NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt’s women opened the season with a blowout at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Monday, beating Lipscomb 112-53 for the program’s highest point total in a game since 1998.
Only a 116-point game against Hampton in November 1998 tops it in that span, and the 112 points set a school record for a season opener. The Commodores came in ranked No. 8, their highest preseason spot since they started at No. 3 in 2001, after reaching the Sweet 16 last season for the first time since 2008-09.
Reigning SEC Player of the Year Mikayla Blakes led the way with 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks in 27 minutes. Madison Greene added 19 off the bench, Aubrey Galvan had 16 points and 11 assists without a turnover, Mia Woolfolk scored 15 in her first game since transferring from Georgia, and Aiyana Mitchell had 10. All 12 players who got in the game scored.
Vanderbilt went up 13-2 in the first three minutes and was never threatened. The Commodores made 45 of 72 shots, 62.5 percent, held Lipscomb to 30.5 percent and owned the paint 62-16. Their lead grew as large as 63 points.
Lipscomb got a team-high 16 points from McKayla Miller, who also grabbed six boards. Tess Wiczek finished with a 10-point, seven-rebound line.
The afternoon tipoff was also Education Day, and the crowd of 7,023 included thousands of schoolchildren from around Nashville. Coach Shea Ralph, now 6-0 in openers at Vanderbilt, said she loved the energy in the building. The Commodores host Queens on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Central, while Lipscomb plays at Butler on Thursday.
Section: More Nashville TN sports news
Nashville sports business profiles
Filed under: Nashville TN Sports News
