Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (11/03/2026) — The Vanderbilt Commodores opened their 2026 women's basketball season with a resounding 100-42 victory over the Queens University Royals at Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday night, delivering a statement performance powered by long-range shooting, ball movement, and relentless pressure.
Result
Vanderbilt led from the opening tip, never surrendered the advantage, and reached the century mark in a commanding display that left little doubt about the Commodores' offensive ceiling entering the season.
How It Happened
The script was written early. Mia Woolfolk opened the scoring with a layup at the 9:46 mark of the first quarter, and Vanderbilt's advantage steadily expanded from there. By the 6:46 mark, Olivia Jones buried a 25-foot three-pointer — assisted by Mikayla Blakes — to push the lead to 11-2. The Commodores' offense shifted into another gear as the first quarter wound down, with Blakes capping the period at the 0:23 mark by draining a 28-footer — assisted by Aiyana Mitchell — to send Vanderbilt into the break leading 38-4.
The Commodores finished shooting 56% from the field and 40% from three-point range, while generating 25 assists against just 18 turnovers. Queens shot 34% from the floor and 18% from deep, and 36 turnovers compounded the challenge throughout the night.
Turning Point
The decisive sequence arrived in a 34-0 Vanderbilt run that extended a 16-4 lead all the way to 49-7. Blakes ignited the second-quarter surge by knocking down a 30-footer at the 8:47 mark, and Aubrey Galvan carried the momentum — converting a free throw, then connecting on back-to-back threes from 27 and 26 feet, the latter at the 7:26 mark pushing Vanderbilt to 49-4. Queens' Ahmani Klabunde finally snapped the run at 6:55 with a 31-foot three assisted by Breah Franks, but the margin was insurmountable.
Blakes kept the second-quarter onslaught going, burying a 27-footer at 2:05 and a 29-footer at 0:49 — both deep, both precise — to push Vanderbilt to 73-11 at halftime. Saniyah Glenn-Bello added a driving layup just before the horn to punctuate the half.
The second half sustained the same rhythm. Vernell Atamah drained a 30-foot three at the 9:25 mark of the third quarter to push the lead to 76-13, and Madison Greene closed the third with a 16-foot pullup at the buzzer — assisted by Jones — to send Vanderbilt to the final frame up 89-23. Ryan Davis closed out the century mark with two free throws in the fourth quarter, completing the 100-42 final.
Star of the Game
Mikayla Blakes was the engine of the Vanderbilt offense, finishing with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. She connected on multiple threes from beyond 27 feet, most of them off the catch with virtually no hesitation, and her second-quarter outburst — multiple long-range bombs in rapid succession — was the defining individual performance of the night.
Blakes had plenty of company. Mia Woolfolk contributed 16 points and 3 rebounds. Olivia Jones added 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Aubrey Galvan was effective as both a scorer and facilitator, finishing with 13 points, 2 rebounds, and a team-high 6 assists.
What It Means
For Vanderbilt, this opener signals real intent. A team that shoots 56% from the field, makes 40% of its threes, and distributes 25 assists in a season debut is demonstrating cohesion that typically takes time to build. Reaching 100 points against any opponent in game one is a meaningful marker, and the Commodores will enter SEC play with considerable momentum if they maintain this efficiency.
For the Queens University Royals, the 36 turnovers were a significant obstacle on a difficult night. Ashantay Noble led the team with 8 points and 5 rebounds, while Makayla Minshall added 6 points and 4 rebounds. Klabunde showed range late in the contest, adding a pair of threes in the fourth quarter. Queens will look to tighten their ball security as the season progresses.
The 2,806 fans at Memorial Gymnasium saw a Vanderbilt team that looks fully capable of making noise in the SEC this season.
