Mikayla Blakes joins Angel Reese’s club as Vanderbilt star bags stunning feat after thrilling 81-79 win vs. Kentucky


Shooting guard Mikayla Blakes achieved a new milestone on Sunday.

According to a tweet by “ESPN Insights,” she joined former LSU Tigers star Angel Reese as the only SEC players with nine consecutive 20-point games following their 81-79 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

“Mikayla Blakes joins Angel Reese as the only SEC players in the past 15 years to put up 9 straight 20-point games,” the caption read.

Not only this, but the Vanderbilt star also became the first SEC player this century to have 10 30-point games in one season.

“ANOTHER MIKAYLA BLAKES MASTERCLASS. Blakes is the first SEC player this century with 10 30-point games in a season.”

Against the Wildcats, Blakes played all 40 minutes. She was the top scorer with 35 points, five rebounds and three assists. This victory helped the Commodores improve to a 25-3 record. In their last game, they had succumbed to a 76-74 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs.

While still in high school, Blakes had offers from programs like Indiana, Rutgers, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA and Wisconsin. However, she decided to commit to Vanderbilt for her collegiate career.

During her freshman career, the shooting guard averaged 23.3 points, 3.4 total rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. The Commodores qualified for the playoffs but were eliminated by Baylor in the first round.

This season, Blakes has averaged 26.6 points, 3.8 total rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game.


Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph compliments whole team after Mikayla Blakes’ performance during victory against Kentucky

In the postgame press conference, Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph had nothing but praise for her team and their performance.

She also highlighted how the victory was important as it was also the program’s senior day.

“I feel like it was a full team effort,” Ralph said as per the team’s website. “We really needed everyone, especially with Sasha being out today. But I could tell the week leading up, and especially this morning at shootaround, that they were locked in, not only for her, but for the seniors.

“I love the way that we continue to grow, whether we’re winning or, you know, whether we lost a game. This team continues to pour into each other, pour into the process, pour into my staff. I love that we were able to win this today.”

The Commodores next face Alabama on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT.