Vanderbilt Commodores Maintain Unbeaten Streak
In an impressive display of dominance, the fifth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores maintained their unbeaten streak by overpowering Auburn with a score of 81-53 on Thursday night in Nashville. This victory marks Vanderbilt’s 20th win this season, bringing their overall record to 20-0 and showcasing their strong performance in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) where they hold a 6-0 record.
Key Performers
Mikayla Blakes starred in the matchup, netting 20 points, her fifteenth game this season scoring over 20 points. Sacha Washington also contributed significantly, achieving her sixth double-double by scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Game Summary
The game began with Vanderbilt surging ahead early, establishing a 23-12 lead after the first quarter, thanks in part to an early 8-0 run and a strong shooting performance of 52.6%. However, the second quarter saw a stark contrast as they struggled to find their rhythm, managing just 10 points while shooting 26.7% from the field and failing to convert any of their four attempts from beyond the arc. Despite this, they maintained a slim lead, heading into halftime at 33-29 with Aiyana Mitchell and Auburn’s A’riel Jackson tied for leading scorer status in the first half with eight points each.
The Commodores regrouped after the break, decisively outscoring Auburn 27-12 in the third quarter, buoyed by a strong 12-point performance from Blakes and dominating the boards with 15 rebounds in that period alone. Overall, Vanderbilt shot well, totaling 32 out of 64 field goals while managing 30% from three-point range, while also controlling the rebounding game 44 to 25 over Auburn.
Auburn’s Efforts
Auburn’s efforts were spearheaded by Harissoum Coulibaly, who tallied 13 points, and Kaitlyn Duhon, who added 11 points.
Looking Ahead
As they move forward, Auburn is set to host the 16th-ranked Oklahoma on Sunday, while Vanderbilt will face a challenging road game against the second-ranked South Carolina the same day. This win keeps Vanderbilt among the elite company of NCAA Division I teams still boasting an undefeated record, which includes top-tier teams such as UConn and Arizona.
