Mikayla Blakes scored 28 points to power No. 15 Vanderbilt to an 81-68 victory over Virginia on Wednesday afternoon in Nashville, Tenn.
Virginia led by a point after the first quarter, but Vanderbilt outscored the visitors 45-22 over the next two frames to pull away. The Commodores went on to lead by as much as 28 points in the opening game of the annual ACC/SEC Challenge.
Blakes collected a good chunk of her scoring at the charity stripe – making 12-of-13 free throws – and also tallied seven rebounds and seven assists for the Commodores (9-0). Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda added 16 points and Sacha Washington chipped in 13 for Vandy.
Kymora Johnson steered the Cavaliers (6-3) with 22 points and seven assists. Paris Clark scored 12 points, and Adeang Ring had 10.
No. 17 Kentucky 64, Miami 48
Tonie Morgan scored 20 points to help the Wildcats beat the Hurricanes in Coral Gables, Florida.
Kentucky (9-1) also got a boost from Clara Strack, who stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals. Teonni Key added 11 points for the Wildcats in their second win this season over an ACC opponent.
Ra Shaya Kyle paced Miami (5-3) with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Gal Raviv scored 12 points. The Wildcats capitalized on Miami’s miscues, turning 15 turnovers by the Hurricanes into 25 points. Kentucky also held Miami to a season-worst shooting percentage from 3-point land, allowing the Hurricanes to make just 2-of-18 shots from behind the arc (11.1%).
–Field Level Media
