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Huge win on the road at #19 Alabama. I've been saying for a couple weeks that Sarah Ashlee Barker would return to the Tide lineup just in time for Vanderbilt, and, not only did she return after being absent since Jan. 2 with an ankle injury, she responded with a career high 36 points. Vandy just can't guard her. Luckily, the Tide had an equally hard time handling Mikayla Blakes, and the Commodore freshman poured in 33 points.

 
Postgame presser by Shea -- this response starting 2:49 in particular addresses the big picture of how she feels at Vanderbilt. I hope Geno coaches to age 100 and I hope we manage to hold on to her regardless.



Also notable that she led off talking about her esteem for Bama's Kristy Curry. I hunted down Curry's postgame and she was similarly effusive about Shea.
 
Vandy ranked at 23 in the AP poll today. First time in 11 years being ranked. Doesn't matter in terms of the selection committee anymore, but it's nice to have your name out there and for bragging rights. For the record, they did briefly make the coaches' poll at #24 last year but not the AP poll.

apnews.com

AP Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll

The official page for the AP Top 25 women's college basketball poll. Keep up to date and view the latest NCAA women's basketball ranking updates each week for the 2025-26 season.
apnews.com apnews.com
 
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YoDore said:
Vandy ranked at 23 in the AP poll today. First time in 11 years being ranked. Doesn't matter in terms of the selection committee anymore, but it's nice to have your name out there and for bragging rights.

apnews.com

AP Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll

The official page for the AP Top 25 women's college basketball poll. Keep up to date and view the latest NCAA women's basketball ranking updates each week for the 2025-26 season.
apnews.com apnews.com
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I’m crazy happy for Shea and team.
 
YoDore said:
Vandy ranked at 23 in the AP poll today. First time in 11 years being ranked. Doesn't matter in terms of the selection committee anymore, but it's nice to have your name out there and for bragging rights.

apnews.com

AP Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll

The official page for the AP Top 25 women's college basketball poll. Keep up to date and view the latest NCAA women's basketball ranking updates each week for the 2025-26 season.
apnews.com apnews.com
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IMG_6042.jpeg
 
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PhilipVU94 said:
Postgame presser by Shea -- this response starting 2:49 in particular addresses the big picture of how she feels at Vanderbilt. I hope Geno coaches to age 100 and I hope we manage to hold on to her regardless.



Also notable that she led off talking about her esteem for Bama's Kristy Curry. I hunted down Curry's postgame and she was similarly effusive about Shea.
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Shea is just amazing at press conferences. She does a great job clearly and consistently selling both the university and her program.
 
I would actually be surprised if she came back to Connecticut after Geno retired. Vanderbilt made a good decision to hire her and they continue to support her. It's a good place for her. That said, I can make the argument for her coming back to Connecticut as well.
 
Vandy freshman Mikayla Blakes receives the United State Basketball Writers Association "Freshman of the Week" award for the second week in a row. She also was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season. This week, she shares the latter award with Joyce Edwards of South Carolina.

 
Congrats to Mikayla. If you're reading this thread you likely already know about her 53 points tonight at Florida -- SEC record and national freshman record (record just under a year old, in fact).

Also a nice win against an opponent that has given us trouble at times. Way to go, Dores!
 
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Coach Ralph and Mikayla Blakes after Florida game where Blakes set an SEC record and broke the NCAA freshman single-game scoring record with 53 points. JuJu Watkins had the record with a 51-point performance last season.

 
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RoadMaster said:
Swipe..
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Wow.
As a resident of Northern NJ, I knew Blakes was good and for awhile, there was some mutual interest between Ms. Blakes and Notre Dame, my educational and rooting interest. However, she chose Vandy, which certainly one had to respect for all kinds of reasons, athletic and academic.

I knew she was good, but recently she's morphed into a dominating guard. Way to go. Will be interesting in how she matches up against very physical and defensive Ole Miss team.
 
Mikayla just a frosh!

Season so far:

Points per game: 22.4
Rebounds per game 3.1
.Assists per game: 3.1
Field goal percentage 46.9

We have a pretty fair frosh at UConn...wonder who wins the award of Best Frosh of the
Year?

I wonder if either one [or both] gets on first team AA?

Sarah has better talent surrounding her...that might explain the higher ppg for Mikayla...then again
it also might mean Vandy's opponents first focus on defense is Blakes.
 
Blakeon18 said:
Mikayla just a frosh!

Season so far:

Points per game: 22.4
Rebounds per game 3.1
.Assists per game: 3.1
Field goal percentage 46.9

We have a pretty fair frosh at UConn...wonder who wins the award of Best Frosh of the
Year?

I wonder if either one [or both] gets on first team AA?

Sarah has better talent surrounding her...that might explain the higher ppg for Mikayla...then again
it also might mean Vandy's opponents first focus on defense is Blakes.
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Great points and questions. To me, they're both thriving in great situations which bodes well, not only for both teams but the NCAA as a whole. The more storylines to follow, the better for the game.
 
Blakeon18 said:
Mikayla just a frosh!

Season so far:

Points per game: 22.4
Rebounds per game 3.1
.Assists per game: 3.1
Field goal percentage 46.9

We have a pretty fair frosh at UConn...wonder who wins the award of Best Frosh of the
Year?

I wonder if either one [or both] gets on first team AA?

Sarah has better talent surrounding her...that might explain the higher ppg for Mikayla...then again
it also might mean Vandy's opponents first focus on defense is Blakes.
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Teams are getting very physical with her. Mark Schindler, the host of "They've Got Now," said on a recent podcast that Mikayla is getting thrown around like a rag doll, but she just bounces up and keeps going. She took a beating at Florida Thursday night, and it was not dirty play. Just physical. I expect her to get mugged at every turn Sunday against Ole Miss, but it doesn't seem to bother her all that much so far. She scored 19 against Ole miss in Oxford on 8 of 16 shooting and had five rebounds. She needs Iyana Moore to step up and take some pressure off and for Khamil Pierre to break out of a two-game slump.
 
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Ole Miss 76 Vanderbilt 61

Assistant coach Ashley Earley pretty well summed it up after the game on the radio:

“Hats off to Ole Miss. They seem to have our number. Every time we play them, they out-hustle us. They are the tougher team.”

On a positive note, Khamil Pierre, who had been struggling the past couple games, bounced back with 24 points and 7 rebounds. But, Mikayla Blakes picked up two early fouls and sat out part of the first period then picked up her third foul two minutes into the second quarter and sat out the rest of the half. She wound up with 16, almost all in the second half, but Ole Miss was in control the final three periods.
 
Mikayla Blakes has been named the United States Basketball Writer's Association (USBWA) Freshman of the Week for the third straight week after her record-breaking, 53-point performance at Florida.




Plus........

 
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Every team needs a Jordyn Oliver. She is invaluable to the Commodores. She has played every position from 1 to 5. Both Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre, who get the lion's share of attention, have credited Oliver for being a leader and a calming influence on the floor.

 
Mikayla Blakes wins her sixth SEC Freshman of the Week award.



FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK​

Mikayla Blakes • Vanderbilt
Mikayla Blakes scored 22 points, pulled down four rebounds, and collected three steals at No. 4/6 Texas last Thursday. Blakes extended her double-digit scoring streak to 10 games with a 22-point performance at No. 4/6 Texas. The guard shot 57.1 percent from the field and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Blakes pulled down four rebounds, tallied three steals, and dished out two assists against the Longhorns. The Somerset, New Jersey, native posted her 15th game of the season with 20 or more points. Blakes is averaging 22.8 points in five games vs. ranked opponents this season. Her 22-point performance marked the freshman’s seventh SEC game in which she scored 20-plus points.
 
Vandy's new practice facility, The Huber Center, was recently dedicated. It's said to be the largest in the country, and those who have seen it say it is state of the art. In addition to separate practice courts for the men and women, there is a large weight room, recreation areas, film rooms, training rooms and dining facilities. Here's a brief video tour. I keep hoping someone will do a full, guided tour:

 
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YoDore said:
Nice bit of recognition for coach Ralph.

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IMHO, as much as I hate to admit it, she's gonna stay there when there's an opening in, ahem, a certain northeast school. She's from NC, and imagine what a few more top players (incoming or portal) would do for the program.
 
Geew1992 said:
30 points in 10 mins and 55 secs. Absolutely amazing but how many were with the clock stopped???
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Not sure. I know she hit five free throws in the final seven seconds of regulation, including three with .9 seconds left to send the game to overtime. She hit five more in OT, completing a 23 of 24 performance at the line. She missed the last one after hitting 23 in a row. She also had 5 assists and 5 rebounds. It was truly a remarkable performance that I won't ever forget.

 
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