Mikayla Blakes storms past Vanderbilt women’s single-season scoring mark in NCAA opener

By Canadian Press on March 21, 2026.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — All-American Mikayla Blakes needed only part of the first half Saturday night of the NCAA Tournament to become the best single-season scorer in Vanderbilt women’s history.

Blakes came in with 837 points just 19 shy of the mark of 855 points set by Wendy Scholtens during the 1989-90 season, and the nation’s scoring leader had 23 by halftime against No. 15 seed High Point just four off her average of 27 a game.

That helped the second-seeded Commodores lead 54-32 at halftime.

The Vanderbilt guard led the Southeastern Conference averaging 30.5 points in league play, making her the SEC’s first player this century to average more than 30 a game. Blakes also leads the nation with 12 games this season scoring at least 30 points.

Blakes has reached double digits now in 51 games, one shy of the program’s record of 52 straight set by Chantelle Anderson during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press