Vanderbilt women’s basketball beat Kentucky, 84-83, in Lexington as Mikayla Blakes scored 37 points. It was the Commodores’ first road win against a ranked opponent this season.
Both teams went on a few extended runs throughout the game. No. 8 Vanderbilt (22-2, 8-2 SEC) took an early lead, then No. 16 Kentucky went on a run in the last five minutes of the half.
The Commodores briefly took the lead back at the start of the third quarter but the Wildcats (18-6, 5-5) gained it back. Vanderbilt then took back the lead to start the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run. The Commodores never relinquished the lead from there, though Kentucky cut it to a single possession at multiple points.
Blakes took over in the fourth quarter as she made several big shots. She scored 19 points in the fourth quarter alone, making six of her 13 total field goals in the period. Aubrey Galvan was a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line as the game wound down, keeping Vanderbilt in the lead as Kentucky was not able to get a 3-pointer off until Amelia Hassett’s attempt to tie the game fell just short. Teonni Key made a two just before time expired but without enough time on the clock to foul again.
“Look at what that kid has done for our program and tell me that there’s a more meaningful player in the country to their team,” Shea Ralph said of Blakes. “Tell me. There’s not. She’s changed everything.”
It was the seventh 30-point game for Blakes this season and fifth during SEC play. Blakes also finished with four assists and four steals.
The Commodores committed just six turnovers in the game and forced 20, allowing them to win despite getting out-rebounded, 39-21.
Vanderbilt went on a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter, taking a 61-58 lead for its first advantage since early in the third quarter.
At the end of the third quarter, Kentucky held a 58-54 lead with Mikayla Blakes up to 18 points. Vanderbilt has forced 15 turnovers and committed just three.
After ending the first half on a 13-2 run, Kentucky went on another 9-0 run in the third quarter shortly after Vanderbilt had taken the lead back, with the Wildcats holding a 47-43 lead with 4:46 left in the quarter.
Vanderbilt went up, 32-25, at the media timeout of the second quarter with four minutes to go in the period. Mikayla Blakes is up to 11 points, while Vanderbilt has forced 10 turnovers and committed 0.
Vanderbilt led, 19-16, after the end of the first quarter. Mikayla Blakes and Aga Makurat both have six points.
Vanderbilt took a 12-11 lead at the first media timeout with a 3-pointer by Aga Makurat. Amelia Hassett also has two 3-pointers for Kentucky.
Kentucky 72, Vanderbilt 71
Vanderbilt did not list any injuries on its availability report other than Madison Greene. For Kentucky, Teonni Key will be in her second game back after missing six games due to injury.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
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