Preview: Vanderbilt Set for Showdown with Mississippi BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A top-15 Southeastern Conference clash highlights the women’s college basketball slate Friday when Vanderbilt visits Mississippi at a neutral site. The matchup at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena features two of the nation’s hottest teams. Vanderbilt (20-1, 7-1 SEC) brings the country’s second-best record, its only blemish a 103-74 road loss to top-ranked South Carolina last Sunday. Mississippi (17-4, 6-2) has won five of its last six, most recently an 82-61 rout of Missouri on Jan. 22. The game pits two of the league’s premier scorers against each other. Vanderbilt is led by guard Mikayla Blakes, who is averaging 24.6 points over her last seven games. She erupted for 38 points and seven assists in a win at Mississippi State on Jan. 15 and scored 23 in the loss to the Gamecocks. Mississippi counters with forward Cotie McMahon, who is coming off a 33-point, five-assist performance against Missouri. McMahon averages 19.8 points in conference play and recorded a double-double (9 points, 11 rebounds) in a loss to Georgia on Jan. 18. Vanderbilt’s high-powered offense, averaging 81.2 points per game, will test a Mississippi defense allowing just 62.2. The Commodores have scored 89 or more points in three of their last six SEC contests. Mississippi has shown resilience, bouncing back from its two SEC losses with double-digit victories. The Rebels’ four defeats have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25. This neutral-site contest could have significant implications for SEC tournament seeding and NCAA Tournament positioning. Vanderbilt seeks to reassert its dominance after the South Carolina defeat, while Mississippi aims for a statement win to bolster its resume. Following this game, Vanderbilt hosts Florida on Sunday. Mississippi returns home to face Auburn on Sunday.