Vanderbilt Commodores Secure Victory Against Florida
In a compelling display of resilience, the Vanderbilt Commodores overcame a rocky start to secure an 82-66 victory against Florida on Sunday, thanks to an outstanding performance by Mikayla Blakes, who tallied 30 points. Despite struggling initially, where they managed a mere 10 points in the first quarter and trailed 35-25 at the break, Vanderbilt made a remarkable turnaround in the second half.
Turning Point in the Game
Vanderbilt’s (21-2, 7-2 SEC) early struggles have become a concerning trend, having previously faced similar early deficits in their last two games against South Carolina and Mississippi. However, this time they ignited their comeback during the third quarter, with Blakes, the leading scorer in the SEC, spearheading the charge. She exploded for 14 points in the quarter, including a perfect 7 for 7 at the free-throw line, and played a crucial role in scoring eight of the Commodores’ last 11 points in that period.
Key Contributions
A notable highlight in the third was a halfcourt buzzer-beater from teammate Aubrey Galvan, who ended with nine points after a scoreless first half. Another key contributor was Sacha Washington, who missed only one shot, finishing with 14 points. Meanwhile, Florida (13-11, 1-8 SEC) relied heavily on its top scorers Liv McGill, who put up 21 points, and Me’Arah O’Neal, who contributed 22 points, to build their early lead.
Looking Ahead
With this latest defeat, Florida extends its losing streak to three games and has now lost eight out of its last nine matches. Looking ahead, the challenges for Vanderbilt intensify as they prepare for a series of seven consecutive games against ranked opponents, starting Thursday against No. 18 Kentucky, while Florida will aim to rebound against Auburn on the same night.
