Vanderbilt escapes with one point win

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) The 7th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent history. The Dores arrived in Lexington with a 21–2 overall record and an 8–2 mark in conference play. Kentucky, coming off a win at Arkansas on Sunday that snapped a three-game losing streak, hoped to take down another top-ten opponent with Teonni Key back in the lineup for her second straight game after missing six contests with an elbow injury.

Kentucky led 38–34 at halftime, fueled by hot shooting from beyond the arc. The Wildcats extended their advantage to nine points at 54–45, but Mikayla Blakes took over for Vanderbilt, putting the Commodores on her back during a decisive 16–4 run that gave Vandy the lead. Blakes scored 25 points in the second half and finished with 37 for the game, marking her seventh 30-point performance of the season.

Kentucky received double-doubles from its two primary scorers. Clara Strack posted 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Teonni Key delivered a career night with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Amelia Hassett added 19 points, but the Wildcats came up just short, falling to Vanderbilt 84–83.

With the loss, Kentucky drops to 5–5 in conference play and 18–6 overall. The Wildcats will next travel to Texas to face the 4th-ranked Longhorns on Monday night.