No. 2 seed Vanderbilt powered past No. 7 Illinois with a 75–57 win, securing its first trip to the Sweet 16 in the women’s NCAA Tournament since 2009. Leading the charge was Mikayla Blakes, who scored 25 points and nearly recorded a triple-double with 10 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals in a standout all-around performance.
Vanderbilt (29–4) continues one of the best seasons in program history and now sits just one win away from a 30-win milestone. Strong support came from Justine Pissott with 18 points and Aubrey Galvan adding 12, helping the Commodores maintain control throughout the game.
After a slow start, Vanderbilt took over early and never looked back, using key scoring runs and hot shooting especially from beyond the arc to build a comfortable lead. Illinois showed flashes of momentum but couldn’t overcome Vanderbilt’s consistency and defensive pressure.
With the win, Vanderbilt advances to face No. 6 Notre Dame in the regional semifinal, keeping their championship hopes alive and signaling a major step forward for the program.
