Women’s college basketball registered several phenomenal performances from teams and players alike last night.
Facing No. 6 Louisville, No. 17 Duke ignited an 11-1 run to lead 57-50 with less than four minutes in the fourth quarter. Louisville struggled to maintain the level of consistency needed to beat a Kara Lawson-coached Blue Devils team. The Cardinals missed their first nine attempts of the game and went 0-for-9 down the stretch, which ultimately led to the loss after Louisville’s Imari Berry missed free throws. Duke stands as the only unbeaten team in ACC play.
If you thought the cardiac hoops ended there, you would be mistaken. Let’s dive right into it.
After two straight losses against South Carolina and Ole Miss to end the first month of the year, No. 7 Vanderbilt regained its momentum, beating Florida by 16 and surviving No. 16 Kentucky by one on the road in Lexington. Star sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes led the Commodores with 37 points. The 5’8 scoring dynamo was one point shy of tying her season-high of 38 points.
It was Blakes’ 12th career game scoring at least 30 points. The New Jersey native scored more than three of Kentucky’s starters combined for a frame of reference.
MIKAYLA BLAKES TONIGHT 🔥
• 37 POINTS
• 4 STEALS
• 4 ASSISTS
• 6/9 3PM
• 13/25 FG
• 40 MINUTES PLAYEDpic.twitter.com/1uiPjsbKOp— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) February 6, 2026
Clara Strack, Tonie Morgan, and Jordan Obi combined for 25 points on 9-for-22 shooting on the night. Since beating Florida on Jan. 15, the Wildcats have dropped four of their last five games. The team missed senior star forward Teonni Key, who missed six games with a dislocated elbow. Key notched 15 points in her first game since Jan. 4 in Kentucky’s 93-73 win over Arkansas earlier in the week. She led the team last night with 27 points on an elite 11-for-15 shooting, going 5-for-8 from the line. With her back on the court, the Wildcats will get back to their winning ways with consistency.
In what turned out to be one of the best games of the night, the Lady Vols went down to Athens and left with a much-needed win over Georgia after losing two straight to Mississippi State and UConn. Senior forward Zee Spearman and freshman guard Mia Pauldo combined for 43 of Tennessee’s 82 points in the victory.
Mia Pauldo vs Georgia:
21 PTS
4 RBS
3 AST
+ the WPauldo is averaging (19.8) points, (3.0) rebounds, and (2.4) assists over No. 19 Tennessee’s last five wins. ✨ pic.twitter.com/1X5HZctQub
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) February 6, 2026
With less than five seconds left in regulation, Georgia guard Dani Carnegie was fouled on a three-point attempt. She converted all three free throws, sending the game to overtime. Tennessee wanted the win more, jumpstarting the extra period on a 5-0 run, eventually outscoring the Bulldogs 14-9 to secure the victory. Georgia has been in nearly every game on the schedule this season, but losing Carnegie to foul trouble in overtime didn’t spell success for the team.
No. 2 UCLA @ No. 8 Michigan – The Bruins suffered their second loss of the season back in late November and have won 16 consecutive games. In that span, senior center Lauren Betts has dominated the competition, averaging 17.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and four stocks per game. Winners of four straight, the Wolverines are led by one of the most potent guard trios in the country in sophomores Olivia Olsen, Syla Swords, and Mia Holloway. For the Bruins, limiting their impact, but the same could be said for 6’7 Betts for Michigan. The Wolverines don’t have a post taller than 6’3, which spells trouble for most opponents who face UCLA.
No. 19 Tennessee @ No. 3 South Carolina – Tennessee continues on the road to Columbia to face No. 3 South Carolina on Sunday. The Gamecocks ran Mississippi State out of the gym last night, sending the Bulldogs home with an 88-45 loss. South Carolina played its second straight game without key starters Agot Makeer and Ta’Niya Latson. Swapping reserve players into the starting five has never been an issue for head coach Dawn Staley, as the next woman up is ready for the moment in a team-oriented process.
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Born and raised in Chicago, Christan Braswell is a women’s sports journalist with a focus on the WNBA and women’s college basketball. He’s an avid fan of elevator screens and stuffed-crust pizza. Outside of sports, he’s an avid cook and lover of the great outdoors.
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