Lady Vols scouting report, score prediction vs. Vandy

Lady Vols basketball is back at home for its “We Back Pat” game after two games on the road.

Tennessee (11-6, 4-1 SEC) faces instate rival Vanderbilt (17-2, 4-1) at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, SEC Network). Both teams bounced back with wins on Thursday, the Lady Vols beating Mississippi State on the road and the Commodores taking down Missouri at home.

Here’s what you need to know about the matchup.

Vanderbilt guards leading in SEC play

Junior guard Iyana Moore opened conference play on a tear, averaging 28.7 points in Vanderbilt’s first three SEC games. She was on fire from behind the arc, shooting 60% from 3-point range on 15 attempts. Moore was incredibly efficient overall and got herself to the line every game.

Moore also stuffs the stat sheet, and should be the main focus for Tennessee. She has been limited in the last two games, and it can’t be the team to let her get back on her hot streak.

Graduate guard Jordyn Cambridge has also been a consistent contributor. She’s averaging 12.4 points and 4.8 assists per SEC game, and her veteran presence is key for Vanderbilt.

Tennessee facing former Lady Vol Justine Pissott

Justine Pissott spent her freshman season at Tennessee before transferring to Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-4 wing only averaged 6.9 minutes on a veteran roster and averaged two points and a rebound.

Pissott was a highly-touted 3-point shooter coming out of high school and was ranked No. 11 in her class. But she struggled defensively as a freshman, and the Lady Vols’ tough schedule didn’t allow much room for young players to grow through mistakes on the court.

Pissott found a better fit at Vanderbilt, where she has been a starter and averaged 21 minutes. She averages 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and has shot 35.1% from 3-point range on 77 attempts. The Commodores aren’t afraid to shoot from deep, averaging 18.6 3-point attempts in SEC play, even though they have only shot higher than 30% on 3-pointers in two games.

Lady Vols can – and should – win battle in the paint

Vanderbilt doesn’t often win the battle of points in the paint in conference games. The only game the Commodores definitively won that battle was against Kentucky, when they outscored the Wildcats 52-40 in the paint. Vanderbilt averages 29.2 points in the paint, and its opponents average 33.2.

The Commodores held every other SEC opponent to fewer than 70 points, and they do it by slowing the pace. They’re fourth in SEC games in scoring defense (62.2 points per game), but they’re eighth in field goal percentage defense. SEC opponents shoot 40.6% against Vanderbilt, but only Kentucky has managed to shoot more than 60 field goals against it.

The Lady Vols need to start this game working the ball inside and establish a paint presence early. Using their defense and rebounding to get out in transition will also make this game an easier win.

Lady Vols basketball score prediction vs Vanderbilt

Tennessee 80, Vanderbilt 64: The Commodores don’t have the size inside to compete with the Lady Vols, and if they start the game dominating inside, it’s going to get ugly for Vanderbilt. Tennessee is due to for a dominant win at home, and crushing its in-state rival is the perfect opportunity.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll