NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Senior Justine Pissott led Vanderbilt to a 96-46 victory over Texas Southern in a three-point barrage on Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium, as the No. 13/11 Commodores drilled a program record 18 threes en route to a 12-0 start for just the third time in program history.
In total, Vanderbilt shot 47.8 percent from the floor, including 43.9 percent from deep, while limiting Texas Southern to a season-low 26.3 shooting percentage. The Dores have now won 27-straight nonconference home games dating back to the 2022-23 campaign. They are 40-3 at Memorial Gym against non-SEC teams under head coach Shea Ralph. Vanderbilt moves to 2-0 all-time versus Texas Southern, with both wins coming by 50 points or more.
Pissott posted a career day for the black and gold, finish with career-bests in points with 25 and threes made with seven. She joins sophomore Mikayla Blakes and junior Aga Makurat as the only Commodores to score 20 or more this season. Pissott went 7-for-10 from behind the arc, marking the first time this season she has shot 70-percent from deep on a minimum of five attempts.
Blakes dropped 23 points in her 10th game with 20 or more in the scoring column. The performance extends her double-digit scoring streak to 31. Entering Saturday, it was the fourth-longest active stretch in NCAA Division I and the longest in the SEC. She has produced eight games with at least 20 points this season and is up to 29 such games throughout her career.
Pissott and Blakes are the first Commodore duo to each score 20 or more in the same game since Vandy’s 84-76 win over Tennessee in the second round of the 2025 SEC Tournament. All 12 players that entered the contest scored for the Dores.
The Commodores posted their seventh game with 40 or more rebounds, led by junior Aiyana Mitchell’s 10 boards, tying her career high. She also matched her career-best in steals with three, as Vanderbilt snatched 13 total while forcing 23 turnovers. It is the ninth game this season the team has generated double-digit steals.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on the Win
“I thought it was a really good game for us to work on a lot of things that we needed to get better at. Our first half was really good. I was impressed with our energy, the way we shared the ball and the way we shot the ball. There were some let-ups in the second half, but I thought for the most part we had some incredible contributions from everyone on the team. Our energy was high, and I know they are excited to get back home with their families. I’m excited that we were able to show up and perform today.”
Up Next
The Commodores will now take an extended break for the holiday season. Vanderbilt returns to action on Dec. 28, when the Dores welcome Stonehill to Memorial Gymnasium. Tipoff against the Skyhawks is set for 2 p.m. and streams live on SEC Network+.
Dore Notes
- Vanderbilt is off to a 12-0 start for just the third time in program history, joining the 1992-93 and 1995-96 teams
- The Commodores drilled a program record 18 threes on 43.9-percent shooting
- Vandy has won 27-straight nonconference home games dating back to the 2022-23 season and is now 40-3 at Memorial Gym against non-SEC teams under head coach Shea Ralph
- Vanderbilt has won 18 straight regular-season games vs. nonconference teams
- The Dores improved to 2-0 all-time against Texas Southern, with both wins against the Lady Tigers coming by at least 50 points
- The 46-9 first half score is the first time Vanderbilt allowed 10 or less in a half since Nov. 26, 2021, against Rutgers
- The black and gold held Texas Southern to four points in the second quarter, tied for the lowest points allowed in any quarter this season after limiting Tennessee State to four on Nov. 23
- Justine Pissott led Vanderbilt in scoring for the first time this season with a career-high 25 points
- Pissott shot 7-for-10 from behind the arc, marking a career-high in threes and a season-high in three-point percentage
- The senior is the third Commodore to score 20-plus points this season along with Mikayla Blakes and Aga Makurat
- Mikayla Blakes dropped 23 to extend her double-digit scoring streak to 31 straight games
- Blakes’ scoring stretch is the fourth longest in Division I and longest in the SEC
- The sophomore drilled four threes of her own, her third game this season with at least four from deep
- Pissott and Blakes are the first Commodore duo to each score 20 or more in the same contest since an 84-76 win against Tennessee in the second round of the 2025 SEC Tournament
- Aubrey Galvan had double-digit assists for the second time this season, finishing with 11
- Aiyana Mitchell matched her career-high in rebounds with 10, her second double-digit rebounding game this season
- Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda generated three blocks, tying her career-high
Follow Us
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, follow @VandyWBB on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter/X.
