SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Preview: Can Vandy Make Something Happen?

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Pictured: Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball team celebrating its win over ranked Florida. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

The SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament is set to begin today (March 2) with Vanderbilt’s women’s basketball team taking on Texas A&M at 11 a.m. at Bridgestone Arena.

The highly anticipated tournament will feature some of the country’s best teams and programs from across the nation, such as No. 1 and SEC favorite South Carolina, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 23 Florida and No. 24 Georgia.

Though the Commodores are the 12th seed out of 14, they aren’t the same Vandy team from recent years. Behind first year head coach Shea Ralph, the team has been able to pick up a few key wins against Auburn, Kentucky and ranked Florida just last week on Feb. 24.

Vanderbilt holds a record of 13-17 and had one of the worst SEC records, but lost five conference games by less than 10 points. This team has played excellent at home, finishing the season with a record of 11-5 at Memorial Gym.

Though they won’t be playing at Memorial, they will be playing right down the street at Bridgestone. If they can carry that home game energy and momentum into the tournament, they could win a few games and make some noise.

The squad currently has three All-SEC players–Jordyn Cambridge, Iyana Moore and Sacha Washington–that will be vital to any success Vanderbilt may have in the conference tournament.

Cambridge was named to the All-Defensive Team for the second time in her career for her defensive prowess. She is currently 10th in program history for career steals (214) and fourth for single-season steals (109). The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list honoree is second in steals and third in steals per game nationally in addition to leading the SEC in steals. Cambridge led the Commodores in minutes played per game (33.5), defensive rebounds (105), assists (122) and steals. On Feb. 20, she became the only Division men’s or women’s player to reach 100 steals and 100 assists this season.

Both Moore and Washington were named to the All-SEC Freshman team as Moore averaged 11.8 points per game and Washington averaged 6.2 rebounds per game.

Moore leads the team in made 3-pointers and free throw percentage and is ranked inside the top-100 nationally for minutes played, 3-pointers made and 3-point field goal percentage. In the SEC, Moore is ranked in the top 25 for scoring, points per game and 3-pointers made.

Washington had back-to-back double-doubles which were instrumental in Vanderbilt’s win over No. 15 Florida and aided the Commodores down the stretch in the regular-season finale against Alabama.

Along with these three players, senior Brinae Alexander will need to come up huge against the Aggies. She leads the Dores in scoring at 14.8 points per game due to her shooting precision from behind the arc. She leads the team in points per game, 3-point percentage (36%).

Vandy and Texas A&M met three weeks ago in College Station, Texas, where the Aggies won 76-58. Texas A&M (14-14) has dropped five straight coming into the postseason.

Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. today at Bridgestone Arena and can be watched on SEC Network.

Steven Boero
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