No. 5/6 Vanderbilt comes up clutch in the closing seconds to secure an 81-79 victory over No. 16/18 Kentucky on Sunday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt women’s basketball freshman Aubrey Galvan played the role of hero on Senior Day at Memorial Gymnasium, as the first-year guard’s jumper with 7.9 seconds remaining lifted the Commodores past No. 16/18-ranked Kentucky, 81-79, on Sunday afternoon.
Galvan hit a 20-foot jump shot two steps inside the top of the key that gave the Dores an 80-79 lead with 7.9 seconds remaining. After Kentucky called a timeout to advance the ball on its side of the court, senior Justine Pissott knocked the basketball loose, and sophomore Mikayla Blakes corralled it in with 0.7 seconds left to seal the victory for the Commodores.
With the win, Vanderbilt improves to 25-3 overall on the year and 11-3 in SEC play. The 11 conference victories tie the 2007-08 squad for the most SEC wins in a single season in program history. Vandy also clinches one of the four double byes at the 2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Dores collected their 25th victory on the season, tying them for the seventh-most wins in program history with the 2007-08 team. It is the first 25-win season for Vanderbilt since 2008-09, when the Dores posted 26 victories. It is also Vandy’s sixth win over a ranked team this season, as the Dores are now 6-2 against top-25 foes.
Blakes and Galvan were outstanding in the victory over the Wildcats, as the Commodore backcourt duo scored a combined 55 points.
Blakes had her second 30-point performance against Kentucky in a matter of 17 days, as the Somerset, New Jersey, native registered a game-high 35 points, while shooting an even 50 percent from the floor, hitting 11 of her 22 shots on Sunday. It is Blakes’ fourth-straight 30-point effort against a ranked team, while it is the fifth time over the last six games that the guard has scored 30 or more points. It is Blakes’ 10th game with 30-plus points this season, making her the first SEC player this century to have 10 or more games with 30-plus points in a season.
Galvan, who came off the bench to allow the seniors to start on Sunday, tallied 20 points in a reserve role. It is the freshman point guard’s third game with 20 or more points at the collegiate level. The Deerfield, Illinois, native dished out five assists and had a pair of steals against the Wildcats.
Junior Aiyana Mitchell made the most of her first start since Dec. 1, 2024, as the 6-4 forward turned in a 12-point, 9-rebound effort in 26 minutes of action. It is Mitchell’s first career double-digit scoring performance in an SEC game.
The Dores only led for 3:38 in Sunday’s victory. Vanderbilt did not hold its first lead of the game until the 7:24 mark of the third quarter, when a Galvan jumper put the Dores up 52-51. Neither team led by more than six points over the final 26 minutes of the contest. Trailing by three, Vanderbilt closed the game on a 7-2 run to secure its second one-possession victory over Kentucky this season.
Vanderbilt shot 47.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded Kentucky, 38-33. The Commodores outscored the Wildcats 30-26 in points in the paint and held a 26-14 edge in points off the bench.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on the Result
“I felt like it was a full team effort. We really needed everyone, especially with Sasha being out today. But I could tell the week leading up, and especially this morning at shootaround, that they were locked in, not only for her, but for the seniors. I love the way that we continue to grow, whether we’re winning or, you know, whether we lost a game. This team continues to pour into each other, pour into the process, pour into my staff. I love that we were able to win today.
“Obviously, it’s a big win, but being on senior day, for our seniors who have done so much for this program. This was a really special day. Sasha might have been one of my first phone calls when I got the job. She was committed, and I wanted to keep her committed, and now I can’t get rid of her. That’s very rare in the landscape now. Jada was one of our first recruits, and then you look at Justine, and how highly talented she was, and she picked us. Then Ndjakalenga went to a Final Four last year, and she came here for her last year. How cool is that? Then on top of it, you add a huge win, I think, that ties us now, for the school record for SEC wins, but we’re putting our head down. We’re going to enjoy today, going to spend time with the families, putting our head down, and we’re going to keep working, because we have another couple of big games coming up this week.”
Up Next
The No. 5/6 Commodores close out the 2025-26 regular-season home slate on Thursday, as Vanderbilt welcomes No. 25/24 Alabama. Tipoff against the Crimson Tide is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and streams live on SEC Network+.
Dore Notes
Follow Us
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, follow @VandyWBB on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter/X.
2026 © Copyright Vanderbilt University
Privacy Policy / Terms and Conditions / DSAR Form
