last victory over a team placed inside the top five in both polls also came during the 2008-09 season, when Vandy beat No. 3/3 Auburn, 73-70, at Memorial Gym on Feb. 19, 2009.
Scouting the Tigers
LSU holds a 14-1 overall record and a 0-1 mark in SEC play. The Tigers are ranked No. 5 in both the AP top 25 and the USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll this week, and are also fifth in the latest NET ranking. LSU is coming off an 80-78 home loss to No. 11/12 Kentucky in its SEC opener on Thursday.
Senior Flau’jae Johnson leads an ambush of seven Tigers that average double-digit points this season, as the guard is scoring at 15.1 points per game. Junior MiLaysia Fulwiley is putting in 14.3 points per game, while junior Mikaylah Williams chips in 13.5 points per contest. Senior Amiya Joyner (11.5 ppg), sophomore Kate Koval (11.5 ppg), and freshmen ZaKiyah Johnson (11.3 ppg) and Grace Knox (11.1 ppg) round out the group.
The Tigers lead the nation in scoring, averaging 106.0 points per game. Defensively, they allow  54.5 points to the opposition. LSU is shooting 54.5 percent from the floor and 32.3 percent from behind the arc. Defensively, the Tigers allow opponents to shoot 32.3 percent from the field and 26.2 percent beyond the 3-point line.
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