Mikayla Blakes didn’t just make history—she rewrote it.
The Vanderbilt women's basketball freshman phenom erupted for 53 points, shattering the NCAA freshman scoring record and leading No. 23 Vanderbilt to a 99-86 win over Florida. Blakes’ scoring burst marked the highest total by a freshman in Division I college basketball history, surpassing JuJu Watkins’ 51-point performance against Stanford last season.
📊 MORE: Vanderbilt vs. Florida final stats
Blakes was unstoppable, shooting 16-of-24 from the field, 5-of-9 from three, and a near-perfect 16-of-18 from the free-throw line. She scored in almost every way imaginable—pull-ups, floaters, deep threes, and relentless attacks at the rim. By the time she checked out, the O’Connell Center crowd could only watch in awe.
Mikayla Blakes with 53 points. Most by a freshman in NCAA history.
— Alaina Morris (@alainammorris)
She passed JuJu Watkins who held the record with 51 points.
Blakes, already the nation’s leading freshman scorer, has had a dominant stretch in recent weeks. She hit the game-winning shot against Tennessee earlier this month, followed by a 33-point outing at Alabama. And now this — her latest milestone in a season that keeps rewriting records.
. HOLDS THE NEW ALL-TIME SCORING RECORD FOR A FRESHMAN 😤
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB)
History maker. x
Vanderbilt (18-4, 5-3 in SEC) seized control in the second quarter, outscoring Florida 27-10 to take a commanding lead. Iyana Moore added 22 points, while Khamil Pierre grabbed 11 rebounds.
Despite Florida (11-11, 2-6) pouring in 60 second-half points, Blakes had done enough damage early. The Gators got 23 points from Ra Shaya Kyle and 20 from Liv McGill, but they couldn’t overcome Vanderbilt’s offense.
Blakes continues to build a case for SEC Freshman of the Year. If Thursday night was any indication, she’s just getting started.
