In a powerful performance at Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday night, the No. 15 Vanderbilt Commodores claimed an impressive 81-68 win over the Virginia Cavaliers in the SEC/ACC Challenge. The victory was driven by an electrifying showing from sophomore star Mikayla Blakes, who delivered a game-high 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, showcasing her all-around dominance.
Third-Quarter Surge Breaks Open the Game
The matchup remained tightly contested through the first half, with Vanderbilt holding a 34-30 advantage at the break. However, the energy shifted dramatically in the third quarter. The Commodores unleashed a decisive offensive burst, shooting 10-of-11 from the field and hitting 4-of-6 from three-point range, widening their lead to 63-41 entering the final frame.
Blakes fueled the momentum with 11 points in the quarter, leading a 12-2 run that pushed the advantage to 22 and left Virginia scrambling to recover. The Commodores capitalized effectively on defensive pressure, converting seven Cavaliers turnovers into 13 points during the stretch.
Supporting Cast Strengthens Vanderbilt’s Depth
While Blakes commanded the spotlight, Vanderbilt demonstrated impressive balance across the roster. Ndjakalenge Mwenentanda added 16 points, and Sacha Washington finished with 13 points as the Commodores shot a sharp 11-of-16 from the floor in the second half.
Vanderbilt also outperformed Virginia at the free-throw line—a critical factor in controlling the pace. The Commodores finished 19-of-21 at the stripe, led by Blakes’ 12-of-13, compared to Virginia’s 6-of-10.
Virginia Fights Late but Falls Short
The Cavaliers showed resilience in the fourth quarter, cutting what was once a 28-point deficit down to 12 in the final minutes. Kymora Johnson led Virginia with 22 points, while Paris Clark added 12 and Adeang Ring contributed 10. Despite the late surge, the gap proved too large to close against Vanderbilt’s disciplined execution.
Virginia briefly gained early momentum, leading 19-18 after the first quarter. Both teams struggled to find shooting rhythm through the first 20 minutes, with neither breaking the 38% field-goal mark. Vanderbilt committed 10 turnovers in the first half but cleaned up ball control significantly after halftime.
Looking ahead, Virginia hosts Boston College on Sunday in an ACC matchup as they aim to rebound from the defeat. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt begins a December homestand, returning to action on December 15 against South Florida, seeking to build on the momentum of a decisive statement win.
