Vanderbilt women’s basketball has seen its winning streak come to an end after a tough loss to South Carolina. The No. 4 Commodores (20-1, 6-1 SEC) faced a formidable challenge in their game against the No. 2 Gamecocks (20-2, 6-1) at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 25, ultimately falling 103-74.

Mikayla Blakes was the standout performer for Vanderbilt, scoring 23 points with seven rebounds and five assists. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda added 13 points and four rebounds, but no other player reached double digits. Despite making 12 three-pointers, the Commodores struggled to keep up with South Carolina, which hit 10 threes and forced 20 turnovers.

The game was marked by a dominant third quarter, where South Carolina outscored Vanderbilt 27-12. This helped the Gamecocks build an 82-56 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Earlier in the game, Vanderbilt briefly cut the deficit to seven, but South Carolina responded with a 15-2 run to take a 70-50 lead with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter.

In the second quarter, Vanderbilt showed some improvement but still found itself trailing 46-29 at the end of the period. Mikayla Blakes, Justine Pissott, and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda were all in foul trouble, which limited their impact on the game.

The first quarter proved to be a turning point, as South Carolina led 33-16. This was the most points Vanderbilt had allowed in a single quarter this season. The Commodores’ defense wasn’t the only issue—eight turnovers resulted in 14 points for the Gamecocks. Shea Ralph called a timeout just 1:38 into the game after South Carolina went on a 9-0 run fueled by three consecutive Vanderbilt turnovers.

Key Details About the Game

• Date: Sunday, Jan. 25
• Time: 2 p.m. CT
• Location: Colonial Life Arena

For those interested in watching the game, it was broadcast on ESPN and available for streaming via Fubo. Fans could also tune in via radio on 94.9 The Fan or through the Vanderbilt Athletics app.

Predictions and Injuries

Analysts predicted a close game, with South Carolina coming out ahead 77-70. Neither team had any players listed as injured beyond those who suffered season-ending injuries during the preseason, including Madison Greene and Chloe Kitts.

Upcoming Schedule for Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt’s next games will include:

• Jan. 29: at Ole Miss
• Feb. 1: Florida
• Feb. 5: at Kentucky
• Feb. 9: Oklahoma
• Feb. 12: Texas

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.

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