Women’s Basketball: Three Takeaways from Vanderbilt’s Round of 64 win over High Point – The Vanderbilt Hustler

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The Madness has begun; Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball had its best regular season in program history, finishing with a record of 27-3, 13-2 SEC, led by the SEC Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, and SEC Coach of the Year. However, much of that momentum quickly dissipated in the Commodores’ incredibly disappointing performance in the SEC tournament.  
After two byes, Ole Miss defeated the No. 2-ranked Commodores, 89-78, in a completely one-sided contest throughout all 40 minutes. The Rebels led by 32 at halftime, and Vanderbilt’s head coach Shea Ralph was ejected. 
It was up to the fifth-year head coach to lead her team in putting the miserable loss behind them and switch the focus to March Madness. After an SEC tournament where the Black and Gold looked both unprepared and inexperienced, the challenge was equally mental as it was on the court. A pivotal moment like this separates good coaches from elite coaches, and it was a critical opportunity for Ralph to prove herself in a playoff environment. 
Fast forward 15 days from the Ole Miss loss, and Ralph significantly capitalized on that opportunity. Instead of letting the prior defeat diminish the Commodores’ confidence and momentum, she used the adversity as a learning tool for her players.  
No. 2-seed Vanderbilt came out firing in the Round of 64 against 15-seed High Point, earning a 16-2 lead early, forcing Panthers’ head coach Chelsea Banbury to call a timeout after just three minutes of basketball. The utter dominance continued as the ‘Dores came away with a 102-61 defeat over High Point.  
Ralph and company played their style of basketball. They didn’t underestimate their opponent or get distracted by the big stage, but stuck to the roots of what makes this roster so special. She put the SEC tournament ejection in the past, and that resilient mentality was encapsulated in the entire team’s approach. From start to finish, Vanderbilt played with remarkable poise, toughness and physicality, illustrating how each player is a microcosm of the coaches’ game plan. 
The Hustler breaks down key storylines that propelled the Commodores to a decisive victory.  
Star guards steal the spotlight
As usual, Mikayla Blakes was the best player on the court, and it wasn’t particularly close. The sophomore finished with 30 points in 29 minutes, sinking 11 of her 16 shot attempts. Blakes’ combination of efficiency and dominance at all three levels is evidence of why she is considered one of the best in the game. After leading all of women’s basketball in points per game this season, the SEC Player of the Year is not done. 
Blakes stuck to what she does best. While she still knocked down 2 of her 3 shot attempts, the Somerset, New Jersey native emphasized driving to the rim. Her toughness and physicality are unmatched, allowing her to get to the hoop, as well as the charity stripe, at will. Her playmaking was elite in this matchup, as the superstar racked up five assists as well. Her leadership, on and off the court, allows the Commodores to dominate on both sides of the ball.  
Blakes excelled at every aspect of basketball and elevated the play of all her teammates. From start to finish, she commanded the floor, and if this performance was any indicator of her play in the rest of the tournament, Vanderbilt can outlast anyone.  
For those unaware, the Big South possessed its own version of Steph Curry, High Point’s Macy Spencer finally showcased her talent on a national stage. The guard has been spectacular all season, averaging 18.4 points per game, leading the Panthers to the top of the Big South. She shoots an impressive 39.3% from the perimeter and is Banbury’s leading offensive threat. 
Spencer singlehandedly kept the Panthers in the game, scoring 22 first-half points. She drilled 6 deep balls in the first half, matching the utter dominance of Blakes. The Katy, Texas native ended with 27 points but had almost all of the Panthers’ points for the majority of the first half. High Point couldn’t really generate any offense outside of Spencer’s deep balls, demonstrating just how impressive her performance was.  
Vanderbilt’s defensive focus was almost entirely on Spencer, and she still delivered. The junior made a name for herself, and if she decides to enter the portal, she will likely have many programs reaching out with generous offers. 
Owning the paint
The Commodores’ ability to control the glass on both sides of the ball was essential to their success, particularly in a game where they struggled from beyond the arc, sinking just six triples. Especially in SEC play, the Black and Gold struggled with establishing a presence down low. It was refreshing to see them dominate the boards, out-rebounding High Point, 56-26. That was highlighted by 23 offensive rebounds, compared to just 8 for the Panthers. 
Efficient rebounding leads to second-chance points, which is a massive component in repeated tournament success. Vanderbilt finished with 27 second-chance points, compared to just four for High Point. Sacha Washington dominated in the rebounding department, hauling in a season-high 17 rebounds, 8 of which came on the offensive side of the ball. 
Washington’s physicality at the rim was critical, and her effort under the glass transformed this contest. The graduate isn’t new to undergoing adversity; after missing all of last season due to a blood clot, Washington has emerged as a massive piece on the interior for Ralph. She will continue to rely on her experience and toughness in the post to lift her team to the promised land.  
Depth comes through
11 players put points on the board for Ralph, as everyone got involved in the blowout. As tournament play continues, it is fundamental for Ralph’s bench to contribute. Depth has been a weakness for the ‘Dores all season, as they have lacked in production outside of Blakes, Aubrey Galvan, and Washington. The bench has been detrimental to the momentum of the starters, but against High Point, Vanderbilt’s reserve unit put up a remarkable 29 points. Two role players that directed the success from the game were Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and Ava Black.  
Mwenentanda achieved her first double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and securing 11 boards in just 19 minutes of play. She buried 3 of her 4 shot attempts and added an assist and a block to her totals. While not the flashiest player, the senior does the little things at an elite level. Her perimeter and interior defense, offensive reliability and pure hustle allow Blakes and Galvan to shine. Mwenentanda doesn’t command the ball but takes care of little details, which enables her teammates to thrive.  
When Ava Black believes in herself, the Commodores gain another exceptional talent. The freshman has drawn more minutes in recent contests, showcasing her ability to impact the game beyond the box score. She scored 12 points against High Point, cashing in on 5 of her 6 shot attempts. While much of her production came in the fourth quarter, Black displayed that she has the capability to influence the game in a huge way.  
If Mwenentanda and Black continue to play with the confidence they demonstrated against High Point, Vanderbilt adds an entire dimension to their roster.  
Vanderbilt will play Saturday, March 23, in the Round of 32, at 6:00 p.m., facing Illinois in Memorial Gymnasium. 
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