Vanderbilt Sends Illinois Home, Blakes Passes McDonald on Sophomore All-Time Scoring List
Commodores Eliminate the Fighting Illini
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the last time this season, the Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball team took the floor in Memorial as they played host to the Illinois Fighting Illini in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, and took a 75-57 win over the Fighting Illini.
The Illini came into this game with confidence and felt they were built for the moment, and for the first few minutes of the game they looked the part with tough defense. Then Vanderbilt kicked in and ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run to lead 21-8.
Mikayla Blakes, Justine Pissott, and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda each had five in the opening quarter, but a huge contributor that showed up to help gain momentum was Aiyana Mitchell. Mitchell brought solid rebounding and defense all night.
The Illini also had no room for comfortable shots, starting the game 0-for-7 from beyond the arc before hitting one with 8:05 to go in the second quarter.
Justine Pissott was in the zone early with 10 first-half points, shooting 4-for-8 from the field including a couple of three-pointers. Mikayla Blakes joined her with 10 at the break as well, and the Dores went to half with an 11-point lead at 36-25.
I felt the offensive flow just wasn’t totally there yet in the first half. Illinois did play a tight and physical brand of defense, and toed the line as much as they could to try and keep Blakes and Galvan from getting great shots.
But Pissott was on a mission in her last game in Memorial to come through with shots early when they were needed.
“I think for me, I told Coach Kev this before the game, I said, I’ll fall out on the court if I have to. I knew it was my last game here in Memorial, and as much as this program and everyone around me has given to me, I just wanted to give it back one last time,” said Pissott.
The Commodores also made it tough on Illinois with tough defense. Vanderbilt made a point tonight to make it as uncomfortable as they could. That was a major factor in the Fighting Illini shooting just 25 percent in the first half.
Aiyana Mitchell was a defensive menace and on the boards. Mitchell at times this season has been such a great defender on the ball, and tonight was one of those nights. She was able to use her length and bother Illinois especially at close range.
I spoke with Mitchell afterwards about her defensive performance and job on the boards. She immediately spoke to how much the team means to her, and doing what she is capable of to help.
“I mean, this team means a lot to me and it means a lot. You know, we mean a lot to each other, so, just going out there, this is the last time we’re gonna get to play in Memorial with this group specifically,” said Mitchell. “So, just going out there, giving what I have. I know that I have the capability to do that. So just being able to do that for my team.”
The third quarter began as sort of a back-and-forth quarter. Illinois tried to keep within a manageable distance, but then Pissott, Galvan, and Blakes found their stroke in that third quarter with 5-of-7 coming from beyond the arc, which sent them to the fourth quarter with a 61-40 lead.
We’ve seen this several times this season. Once the shots begin to fall consistently, you look up and the Dores are up by nearly 20.
As for Illinois, they just couldn’t get in a groove to string together buckets and stops, and a big reason once again for that was the smart defense played by Mitchell and Blakes made sneaky defensive stops as well with some key steals.
When talking to Mitchell, she gave me a look from her mindset during the game, and what helps build up to those moments.
“I think the biggest thing is, just telling myself not to foul because I feel like it’s really easy to do that, and just sticking to my principles, and the stuff that we learn in practice,” said Mitchell. “The practice players challenge us every day to improve, and it really helped me.”
Mikayla Blakes was everywhere in the second half and quietly put herself in range of a triple-double, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, and 4 steals. Blakes went to work and led the pull away for Vanderbilt in this game, and in doing so she passed Aari McDonald as the NCAA’s All-Time Sophomore Scoring Leader.
Mikayla just continues to set new records and standards, and after the game I asked her about her latest accomplishment. She has no focus on the accolades and records, and doesn’t know she’s done something until we tell her about it.
“Thank you for telling me. It’s just exciting. To be able to do it in Memorial, have my family in the stands, be around my coaches, my teammates, as well. They’re the reason why I’m able to do the things I can, and without them I wouldn’t be here. It’s a great thing. I love it. I’m thankful for the people around me,” said Blakes.
Vanderbilt has officially closed out a perfect season inside Memorial Gym with an 18-0 record, and will set their sights on Fort Worth, Texas, where they will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sweet 16 on Friday at 1:00 PM CT.
Mikayla Blakes spoke afterwards about enjoying the win and then moving on. There is more work to be done.
“I’m going to appreciate it for tonight, but life goes on. Life moves on. We have more games to play, and we’re going to focus on that, but to be able to do it, this is what I came here to do. And to continue to do it, not just stop here, but for the upcoming years, as well, be able to compete for championships. I feel like this is a step in the right direction for this program.”
