Why Sacha Washington's Vanderbilt record was important to Mikayla Blakes in NCAA win – The Tennessean

Vanderbilt women’s basketball star Mikayla Blakes celebrated teammate Sacha Washington’s record more than her own record in the No. 2 seed Commodores’ 102-61 rout of No. 15 seed High Point in the Women’s NCAA Tournament first round on March 21 at Memorial Gymnasium.
Blakes broke the Vanderbilt single-season scoring record with 30 points, which gave her 867 for the 2025-26 season. Washington tied the program’s March Madness single-game rebounding record with 17.
Blakes was animated a couple of minutes later when told about Washington tying the rebounds record set in 1987 by Karen Booker against James Madison.
“There you go! It was a record-setting performance, not just points-wise but rebounding-wise,” Blakes said with great energy in her voice.
The second-seeded Commodores play No. 7 seed Illinois, a 66-57 win over Colorado, on March 23 (6 p.m., ESPN2).
Blakes finished with 30 points, giving her a program-best 867 points for the 2025-26 season.
“I’ve always wanted to play with a great post player, and when I knew Sacha was coming back, I didn’t get the chance to play with her last year, but this year, we were excited,” Blakes said. “We were like, ‘We’re going to do this thing this year.’ Her focus is rebounding, so I know if my shot is a miss, somebody is going to go hunt it and I know it’s going to be Sacha.”
That didn’t happen much against High Point. Blakes only missed five shots on her way to breaking the program’s single-season scoring record set in 1989-90 by Wendy Scholtens at 855 points.
But Washington, a 6-foot-2 senior, grabbed enough boards to keep High Point (27-6) from ever threatening the Commodores (28-5). She left the game with 5:39 left to play after tying the mark.
Blakes, a sophomore, did not play with Washington in the 2024-25 season because Washington was sidelined with a blood clot in her right calf.
The year away from basketball made Washington more motivated than ever to finish her career strong.
“I don’t think words can honestly express how thankful I am to be playing this season,” said Washington, who also scored 10 points. “These guys (teammates and coaches) know I am so grateful to be back. To have another opportunity because you really never know when you’re going to be done playing. The fact that I get to be here today, that I’ve been healthy all season, words can’t even explain how happy I am.”
Washington is Vanderbilt’s leading rebounder, averaging 7.6 per game on the season.
Washington arrived at Vanderbilt in 2021 and wasted no time making an impact. She played in all 35 games and started in eight in coach Shea Ralph’s first season.
There were ups and downs over the next three seasons, but Washington started in 64 straight games before her illness.
Ralph appreciates that Washington, the only holdover from Ralph’s first team on the current roster, stuck it out and is finishing his career in a college basketball landscape where many players leave looking for better opportunities.
“College basketball has changed a lot since Sacha has been here,” Ralph said. “The transfer portal is there for people who are trying to find the right place for them, and I get that. The theory behind that, I understand it. But I also really appreciate the kids like Sacha who still decide to fight through adversity. Who pour into the process and honor the commitment and understand the value of delayed gratification. That the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

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