Vanderbilt handed the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team its most disappointing 21-game start in program history with a commanding performance Thursday evening at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn.
The Razorbacks (8-13, 1-5 SEC) fell behind by as much as 45 points in a comprehensive 101-60 defeat. Arkansas has suffered losses of at least 30 points in every SEC game it has lost, but Thursday’s defeat by 41 points was the most significant.
Although it isn’t the lowest win percentage in the program’s history — the Razorbacks ended 7-13 (.35) in 1978-79 — the 8-13 beginning is the worst for Arkansas after playing at least 21 games. It exceeded the 1980-81 squad that started the season with a 9-12 record.
Vanderbilt (16-4, 3-3) enhanced its record to 17-2 against Arkansas on their home court. Under fourth-year Coach Shea Ralph, the Commodores have created one of the most formidable home-court advantages in the SEC.
Since the previous longtime UConn assistant assumed control of Vanderbilt’s program in 2021-22, her squads have a record of 45-18 at home. They hold a record of 13-1 in their last 14 matches at Memorial Gymnasium.
Arkansas couldn’t respond to the Commodores’ outside offensive. They burned the Razorbacks from beyond the arc, making 13 of 25 attempts (52%).
Vanderbilt had five players reach double digits in scoring, with four achieving that mark by halftime. Freshman guard Mikayla Blakes topped the scoring with 24 points, with Khamil Pierre contributing 20, Iyana Moore adding 18, Jane Nwaba scoring 13, and Madison Greene rounding it out with 10.
The Commodores gained an 11-6 advantage by the initial media timeout, aided by four early mistakes made by the Razorbacks. Vanderbilt extended its lead to 21-8 with 2:23 remaining in the first quarter, prompting Arkansas Coach Mike Neighbors to request a timeout.
Blakes, who has positioned herself as a top contender for SEC freshman of the year, concluded a 10-0 surge with a three-pointer that extended the advantage to 26-8. The Commodores hit 4 out of 5 three-pointers in the first quarter, whereas Arkansas missed all 5 attempts.
Phoenix Stotijn broke a three-minute scoring dry spell for Arkansas with a steal and layup, reducing the gap to 26-10 as the second quarter began. In the first half, Stotijn and Karley Johnson both topped the Razorbacks with five points each.
Blakes scored her second three-pointer, starting a strong second quarter for the Commodores. Vanderbilt outpaced Arkansas 27-17 in the quarter, extending their lead to 51-24 after consecutive three-pointers from Blakes and Iyana Moore.
Blakes’ 24-point performance marked her 12th occasion of scoring 20 or more points this season. She made 8 of 13 (61.5%) from the field, sank 4 of 6 three-pointers, and converted 4 of 4 free throws.
At halftime, Arkansas was behind 53-27. It was the biggest deficit the Razorbacks encountered at halftime since being down 57-25 against No. 1 UCLA on Nov. 17.
By halftime, Moore (12 points), Blakes (11), Pierre (10), and Jane Nwaba (10) had all reached double digits. Vanderbilt posted shooting percentages of 63.6% from the field and 70% from beyond the arc in the first two quarters.
In contrast, the Razorbacks managed only 11 of 29 (37.9%) shooting from the floor, with just 2 of 10 on three-pointers, in the first 20 minutes. Arkansas turned the ball over 12 times as it had difficulty overcoming a Vanderbilt full-court press that intensely trapped near midcourt.
Points from turnovers and impressive three-point shooting were the hallmark for Vanderbilt in the first half. They made 30 out of their 53 points from three-point range and converted Arkansas’ mistakes into 17 points.
The Razorbacks exhibited signs of activity in the initial moments of the third quarter. Arkansas began the second half with a 15-5 surge, narrowing the gap to 58-42 after consecutive threes from Carly Keats and Izzy Higginbottom.
Higginbottom, the SEC’s top scorer averaging 23.5 points per game, ended with seven points, marking her second straight game with fewer than 10. By scoring five points in a 94-62 defeat against No. 19 Alabama on Sunday, she ended a run of 30 straight games with double-digit points that dated back to her Arkansas State days.
The identical errors that troubled Arkansas prior to halftime resurfaced late in the third quarter and persisted into the fourth. The Razorbacks had 15 turnovers in the last 20 minutes, resulting in 23 points for Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt ended the third quarter with a 14-5 surge to extend their advantage to 72-47. Blakes and Pierre together scored 11 points throughout the run.
The margin expanded to 98-53 with 3:20 remaining in the game when Jada Brown, a Bentonville native and older sister of Arkansas football player CJ Brown, scored with a layup. Vanderbilt topped the Razorbacks 29-13 in the final quarter.
