NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging Vanderbilt squad riding one of its best seasons in program history hosts an Illinois team looking to spring a March upset when the women’s basketball teams meet Monday at Memorial Gymnasium.

The No. 4-seeded Commodores (28-4), boasting a potent offense that averages over 84 points per game, enter as heavy favorites against the seed Fighting Illini (22-11). Vanderbilt’s only loss since late January was an 89-78 defeat to Mississippi on March 6. They responded emphatically with a 102-61 rout of High Point in their first tournament game, led by star guard Mikayla Blakes’s 30 points in just 28 minutes.

Blakes has been on a historic tear, scoring 30 or more points in three of her last five games, including a 35-point outburst against Alabama and 34 in a key road win at Tennessee. Her scoring prowess will be the focal point of a Vanderbilt attack that has topped 100 points three times this season.

Illinois, which advanced with a 66-57 victory over Colorado, will counter with its own standout in guard Cearah Parchment. She led the Illini with 21 points in that win, continuing a strong stretch where she has scored 20 or more points three times in the last seven games. Her backcourt play, alongside Destiny Jackson (16 points, 6 assists vs. Colorado) and Berry Wallace (18 points), will be critical.

The Illini have shown resilience, with recent road wins at Michigan State and a dominant home performance against Wisconsin. However, consistency has been an issue, as seen in a late-February loss to Minnesota and two close defeats to Iowa.

Vanderbilt’s defense, which forced 22 turnovers in the High Point win, will test an Illinois team that committed only 9 turnovers against Colorado. The Commodores’ depth is also a factor, with players like Aubrey Galvan (17 points, 6 assists last game) providing significant support.

The game tips off at 8 p.m. EDT Monday in Nashville. The winner will advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament’s Portland Regional.