Vanderbilt women’s basketball‘s winning streak is over.
The No. 4 Commodores (20-1, 6-1 SEC) looked outmatched in their 103-74 loss to No. 2 South Carolina (20-2, 6-1) at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 25.
Mikayla Blakes scored 23 points and had seven rebounds and five assists, while Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda had 13 points and four rebounds. No other Vanderbilt player reached double digits.
The Commodores made 12 3-pointers but South Carolina unleashed 10 while also forcing 20 turnovers.
Vanderbilt will next travel to Ole Miss for a game Jan. 29.
Vanderbilt was outscored, 27-12, in the third quarter as the Gamecocks built an 82-56 lead entering the fourth quarter.
After Vanderbilt briefly cut the deficit to seven to start the third quarter, South Carolina went on a 15-2 run to take a 70-50 lead with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter.
Vanderbilt settled in better in the second quarter but still faced a significant deficit due to the poor first quarter, 46-29 with 4:21 to go in the period. Mikayla Blakes, Justine Pissott and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda were all in foul trouble.
South Carolina led, 33-16, after the first quarter, the most points Vanderbilt has allowed in a quarter this season. Defense wasn’t the only issue, as eight Commodores turnovers converted into 14 points for the Gamecocks.
Shea Ralph called timeout just 1:38 into the game after the Gamecocks went on a 9-0 run spurred by three straight Vanderbilt turnovers.
South Carolina 77, Vanderbilt 70
Neither team has any known injuries beyond players who suffered season-ending injuries during the preseason, Madison Greene and Chloe Kitts.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
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