News Summary
Vanderbilt University is celebrating a remarkable achievement with Mikayla Blakes being named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Blakes has been a standout player, scoring an average of 23.3 points per game and recently breaking multiple scoring records. This includes a phenomenal performance against Florida, where she scored 53 points in a single game. Her success has energized the Commodores, who finished the season with a solid record and are looking to continue their momentum into the future.
Exciting Times in Nashville: Mikayla Blakes Takes the Spotlight!
Nashville has been buzzing lately, and it’s not just because of the music scene! The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team has been making headlines, thanks largely to their sensational freshman, Mikayla Blakes. She’s just been crowned the 2024-25 SEC Freshman of the Year, a title that’s certainly well-deserved!
A Historic Achievement for Vanderbilt
For those keeping score at home, this is a significant moment for the Commodores. Blakes is the first player from Vanderbilt to earn the SEC Freshman of the Year honor since Donna Harris did back in the 1989-90 season. On top of that, the league’s coaches have recognized her talent by voting her onto both the All-SEC first team and the All-SEC freshman team. She has made history by becoming the first freshman to land a first-team All-SEC spot since South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston in 2020.
Record-Breaking Performances
Mikayla hasn’t just been a standout player; she’s been a scoring machine! Averaging a jaw-dropping 23.3 points per game, she’s also ranking in the top 20 nationally across six categories. Remarkably, she stands out even more as the only freshman in the top 35 nationally for scoring. Just when you think she can’t shine any brighter, she steps on the court and defies expectations!
Big Moments and Big Wins
In a thrilling encounter against the No. 15 Tennessee team, Blakes scored a game-high 23 points and even made the game-winning putback shot! This victory marked a momentous occasion as it was the first time since 2014 that both the men’s and women’s teams from Vanderbilt defeated Tennessee on the same weekend. Talk about a double whammy!
Shattering Records
But that’s not all! Mikayla Blakes set the court ablaze when she scorched Florida by scoring 53 points in a single game, breaking the previous NCAA true freshman single-game scoring record of 51 points held by JuJu Watkins of USC. She also broke the SEC’s single-game scoring record, which was established by Jocelyn Penn of LSU back in 2003. And let’s not forget, she smashed the previous Vanderbilt women’s basketball scoring record of 42 points set by her teammate, Khamil Pierre.
A Game for the Ages
In that record-setting game against Florida, Mikayla hit 16-of-24 field-goal attempts, made five-of-nine three-point attempts, and was a remarkable 16-of-18 from the free-throw line! Not only was she lighting it up on the scoreboard, but she also added three rebounds, three steals, and two assists to her impressive stat line while playing all but 34 seconds of the contest. What a workhorse!
Continuing to Impress
It’s not just a flash in the pan—Blakes previously set the Vanderbilt freshman scoring record with 36 points against Georgia earlier this season. She’s also the first Commodores freshman to score 30 or more points in back-to-back games—an impressive streak that is turning heads!
Building Momentum
The Commodores finished their recent season with a solid 15-4 overall record and 2-3 in conference play. Adding to their success, their recent win against Florida was their first victory there in a decade. The momentum is building as they’ve now strung together four straight SEC wins, the first such streak since the 2013-14 season!
What’s Next?
As Vanderbilt continues to celebrate Blakes’ achievements and the team’s success, it’s clear that a bright future awaits! If you haven’t yet taken notice of this rising star, now is the perfect time to pay attention to what she will accomplish next. Nashville is excited, and the excitement is just beginning!
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Additional Resources
- News Channel 5
- Wikipedia: Mikayla Blakes
- Vanderbilt Hustler
- Google Search: Mikayla Blakes
- Tennessean
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mikayla Blakes
- WKRN
- Google News: Mikayla Blakes
