NASHVILLE, Tennessee - No. 15 Vanderbilt Commodores chop Virginia Cavaliers 81-68 for di SEC/ACC Challenge on Wednesday night. Mikayla Blakes score 28 points, plus seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals for Vanderbilt. She be the ninth player for NCAA history wey reach 1,000 points for 42 career games.
Commodores Dominate Third Quarter
Vanderbilt carry go for di third quarter, hitting 4 of 6 3-pointers plus 10 of 11 shots overall. Dem stretch di four-point halftime lead to 63-41. Blakes score 11 points for di quarter. Justine Pissott hit one 3-pointer wey put di lead for double figures for good, 43-32 just over three minutes in, and Blake score seven points for one closing 12-2 run with Pissott’s 3 making one 22-point lead. Virginia get seven turnovers, and Vanderbilt turn dem into 13 points.
Key Players Shine
Ndjakalenge Mwenentanda score 16 points, and Sacha Washington 13 on one combined 11 of 16 shooting for Commodores (9-0). Blakes be 12 of 13 from di foul line as Vanderbilt go 19 of 21 while di Cavs be 6 of 10. Kymora Johnson get 22 points for Virginia (6-3), wey cut one 28-point deficit for di fourth quarter down to a dozen with less than two minutes to go. Paris Clark add 12 points, and Adeang Ring get 10.
Coach Impressed by Blakes
Coach Shea Ralph talk say: "When you get player with dat level of talent plus skill wey get di heart plus determination plus drive plus competitiveness plus confidence... But she be di most humble human being, basketball player, young lady wey I don come across for long time. And so for me, e just be joy to get her on our team."
Up Next for Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt go play all five December games for house, with South Florida visiting next on di 15th. Dem dey look like one of di top 4 teams for di conference, and dem dey hope say dem go continue to prove dat.
- Mikayla Blakes: 28 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals
- Ndjakalenge Mwenentanda: 16 points
- Sacha Washington: 13 points