Vanderbilt Upsets No. 4 Texas 86-70

Mikayla Blakes scores 34 points to lead the Commodores to victory.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In a matchup of top-5 women's college basketball teams, No. 5 Vanderbilt defeated No. 4 Texas 86-70 behind a dominant performance from NCAA scoring leader Mikayla Blakes, who scored 34 points. Aubrey Galvan added 18 points and 8 rebounds for the Commodores, who led by as many as 26 points in the second half before Texas made a late push.

Why it matters

This win over a highly ranked opponent boosts Vanderbilt's NCAA Tournament resume and keeps them in the hunt for a high seed. For Texas, the loss drops them out of the top 4 and raises questions about their ability to compete with the nation's elite teams.

The details

Vanderbilt took control of the game in the first quarter, going on a 14-0 run to take a 27-15 lead after the opening frame. They led 47-30 at halftime, with Blakes scoring 15 points and Galvan adding 13. The Commodores extended their lead to 26 points in the third quarter before Texas made a late rally, but Vanderbilt held on for the 86-70 victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Mikayla Blakes

The NCAA scoring leader, who raised her average to 26.2 points per game with her 34-point performance.

Aubrey Galvan

Vanderbilt forward who scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the win.

Madison Booker

Texas guard who led the Longhorns with 20 points and 8 rebounds.

Breya Cunningham

Texas forward who scored 14 points before fouling out late in the third quarter.

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What’s next

Texas will look to bounce back on Sunday when they travel to face No. 22 Tennessee, while Vanderbilt will visit Georgia on the same day.

The takeaway

Vanderbilt's dominant performance against a top-5 opponent demonstrates their ability to compete with the nation's elite teams and solidifies their status as a legitimate national title contender.