ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – No. 17-ranked Vanderbilt posted its largest comeback under head coach Shea Ralph, as the Commodores erased a 16-point deficit to collect an 84-71 come-from-behind victory against BYU to win the Island Division at the 2025 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
Vanderbilt had to withstand a hot start from BYU, as the Cougars made eight of their first 10 shots from behind the arc in the opening stanza and led by 16 points at 32-16 in the opening stages of the second quarter.
Vandy went on a 13-0 run midway through the second frame to make it a one-possession game at 32-29 after a 3-pointer from freshman Aubrey Galvan with 5:08 remaining before halftime. The Dores ended the opening half on an 11-5 run to take a one-point lead into the locker room at 40-39.
Vanderbilt never trailed in the second half, as the Commodores held BYU to only three more 3-point field goals over the last two quarters. The Dores outscored the Cougars 44-32 over the final two frames, as Vanderbilt shot 46.9 percent and limited BYU to a 37.5 percent success rate from the floor in the second half.
With the victory, Vanderbilt claims the Island Division title at the 2025 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. The Commodores improve to 8-0 on the season, as they go undefeated in the month of November.
Vandy erased a 16-point deficit to post the largest come-from-behind win in the Ralph era. It is the tied for the the second-largest comeback win since 2013-14 and the third-largest since 1999-00. It is the first time Vandy erased a 16-plus-point deficit since the 16-point come-from-behind win against Ole Miss on Feb. 5, 2015.
Sophomore Mikayla Blakes was named the Island Division MVP and to the All-Tournament team at the Paradise Jam after she scored a game-high 27 points and dished out six assists in the championship game against BYU. Blakes averaged 31.0 points in two games in the Virgin Islands.
Senior Justine Pissott was named to the Island Division All-Tournament team after she averaged 17.5 points and 4.5 3-pointers per game this week. Pissott capped off her week in the U.S. Virgin Islands by recording her first career double-double. The 6-4 guard scored a career-high 18 points and pulled down a personal-best 10 rebounds.
Freshman Aubrey Galvan rounded out Vandy’s group of double-figure scorers on Saturday, as the point guard had 16 points and five assists. Graduate Sacha Washington posted double-digit rebounds for the third time this season with a game-high 12 caroms and she handed out a season-high six assists.
Vanderbilt shot 41.1 percent in the game and made 11 3-point field goals. The Dores outscored BYU 30-22 in points in the paint, while forcing the Cougars into 19 turnovers that turned into 30 points.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on the Win
“It’s always great to be tested the way we were today. I don’t love being in that position. We gave up way too many wide-open looks in the first quarter. BYU made its first eight shots from behind the arc, and that’s going to happen in the game of basketball. You’ve got to learn how to respond and learn how to fight. Great teams fight back, and they’re never done, and today I thought we looked like a great team.”
Up Next
No. 17 Vanderbilt returns to Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday, as the Commodores host Virginia in the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge. Tipoff against Virginia is set for 4 p.m. CT and airs live on SEC Network.
The contest against the Cavaliers opens a five-game homestand that goes through the entire month of December. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking the link here.
Dores Notes
- Vanderbilt wins its first multi-team event since capturing the title at the 2023 South Point Shootout in Las Vegas
- Vandy matched its second-largest comeback since the 2013-14 and its the third-largest come-from-behind win this century, as the Dores overcame a 16-point deficit against BYU
- The last time Vanderbilt came back after trailing by 16 points came on Feb. 5, 2015, when Vandy posted a 58-54 win over Ole Miss
- The Commodores improve to 2-0 all-time against BYU
- Vandy is now 4-4 all-time at the Paradise Jam.
- Mikayla Blakes extends her double-digit scoring streak to 27 games
- Blakes has now scored 10-plus points in 40 of her 41 career games at Vanderbilt
- It is the 27th game that Blakes has tallied 20-plus points in a game
- Justine Pissott scored a career-best 18 points in the win over BYU, surpassing her previous best of 17 points, which she had done twice, most recently on Thursday night vs. Oregon State
- Pissott records her first double-double with an 18-point, 10-rebound effort
- Pissott’s 16 points mark the fourth time at Vanderbilt she has registered 15-plus points in a game
- Aubrey Galvan and Justine Pissott have each scored double-digit points in three straight games for the first time in their collegiate careers
- Galvan also had five assists to go along with her 12 points
- It is Galvan’s sixth game this season with five or more assists
- Sacha Washington’s 12 rebounds mark the third time this season she has collected 10 or more rebounds in a game
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