NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by its final frantic seconds, Mikayla Blakes scored 35 points and Aubrey Galvan hit the decisive jumper with seven seconds remaining to lift the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team to an 81-79 victory over Kentucky in a Southeastern Conference thriller on Sunday at Memorial Gymnasium.

The win, witnessed by a crowd of 6,277, avenged a one-point loss the Commodores suffered to the Wildcats just over two weeks prior and solidified Vanderbilt’s status as a conference contender, improving its record to 25-3 overall. Kentucky fell to 20-8.

The contest was a tense, back-and-forth affair that saw 12 ties and 15 lead changes, with neither team able to build a cushion larger than six points. It ultimately hinged on a sequence of critical plays in the game’s final half-minute.

With the score knotted at 77 and under a minute to play, Kentucky’s Clara Strack turned the ball over on a steal by Vanderbilt’s Justine Pissott. The Commodores worked the clock before Galvan, who finished with 20 points and five assists, calmly sank a pull-up jump shot from the left elbow to put Vanderbilt ahead 79-77 with just seven ticks on the clock.

Kentucky, without a timeout to advance the ball, rushed upcourt. Senior guard Tonie Morgan, who orchestrated the Wildcats’ offense all afternoon with nine assists, drove hard to the basket and converted a layup while being fouled with 3.3 seconds remaining. The shot tied the game at 79, but Morgan missed the potential go-ahead free throw.

Vanderbilt’s Blakes secured the crucial defensive rebound and was immediately fouled. The sophomore guard from Somerset, New Jersey, who played all 40 minutes, then calmly sank both free throws with 2.1 seconds left to reclaim an 81-79 lead. Kentucky’s desperation heave from beyond half-court was off target, sealing the Commodores’ dramatic victory.

The game was a showcase for Blakes, who continued a remarkable scoring surge. Following recent performances of 27, 34, and 34 points, her 35-point effort on Sunday was a masterclass in offensive versatility. She attacked the rim, hit step-back jumpers, and connected four times from beyond the arc, carrying the Commodores whenever Kentucky threatened to pull away.

Kentucky was led by a balanced and physical attack. Center Clara Strack of Buffalo, New York, dominated the interior with 17 points and four blocked shots, while forward Amelia Hassett, from New South Wales, Australia, provided a major spark with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Asia Boone added 13 points and Teonni Key contributed 10 for the Wildcats.

The first half set the tone for the nail-biter, featuring eight ties and seven lead changes. Kentucky’s early outside shooting, led by Boone and Hassett, helped them secure a narrow 46-44 lead at halftime. Vanderbilt stayed close thanks to the relentless scoring of Blakes and Galvan, who combined for 31 of the team’s 44 first-half points.

The third quarter was a defensive grind, with both teams struggling to find consistent offense. Kentucky managed only 19 points in the period but held Vanderbilt to 17, taking a slim 65-61 lead into the final frame. The fourth quarter became a possession-by-possession battle, with the lead changing hands five times before the final dramatic exchange.

Vanderbilt’s efficiency in the paint, where they outscored Kentucky 30-26, and their ability to capitalize on Kentucky’s 14 turnovers, scoring 13 points off them, proved vital in such a tight contest. The Commodores also won despite being projected as a 5.5-point favorite and seeing the total score soar past the over/under line of 145.5.

The victory gives Vanderbilt momentum heading into the final stretch of the SEC schedule, with a home game against Alabama next. Kentucky, which has now lost two of its last three, looks to rebound on the road at Auburn. The season series between these two teams concludes split, with each protecting its home court by the narrowest of margins.