NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Shea Ralph recruited Mikayla Blakes asking the guard to join her in doing the “uncommon thing” of building Vanderbilt back to the ranks of the nation’s best. They took a very big step Sunday with a 65-61 win over No. 5 LSU. It’s Vanderbilt’s first victory over a top five program since the 2008-09 season and the signature win for Ralph in her fifth season rebuilding this once proud Southeastern Conference program. The 15-0 Commodores now are poised to move Monday into the Top 10 for the first time since 2007. Ralph said this is part of the journey as the next step.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored 32 points and freshman Aubrey Galvan hit a 3-pointer with 2:05 left that put 12th-ranked Vanderbilt ahead for good in a 65-61 win Sunday over No. 5 LSU. The victory gave coach Shea Ralph her first win over a Top 5 program. Vanderbilt improved to 15-0 and is one of four undefeated teams in the nation. The Commodores continued the second-best in program history with only the 1992-93 Final Four team better with a 17-0 start. LSU led 49-42 early in the fourth but couldn't hold on. Flau'jae Johnson went scoreless for LSU.
UNDATED (AP) — Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller has declared for the NFL draft. Miller spent his entire collegiate career in Athens. After redshirting in 2022, he became a strong presence on the defensive line. Miller announced his decision on social media on Saturday, thanking Dawg Nation for their support. He earned AP All-SEC first-team honors after a dominant 2024-2025 season. He had one more year of NCAA eligibility.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Talaysia Cooper scored 18 points, Janiah Barker had 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and No. 23 Tennessee beat Auburn 73-56. Cooper made 7 of 12 from the field and Barker was 6-of-10 shooting, 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for Tennessee (10-3, 2-0 SEC). Khady Leye scored 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting for Auburn (11-5, 0-2). The rest of the Tigers players combined to shoot 29% (15 of 51) from the field. Tennessee made 7 of 14 from the field, 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and limited the Tigers to 16% (3 of 19) shooting in the first quarter to take a 22-9 lead into the second.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Jordan Lee scored 17 points, including a clutch layup and free throw late in the game, helping No. 2 Texas hold off a big rally by No. 15 Mississippi for a 67-64 win Sunday.Texas (17-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) led by 19 early in the third quarter and by 15 at the end of the period. But Cotie McMahon scored 12 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter for Mississippi (14-3, 1-1), and Latasha Lattimore had eight of her 17 in the final period, giving the Rebels a chance.But McMahon missed two free throws with 4.3 seconds left. Rori Harmon then missed a pair from the line for Texas with one second remaining, and McMahon’s long 3-point shot bounced off the rim as the game ended.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Clara Strack had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Tonie Morgan added 18 points and 14 assists and No. 11 Kentucky rolled to an eighth straight victory, beating Missouri 74-52. Strack made 7 of 18 shots with three 3-pointers for the Wildcats (15-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference). Morgan sank 7 of 11 shots — 2 of 3 from distance. It was the eighth double-double this season for Strack and the fourth for Morgan. Jordan Obi added 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting as Kentucky shot 44% from the floor and made 11 of 32 from 3-poiint range (34..4%). Grace Slaughter had 15 points and seven rebounds to pace the Tigers (12-5, 0-2).
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Anthony Robinson II had 19 points and eight rebounds as Missouri held off No. 22 Florida 76-74 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Mark Mitchell added 14 points, Jacob Crews had 13 and Trent Pierce scored 10 off the bench in his first game this season for the Tigers. Jayden Stone scored Missouri’s first eight points and finished with nine after missing the previous seven games with a hand injury. Thomas Haugh had 24 points and seven rebounds for the Gators. Alex Condon added 14 points, six assists and five boards.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Aaliyah Chavez scored 17 points and Zya Vann added 16 and 11 rebounds to help No. 8 Oklahoma rout cold-shooting Mississippi State 95-47 on Sunday. Raegan Beers chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Sooners (14-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference), who had a 64-37 rebound advantage. Six players scored in double figures for the Sooners, who have won 13 straight, the second-longest streak in program history behind a 20-game run by the 2008-09 Final Four team. Kharyssa Richardson scored 13 points off the bench for Mississippi State (14-2, 1-1), which lost for the first time since Nov. 20. The Bulldogs made 14 of 70 shots (20%), the lowest Oklahoma has allowed ever to a conference opponent. The previous mark was 20.7% by Texas Tech of the Big 12 Conference in 2014.
