NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 13/11-ranked Vanderbilt women’s basketball team outlasted UAlbany in a defensive battle on Thursday night at Memorial Gymnasium, as the Commodores posted a 64-35 victory over the Great Danes to move to 11-0 for the first time in 29 years.
The Dores put on a stellar defensive effort in the victory over UAlbany. Vanderbilt held the Great Danes to a 22.9 percent success rate from the floor. The Dores allowed UAlbany to just 11 made field goals on the night, while forcing the Great Danes into 21 turnovers. The Commodores scored 25 points off turnovers in the 28-point nonconference win.
The 35 points allowed by the Dores tonight mark the lowest point total that Vanderbilt has held a team to since an 86-29 victory over UT Martin on Dec. 21, 2008.
With the victory, the Commodores have now opened the 2025-26 season a perfect 11-0. It marks the first time since the 1995-96 campaign that Vanderbilt has opened a season with 11-straight wins. It is just the fourth time in program history that the Dores have opened a campaign with 11 consecutive victories, as the previous occurrences took place during the 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1995-96 seasons.
Vandy was paced by a trio of double-digit scorers in the win over the Great Danes, led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes’ 17-point performance. It extends the All-American’s double-figure scoring streak to 30 games, while she has now recorded double-digit points in 42 of her career 43 games played at Vanderbilt.
Freshman Aubrey Galvan registered 15 points, while junior Aiyana Mitchell tallied a career-high 14 points. Both Galvan and Mitchell pulled down a team-high six rebounds in the victory over the Great Danes.
Vanderbilt shot 45.5 percent against UAlbany and held a 25-6 edge in points off turnovers. The Commodores outscored the Great Danes 30-4 in points in the paint and 21-3 in bench points. Vandy held one of the best 3-point shooting programs over the last few seasons to just 19 percent from behind the arc.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on the Win
“First of all, I have a lot of respect for their head coach, Colleen Mullen. She is a mom of twins who have autism. So, this was a really important game for us to be able to honor not only that disease, but just to bring awareness to the fact that, you know, there are lots of people out there that need help, and that’s what we get to do what we do every single day. All the things that we try to do for the community and kids, and the ways that we honor people and places with the (awareness) games that we play, are really important to me. So, I’m excited that we were able to do that today and play her team.
“Also, they’re a very good team. They’re tough, and I knew they’re style of play was going to be a pain for us, that they would really attack our discipline and ability to focus, especially after final exams. I was really tough on the team yesterday in practice, so they looked a little fatigued today, but that’s what makes you better. That’s why you play teams like UAlbany, who are really good and very disciplined; they’re that way for a reason. It was a tough game, I’m really glad that we came out with a win. Mitch and Aubrey had a huge part in that, and I’m grateful for our performance on the defensive end of the floor in the second half. This was a tough one, but I’m glad we came away with a win.”
Up Next
The No. 13/11-ranked Commodores continue their month-long, five-game homestand on Saturday, as Vanderbilt welcomes in Texas Southern for the penultimate contest. Tipoff against the Lady Tigers is set for noon CT and streams live on SEC Network+.
Dore Notes
- The Dores improve to 11-0 for the first time since the 1995-96 season
- It is the fourth time in school history that Vanderbilt has opened a campaign by winning its first 11 games, joining the 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1995-96 squads
- Vandy has won 26-straight nonconference home games dating back to the 2022-23 season and is now 39-3 inside Memorial Gym against non-SEC teams under head coach Shea Ralph
- The Commodores have now won 17-straight nonconference games in the regular season
- Vanderbilt improves to 2-0 all-time against UAlbany, with both wins coming in the Shea Ralph era
- Thursday’s 65-35 win is the largest margin of victory against the Great Danes so far this season
- It is the first time holding an opponent to 35 points or less since defeating UT Martin 86-29 on Dec. 21, 2008
- The Dores remain one of 12 undefeated teams in NCAA Division I this season
- Three or more Commodores have scored in double figures in all 11 games of the 2025-26 season
- Vanderbilt has forced double-digit steals in eight of 11 games
- The Dores blocked five or more shots for the eighth time this season
- Vandy has converted at least six threes in every game thus far
- Freshman Aubrey Galvan’s 15 points vs. the Great Danes is her fourth game with 15-plus this season
- It is the freshman’s seventh game with 10 or more points this season
- Mikayla Blakes finished with 17 points, extending her double-digit scoring streak to 30 games, the fifth-longest current streak in the nation
- The sophomore has scored 10-plus points in 43 of 44 games in her Vanderbilt career
- Blakes tied a season-high in steals with six and has forced three or more turnovers in 10 of Vandy’s 11 games
- Junior Aiyana Mitchell dropped a career-high 14 points to record her fifth double-digit scoring performance this season
- Mitchell also matched her career-high in blocks with four
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