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Vanderbilt Today
By the People, for the People
UK Looks to Enhance NCAA Resume with Win at Vanderbilt
Kentucky faces tough test against No. 5 Vanderbilt, led by nation's top scorer Mikayla Blakes
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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Kentucky's women's basketball team has a chance to greatly improve its NCAA Tournament resume with a win over No. 5 Vanderbilt on the road. The Wildcats nearly beat the Commodores in their previous matchup, but Vanderbilt rallied in the fourth quarter for an 83-82 victory. Kentucky has been playing well lately, with impressive wins over ranked opponents, but will need to limit turnovers and contain Vanderbilt's high-powered offense led by freshman sensation Mikayla Blakes, the nation's leading scorer.
Why it matters
A win over a top-5 opponent like Vanderbilt would significantly boost Kentucky's chances of hosting NCAA Tournament games next month. The Wildcats are already in good position, but an additional marquee victory could solidify their resume and seeding. This game also features two of the top teams in the SEC battling it out.
The details
In the first matchup, Kentucky led Vanderbilt by 9 points in the fourth quarter before the Commodores stormed back for the 83-82 win. Kentucky shot the ball extremely well, making 58.4% from the field and outrebounding Vanderbilt 39-21, but 20 turnovers led to 25 Vanderbilt points. Freshman Mikayla Blakes, the nation's leading scorer at 26.2 points per game, fueled Vanderbilt's fourth-quarter comeback. Kentucky will need to take better care of the ball and find a way to slow down Blakes and Vanderbilt's high-powered offense, which averages 85 points per game and makes 9.7 3-pointers per contest.
- The game was originally scheduled for 2 p.m. EST but has been moved to a 4 p.m. EST start and will be televised on ESPN2.
- Kentucky is coming off a week-long break since its last game, a win over Ole Miss.
The players
Mikayla Blakes
A freshman sensation for Vanderbilt, Blakes is the nation's leading scorer at 26.2 points per game.
Amelia Hassett
The Kentucky guard could provide a boost with her 3-point shooting against Vanderbilt.
What’s next
The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a top seed in the SEC Tournament and improving their NCAA Tournament seeding.
The takeaway
This matchup between two top-20 teams in the country should be an exciting, high-scoring affair. Kentucky has the talent to pull off the upset, but will need to limit turnovers and find a way to slow down Vanderbilt's dynamic freshman scorer Mikayla Blakes. A win for the Wildcats would be a major boost to their NCAA Tournament resume.
