South Carolina Women’s Basketball: Key Things to Watch Against Vanderbilt

No. 6 South Carolina’s matchup against Vanderbilt this Sunday at 3:00 PM ET at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. Let’s break down the key points for today’s game.

1. Stay Focused and Engaged
South Carolina’s journey to success against Arkansas was a bit of a slow start, but once they hit their rhythm, they dominated. Though Arkansas might not have been able to capitalize on the Gamecocks’ slow start, Vanderbilt could very well make them pay if they don’t come out strong. The key for South Carolina remains getting into their groove quickly, and for them, that means focusing on defense, fast breaks, and unselfish offense. Head coach Dawn Staley emphasized, “We’re focused. We’re not perfect, but we’re focused. When we have the level of focus that we have, we’re going to be disciplined on both sides of the basketball, and we’re going to play cleaner basketball.”

2. Containing Mikayla Blakes
Vanderbilt’s star freshman Mikayla Blakes is a major threat, averaging 23.4 points per game and shooting 46.4% from the field. Blakes is a versatile scorer, capable of driving to the rim, shooting from mid-range, and even hitting three-pointers. With a free-throw percentage of 88.5%, she’s a dangerous all-around player. Staley knows the challenge ahead, stating, “It’s hard to stop when you got the greenest of green lights. You’re unafraid. You have no fear of missed shots. You have no fear of turning the ball over.” The Gamecocks will need to limit her clean looks and control their fouls to make it tough for Blakes to operate.

Beyond scoring, Blakes also contributes 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, though she does have a tendency to turn the ball over, with over three turnovers per game. This could be an area South Carolina can exploit.

3. Dauda Time?
Maryam Dauda, the Arkansas transfer, had one of her best performances of the season against her former team, recording nine points and eight rebounds in just 14 minutes. Dawn Staley praised Dauda for showing more confidence, saying, “We gave her her flowers in film today, and I hope that she feels that and wants to bottle that up and display it again.” South Carolina has struggled with post depth this season, and Dauda could provide a much-needed spark, even with modest contributions. If Staley can rely on her for consistent minutes, it would add significant depth heading into the postseason.

4. Availability Report
South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins will be out for this game. As for Vanderbilt, Sacha Washington is out for the season due to a blood clot in her leg. Any further changes to the availability list will be updated accordingly.

5. Scouting Vanderbilt’s Commodores
While Mikayla Blakes has stolen the spotlight, Khamil Pierre has quietly been dominant. Pierre averages nearly a 20-10 double-double, posting 20.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, along with 2.9 steals. Pierre set Vanderbilt’s scoring record earlier in the season with 42 points, only to see Blakes surpass it multiple times.

Defensively, Vanderbilt is a bit undersized. Pierre, standing at 6-2, and Blakes, at 5-8, leave the Commodores vulnerable against larger forwards. The Commodores have struggled defensively, giving up big scores to teams like Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and others. When they’ve had success, it’s been by keeping the game close, as seen in their wins over ranked teams like Tennessee and Alabama. South Carolina won’t want to get into a shootout with Blakes, but they will need to ensure the game doesn’t stay stuck in the 60s either.

Scoreboard Watch
While South Carolina focuses on their game, there are a couple of games to keep an eye on. LSU faces Kentucky on Sunday, with South Carolina holding a one-game lead over the Tigers. A Kentucky win would be beneficial for the Gamecocks, while an LSU win would lock Kentucky into the fourth seed for the tournament. Additionally, South Carolina will be rooting for Georgia to pull off an upset against Texas on Monday.

Game Info
Who: #6 South Carolina (24-3, 12-2) vs. Vanderbilt (19-8, 6-7)
When: Sunday, February 23, 3:00 PM ET
Where: Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, TN
Watch: SEC Network+

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach game time!