KNOXVILLE ― Vanderbilt women’s basketball won at Tennessee for only the second time in program history, taking an 87-77 victory at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The game featured multiple runs by both teams. Tennessee went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter and took a 6-point lead into halftime. Vanderbilt went on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, then went a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
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Mikayla Blakes finished with 34 points, Aubrey Galvan scored 24 with four rebounds and five assists, and Sacha Washington scored 16 with eight rebounds and two assists.
“The season has been really special, to be able to end it here at Tennessee with a win and secure I think the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament,” coach Shea Ralph said. “So the double bye, it feels really cool. I’m happy for the team, but we are literally just getting started.”
The Commodores (27-3, 13-3 SEC) shot 53% from the field. The Lady Vols (16-12, 8-8) outrebounded Vanderbilt, 32-29, and committed 13 turnovers to 14 for Vanderbilt. The Commodores shot 17-for-20 on layups and had 27 fast-break points. Tennessee was 10-for-24 on layups.
Vanderbilt’s SEC tournament seed
The SEC tournament will be held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Vanderbilt will start play on March 6 and holds a bye into the quarterfinals, where it will play the No. 7 seed or the No. 10 seed at approximately 5 p.m. CT.
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Mikayla Blakes stats
Mikayla Blakes put up another 30-point performance, which is her third straight and eighth in her last nine games. She scored 34 with six rebounds and four assists, though she also had six turnovers.
Blakes made six 3-pointers in the game, which ties her season high.
“She had 34 but her biggest buckets were when we had to happen,” Ralph said. “Her biggest moments in this game were when we had to happen. That kid shows up every time.”
Third straight rivalry win
Vanderbilt now has three straight wins over Tennessee. The Commodores defeated the Lady Vols twice last season, once in Nashville and once in the SEC tournament. Now, Vanderbilt completed the trifecta with a win in Knoxville.
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“I think Tennessee is a great team,” Ralph said. “They will be for as long as women’s basketball exists. Playing here in front of this crowd is tough. It’s tough. So I was really proud of our team for being able to figure it out the second half and win, especially here at Tennessee.”
The Commodores have their most SEC wins in program history.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt women’s basketball wins third straight game vs Tennessee
