Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Kentucky
In a thrilling matchup in Nashville, the fifth-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team narrowly defeated 16th-ranked Kentucky with an 81-79 victory on Sunday. Mikayla Blakes was instrumental in the win, delivering an impressive 35 points.
Decisive Moments
This dramatic game came down to the final moments when Kentucky’s Clara Strack found herself driving towards the basket with just four seconds remaining. However, Justine Pissott made a crucial defensive play, knocking the ball away at a pivotal moment. After Pissott’s intervention, Blakes secured the ball but was promptly fouled before the clock ran out.
“I just focused on making the free throw to help my team win,” said Blakes.
She stepped up to the free-throw line, converting the first of her two attempts, which ultimately sealed the win as Kentucky was unable to get a shot off before time expired.
Key Contributions
Vanderbilt’s Aubrey Galvan also played a key role, contributing 20 points and hitting a critical jumper with only 7.9 seconds left in the game, which put her team ahead. Pissott supported with eight points, including two vital three-pointers in the final quarter, one of which tied the game with 2:21 on the clock.
With this victory, Vanderbilt improves to 25-3 overall and 11-3 in SEC play, now matching No. 4 Texas for second place in the conference with just two games left in the regular season.
Kentucky’s Performance
On the Kentucky side, Strack led her team with a commendable 17 points and also grabbed seven rebounds, while Amelia Hassett contributed 15 points, making five shots from beyond the arc.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Kentucky’s next challenge will be against Auburn on Thursday, while Vanderbilt will face No. 25 Alabama in their upcoming game on the same day.
