Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes Makes NCAA History vs Alabama

A sophomore guard at Vanderbilt just quietly achieved what even the sport's biggest stars have never done.

Mikayla Blakes scored 35 points Thursday night at Memorial Gymnasium, leading the fifth-ranked Commodores to an 85-60 win over Alabama. But the real story unfolded in the record books, where Blakes became the first player in NCAA women's basketball history to notch five consecutive 30-point games against ranked opponents.

The previous record belonged to Caitlin Clark, who managed four such games during her legendary tenure at Iowa. Blakes, still just a sophomore, has now surpassed that mark in a single season.

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that Blakes barely noticed it happening. When reporters told her about the milestone after the game, it was the first she'd heard of it.

"I wouldn't know until I got home, and probably somebody texted it to me," Blakes admitted. "I'm trying to stay in the moment, live in the moment, and be joyful."

Her coach, Shea Ralph, says that tunnel vision is exactly what makes Blakes special. Ralph explained that her star player's only concern is the final score, not the stat sheet.

"The only thing that she cares about is winning," Ralph said. "So if she has to score 50 for us to win, she will. If it's three and we win, she's fine."

Why This Inspires

In an era where social media can turn college athletes into celebrities overnight, Blakes represents something refreshingly different. She's rewriting history while staying grounded in what matters: helping her team succeed.

The Commodores have built a locker room culture where individual accolades are simply tools for collective victory. Blakes embodies that philosophy perfectly, treating her historic performances as necessary work rather than personal glory.

As March Madness approaches, Vanderbilt has a weapon operating at a level few players in history have matched. And the best part? Blakes is just getting started in her college career.

With the regular season winding down, one thing is clear: women's college basketball has a new star who's more interested in cutting down nets than collecting headlines.