NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team’s perfect start to the season was never in doubt Thursday night, as the Commodores used a dominant first quarter and a third-quarter explosion to overwhelm Auburn 81-53 in a Southeastern Conference matchup at Memorial Gymnasium.

Vanderbilt, one of the nation’s last remaining unbeaten teams, improved to 20-0 overall. Auburn fell to 13-7.

The Commodores set the tone immediately, sprinting to a 23-12 lead after the first quarter. Auburn’s offense struggled against Vanderbilt’s defensive pressure, committing five turnovers in the opening period. The Tigers found a brief rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring Vanderbilt 17-10 to cut the deficit to 33-29 at halftime, offering a glimmer of hope for an upset.

That hope was extinguished decisively after the break. Vanderbilt unleashed its most potent offensive stretch of the night in the third quarter, outscoring Auburn 27-12 to blow the game open. The Commodores shot efficiently, shared the ball and capitalized on Auburn’s mistakes, turning a four-point halftime lead into a 60-41 advantage entering the final period. The surge was fueled by a balanced attack and stifling defense that held Auburn to just 12 points in both the third and fourth quarters.

The most important part of the game was Vanderbilt’s immediate and overwhelming response to start the second half. After Auburn had clawed back into contention, the Commodores reasserted control with authority, removing any doubt about the outcome and showcasing the form that has carried them to 20 consecutive victories.

Vanderbilt’s offense operated with precision, finishing the game shooting 50% from the field. They also won the battle on the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points and held a 40-36 edge in points in the paint. Auburn was hampered by 18 turnovers, which Vanderbilt converted into 22 points.

Aubrey Galvan, Vanderbilt’s standout guard from Deerfield, Illinois, orchestrated the victory with a double-double, scoring 15 points and dishing out 10 assists. Sacha Washington of Lawrenceville, Georgia, provided a powerful interior presence with a game-high 18 points. Mikayla Blakes of Somerset, New Jersey, added 20 points and five assists, while Justine Pissott of Toms River, New Jersey, contributed 10 points and two blocks.

Auburn was led by Harissoum Coulibaly of Paris, France, who scored 13 points. Kaitlyn Duhon of Houston, Texas, added 11 points, and A’riel Jackson of Brooklyn, New York, finished with 10. The Tigers shot just 40.7% from the field and a costly 50% from the free-throw line.

The announced attendance was 3,241.

Vanderbilt, which entered the game as a 21.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, will next face a major test on the road against South Carolina on Sunday. Auburn returns home to host Oklahoma on Sunday.