NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt women’s basketball freshman Aubrey Galvan played the role of hero on Senior Day at Memorial Gymnasium, as the first-year guard’s jumper with 7.9 seconds remaining lifted the Commodores past No. 16/18-ranked Kentucky, 81-79, on Sunday afternoon.
Galvan hit a 20-foot jump shot two steps inside the top of the key that gave the Dores an 80-79 lead with 7.9 seconds remaining. After Kentucky called a timeout to advance the ball on its side of the court, senior Justine Pissott knocked the basketball loose, and sophomore Mikayla Blakes corralled it in with 0.7 seconds left to seal the victory for the Commodores.
With the win, Vanderbilt improves to 25-3 overall on the year and 11-3 in SEC play. The 11 conference victories tie the 2007-08 squad for the most SEC wins in a single season in program history. Vandy also clinches one of the four double byes at the 2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Dores collected their 25th victory on the season, tying them for the seventh-most wins in program history with the 2007-08 team. It is the first 25-win season for Vanderbilt since 2008-09, when the Dores posted 26 victories. It is also Vandy’s sixth win over a ranked team this season, as the Dores are now 6-2 against top-25 foes.
Blakes and Galvan were outstanding in the victory over the Wildcats, as the Commodore backcourt duo scored a combined 55 points.
Blakes had her second 30-point performance against Kentucky in a matter of 17 days, as the Somerset, New Jersey, native registered a game-high 35 points, while shooting an even 50 percent from the floor, hitting 11 of her 22 shots on Sunday. It is Blakes’ fourth-straight 30-point effort against a ranked team, while it is the fifth time over the last six games that the guard has scored 30 or more points. It is Blakes’ 10th game with 30-plus points this season, making her the first SEC player this century to have 10 or more games with 30-plus points in a season.
Galvan, who came off the bench to allow the seniors to start on Sunday, tallied 20 points in a reserve role. It is the freshman point guard’s third game with 20 or more points at the collegiate level. The Deerfield, Illinois, native dished out five assists and had a pair of steals against the Wildcats.
Junior Aiyana Mitchell made the most of her first start since Dec. 1, 2024, as the 6-4 forward turned in a 12-point, 9-rebound effort in 26 minutes of action. It is Mitchell’s first career double-digit scoring performance in an SEC game.
The Dores only led for 3:38 in Sunday’s victory. Vanderbilt did not hold its first lead of the game until the 5:50 mark of the third quarter, when a Blakes free throw put the Dores up 53-52. Neither team led by more than six points over the final 26 minutes of the contest. Trailing by three, Vanderbilt closed the game on a 7-2 run to secure its second one-possession victory over Kentucky this season.
Vanderbilt shot 47.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded Kentucky, 38-33. The Commodores outscored the Wildcats 30-26 in points in the paint and held a 26-14 edge in points off the bench.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on the Result
“I felt like it was a full team effort. We really needed everyone, especially with Sasha being out today. But I could tell the week leading up, and especially this morning at shootaround, that they were locked in, not only for her, but for the seniors. I love the way that we continue to grow, whether we’re winning or, you know, whether we lost a game. This team continues to pour into each other, pour into the process, pour into my staff. I love that we were able to win today.
“Obviously, it’s a big win, but being on senior day, for our seniors who have done so much for this program. This was a really special day. Sasha might have been one of my first phone calls when I got the job. She was committed, and I wanted to keep her committed, and now I can’t get rid of her. That’s very rare in the landscape now. Jada was one of our first recruits, and then you look at Justine, and how highly talented she was, and she picked us. Then Ndjakalenga went to a Final Four last year, and she came here for her last year. How cool is that? Then on top of it, you add a huge win, I think, that ties us now, for the school record for SEC wins, but we’re putting our head down. We’re going to enjoy today, going to spend time with the families, putting our head down, and we’re going to keep working, because we have another couple of big games coming up this week.”
Up Next
The No. 5/6 Commodores close out the 2025-26 regular-season home slate on Thursday, as Vanderbilt welcomes No. 25/24 Alabama. Tipoff against the Crimson Tide is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and streams live on SEC Network+.
Dore Notes
- The Commodores have posted 25 wins in a season for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign
- It is the first time since 2008-09 that Vanderbilt has collected 25-plus wins in a season
- Vanderbilt’s 25 victories this season are tied with the 2007-08 team for the seventh-most wins in a season in school history
- Vanderbilt is now 35-28 all-time against Kentucky and 19-9 at Memorial Gym
- Vandy remains a perfect 15-0 at home this season
- The Dores’ 15-straight wins at home this season mark the longest winning streak in a single season in program history
- Vanderbilt’s 15-consecutive home wins is tied for the second-longest stretch since 1999-00, as Vanderbilt also won 16-straight games between the 2000-01 and 2001-02 season
- Sophomore Mikayla Blakes extended her double-digit scoring streak to 47 games
- Blakes recorded her fourth-straight 30-point performance against a top-25 team
- It is Blakes fifth time scoring 30 or more points over her last six games
- Today’s 35-point effort marks Blakes’10th game this season with 30 or more points
- Blakes has now had nine SEC games with 30-plus points, which is the most by an SEC player this century
- Galvan records her 18th game this season with 10-plus points, while it is her third career game with 20 or more points
- Aiyana Mitchell made her second career start, her first since Dec. 1, 2024, vs. Appalachian State
- Mitchell recorded her eighth double-digit scoring performance of the season with 12 points
- Senior Jada Brown made her first start since Feb. 2, 2023, at Missouri
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