Vanderbilt women's hoops storms to NCAA tournament first-round win

Sophomore star Mikayla Blakes breaks school scoring record in rout of High Point

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:52am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team defeated the High Point Panthers 102-61 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Vanderbilt sophomore Mikayla Blakes scored 30 points, breaking the school's single-season scoring record previously held by Wendy Scholtens.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt's dominant win in the NCAA tournament first round marks the team's first appearance in the second round since 2013, showcasing the program's resurgence. Blakes' record-breaking performance highlights her individual excellence and the Commodores' potent offensive attack.

The details

The No. 2 seed Vanderbilt Commodores led wire-to-wire against the No. 15 seed High Point Panthers, cruising to a 41-point victory. Sophomore star Mikayla Blakes poured in 30 points, surpassing the previous school record of 855 points in a season set by Wendy Scholtens. Blakes now has 867 points on the year and will look to add to that total as Vanderbilt advances to the second round.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Blakes broke the school's single-season scoring record during the second quarter of the game.

The players

Mikayla Blakes

A sophomore standout for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team who scored 30 points in the NCAA tournament first-round win, breaking the school's single-season scoring record.

Wendy Scholtens

The previous holder of Vanderbilt's single-season scoring record with 855 points, which was surpassed by Mikayla Blakes in this game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“She is a walking bucket, folks 👏”

— Lauren Walsh, Sports reporter

“Blakes is so fun to watch. Cool to see her make history here tonight in the NCAA Tournament with this record. She has 21 points with 2:49 left in the 2nd quarter.”

— Lauren Walsh, Sports reporter

What’s next

Vanderbilt will face the winner of the Colorado vs. Illinois game in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The date and time of that second-round matchup at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville have yet to be announced.

The takeaway

Vanderbilt's dominant first-round win and Mikayla Blakes' record-breaking performance showcase the Commodores' return to national prominence in women's basketball. The team's deep tournament run could inspire a new generation of fans and players in the Nashville community.