Home Opener Awaits – Vanderbilt Commodores

No. 19/21 Vanderbilt hosts Furman in its 2025-26 home opener on Monday at 6 p.m.
Vanderbilt (1-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Furman (1-1, 0-0 SoCon)
Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 • 6 p.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network
94.9 The Fan • Vanderbilt Athletics App • Live Stats • Game Notes • Tickets
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 19/21-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team is set to host Furman in its 2025-26 home opener on Monday afternoon. Tipoff from Memorial Gymnasium is set for 6 p.m. and airs live on SEC Network.
Starting Five 
>> The Commodores take to Ingram Court for the first time in 2025-26, fresh off a 74-65 win over California at the Oui-Play Paris 2025 in Paris, France. Sophomore Mikayla Blakes led a trio of double-digit scorers for Vanderbilt with a 27-point effort. Junior Aiyana Mitchell recorded her first career double-double with a 12-point, 10-rebound effort off the bench, while graduate Sacha Washington chipped in 10 points in her first game action since the 2023-24 season.
>> Vanderbilt women’s basketball head coach Shea Ralph won her fifth-straight season opener in last Monday’s 74-65 victory over California in Paris. She is the first Vanderbilt women’s basketball head coach to win their first five season openers in program history. The Dores are 4-0 in the first game of the season at Memorial Gym in the Ralph era. In her four previous home openers, Ralph’s teams are averaging 89.0 points per game, while giving up 52.8 points.
>> The Commodores have won six-straight home openers dating back to the 2019-20 campaign. Vanderbilt is 44-4 all-time in home openers inside historic Memorial Gym.
>> Vandy looks to move to 2-0 to open the new season. The Commodores are in search of their fourth-straight 2-0 start to a season. The last time Vanderbilt opened four consecutive seasons with back-to-back wins came during a nine-year stretch from 2006-07 and 2014-15 campaigns.
>> Vandy and Furman will face off for the third time ever. The Commodores hold a 2-0 lead in the all-time series, with both games taking place at Memorial Gym. Vanderbilt posted a 74-46 victory in the last meeting on Nov. 22, 2019. The first game in the series took place on Nov. 11, 2007, with the Dores collecting a 68-51 win.
Game Coverage
Monday’s contest airs live on SEC Network at 6 p.m. CT. Tiffany Greene and Vanderbilt alumna Carolyn Peck 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.
National Rankings
Vanderbilt opened the 2025-26 season ranked inside both major women’s basketball polls. The Dores checked in at No. 19 in the preseason Associated Press top 25, while the USA Today coaches poll had Vandy at No. 21. It is the first time since 2012-13 that Vanderbilt will enter a new season nationally ranked.
Non-Conference Domination
Vanderbilt has had its fair share of success against non-SEC teams under head coach Shea Ralph. The Commodores are 50-19 against non-conference foes in the Ralph era, while Vanderbilt is 33-3 inside Memorial Gym against non-league teams.
The Dores have won 20-straight non-conference home games dating back to the 2022-23 season.
An Elite Scorer
Vanderbilt sophomore Mikayla Blakes returns the fourth-highest scoring average in all of NCAA Division I, as last year’s USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Year returns 23.3 points per game from a season ago. Blakes is also the top returning scorer among all returning SEC players this season.
Blakes got her second season with the Commodores started with a 27-point performance in the win over California in Paris, France. It extended her double-digit scoring streak to 20 games dating back to last season. The guard has registered 10-plus points in 33 of the 34 collegiate games she has played in.
Welcome Back Sacha
Vanderbilt graduate Sacha Washington played in her first official game for the Commodores in 957 days in Paris after she redshirted the 2024-25 campaign due to a medical condition. The 6-2 forward registered 10 points, eight rebounds, and a team-high four steals in 27 minutes of action. It was her 50th career game with 10 points or more.
Mitch’s Double-Double Off The Bench
Junior Aiyana Mitchell collected her first career double-double in the 2025-26 season-opening win over California. The 6-4 forward scored a personal-best 12 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and had three assists, blocks and steals each in a career-high 25 minutes off the bench. Mitchell is the first Commodore to register a double-double in a reserve role since Leilani Kapinus had an 11-rebound, 10-point effort against Evansville on Dec. 14, 2024.
Strong Debut
Freshman Aubrey Galvan flirted with a triple-double in her Vanderbilt debut, as the 5-6 guard collected nine rebounds, seven points and seven assists against California in Paris.
Galvan’s nine rebounds are the most by a Commodore freshman in their debut since Koi Love’s 10-carom effort against Jacksonville State on Nov. 5, 2019. Her seven assists are the most by a Vanderbilt freshman in their debut since Minta Spears had seven assists against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 15, 2015.
Scouting the Paladins
Furman comes to the Music City sporting a 1-1 overall record. The Paladins recently dropped a 91-45 decision at Georgia this past Thursday. Furman is in year three under head coach Pierre Curtis, who is 31-32 overall at the school. Last season, the Paladins were 16-16 and held a NET of 240.
Sophomore Raina McGowens paces a trio of double-digit scorers for Furman, as the 5-10 guard is putting up 11.0 points per game. McGowens is shooting 72.7 percent from the floor (8-of-11) and is averaging a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game. Sophomores Clare Coyle (10.5 ppg) and Alyssa Ervin (10.0 ppg) are also putting up double figures, while Coyle matches McGowens’ average on the glass.
The Paladins are averaging 65.0 points per game, while giving up 59.0 points. Furman is shooting 35.6 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from behind the arc. Defensively, Furman allows teams to shoot 34.1 percent from the field and 26.5 percent on 3-point field goals.
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