Vanderbilt women’s basketball defeated Kentucky 81-79 at Memorial Gymnasium on Feb. 22 as Mikayla Blakes put up 35 points.
After No. 18 Kentucky led by as many as 12 in the first half, No. 5 Vanderbilt (25-3, 11-3 SEC) made a comeback. The teams went back and forth, putting up nearly identical stat lines as the game was within a few possessions the rest of the game.
With a little under a minute to go in the game, Blakes was fouled but made only one of two free throws. Tonie Morgan made a layup for Kentucky (20-8, 7-7) to take a one-point lead with 32.8 seconds left. With 7.9 seconds to go, Aubrey Galvan made a midrange jumper to give Vanderbilt a one-point lead.
Justine Pissott got the steal on the Wildcats’ possession, sending Vanderbilt to the free-throw line with 0.7 seconds left. Blakes made a free throw to seal the Commodores’ victory.
Galvan finished with 20 points, five assists and two steals, while Aiyana Mitchell had 12 points and nine rebounds.
With her performance, Blakes became one of only two SEC players in the last 15 years with nine straight 20-point games, according to SEC Network.
The Commodores played without Sacha Washington due to an undisclosed injury.
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Aubrey Galvan gave Vanderbilt an 80-79 lead with 7.9 seconds left. Vanderbilt now needs a stop to win.
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As the teams continue to go back and forth, Kentucky took a 74-72 lead with a 3-pointer by Amelia Hassett with 5:09 to go in the fourth quarter.
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A 6-0 run nearing the end of the third quarter gave Kentucky the lead, but Aubrey Galvan hit a layup to end the period and break up the run with Kentucky leading, 65-61.
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The score remained tied, 55-55, with 4:26 to go in the third quarter, as Mikayla Blakes is up to 22 points and Aubrey Galvan up to 16.
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Vanderbilt tied the game right out of halftime and at one point took its first lead, though the two teams went back and forth to start the third quarter. The score is tied, 52-52, with 6:35 to go in the quarter.
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Kentucky led, 36-34, entering the second quarter media timeout with 4:18 remaining in the quarter. Aubrey Galvan has 11 points.
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Kentucky led, 26-24, at the end of the first quarter as a 7-0 run helped get Vanderbilt back into the game. Mikayla Blakes is up to 10 points.
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Kentucky has made four 3-pointers to start, taking an 18-8 lead with 4:51 left in the first quarter.
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Sacha Washington was listed on the availability report as a game-time decision for Vanderbilt with an undisclosed issue. She was in uniform for Vanderbilt during warmups but not participating.
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Feb. 26: Alabama
March 1: at Tennessee
March 4-8: SEC tournament
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Vanderbilt 86, Kentucky 81
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