NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It’s been another week chock-full of accolades for Vanderbilt women’s basketball freshman Mikayla Blakes, as the guard was named the Associated Press Women’s Basketball Player of the Week and the United State Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week.
Blakes becomes the first Vanderbilt women’s basketball player to earn AP Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, an award that began prior to the 2023-24 season. The Somerset, New Jersey, native also picked up her third-straight USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week selection. The guard is the only player this season to earn multiple national freshman weekly accolades from the USBWA.
For the week, Blakes averaged 34.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 assists in a pair of games. She set the NCAA true freshman single-game scoring record last Thursday, scoring 53 points in a 99-86 win at Florida. Blakes’ 53 points not only set the NCAA true freshman scoring record, but she also broke the SEC women’s basketball single-game scoring record that stood for over 22 years.
𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀@mikaylablakes earns 𝗔𝗣 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
Mik is the 1st Dore to win the award
⚓️⬇️#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/6xBWj5IeTb
— Vanderbilt WBB (No. 24) (@VandyWBB) February 4, 2025
Blakes’ 53 points are the most scored in a game by a first-year player at the NCAA Division I level, breaking JuJu Watkins’ NCAA true freshman single-game scoring record of 51 points, set by the Southern California standout last season.
Additionally, on Tuesday Blakes was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this season to tie her with Khamil Pierre for the most selections in school history. The guard also earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the second-straight week and the third time overall this season.
Introducing THE 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 @USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week, @mikaylablakes!!!
Mik’s 5⃣3⃣ Pts at Florida earns her a third-straight National Freshman of the Week selection!!!
⚓️⬇️#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/3UNhI4YKwV
— Vanderbilt WBB (No. 24) (@VandyWBB) February 4, 2025
Earlier this week, Blakes and sophomore Khamil Pierre were each selected to the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year Award midseason top 50 watch list. Blakes was additionally named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year top 10 watch list, as part of the Naismith Starting Five awards.
It is the second national player of the week selection by a publication for Blakes this season. Previously, on Jan. 21 she was named the NCAA.com Player of the Week. The guard was the AP National Player of the Week runner up on Jan. 28.
The Vanderbilt women’s basketball teams earned a second-straight week in both major women’s basketball polls this week. The Commodores are ranked No. 24 in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. It is the first time since the 2013-14 season that the Dores have spent multiple weeks in the top 25 in both major polls.
#️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ in @USATODAY/@WBCA1981 Coaches Poll
Dores are ranked in both major women’s college basketball poll for the second-straight week
⚓️⬇️#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/kIJPhzxDJC
— Vanderbilt WBB (No. 24) (@VandyWBB) February 4, 2025
The No. 24/24-ranked Commodores hit the road Thursday, as they travel to No. 4/6 Texas for a top-25 SEC matchup. Tipoff against the Longhorns is set for 8 p.m. CT and airs live on SEC Network. Check back with VUCommodores.com later this week for a full game preview.
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, follow @VandyWBB on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.