NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — No. 23 Vanderbilt remained undefeated, overpowering South Florida 87-58 in a women’s basketball game Monday night at Memorial Gym. The Commodores (10-0) used a dominant 27-point second quarter to pull away from the Bulls (6-5). Stefanie Ingram led all scorers with 23 points for South Florida. Vanderbilt had a balanced attack, with Mikayla Blakes scoring 19 points, Sacha Washington adding 16 and Aubrey Galvan contributing 11 points and eight assists. The victory was witnessed by a crowd of 2,188. Vanderbilt’s defense held South Florida to just seven first-quarter points, setting the tone for the comfortable win.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team used a dominant second-quarter surge to remain undefeated, pulling away from South Florida for an 87-58 victory on Monday night at Memorial Gymnasium. The Commodores, now 10-0, broke open a tight game with a 27-point second quarter, turning a four-point lead after the first period into a commanding 38-25 halftime advantage. The Bulls, who fell to 6-5, could not recover from the Commodores’ offensive explosion and defensive pressure. South Florida’s Stefanie Ingram, a 5-foot-8 guard from Orlando, Florida, provided the primary offensive resistance for the visitors, scoring a game-high 23 points and adding four assists in 34 minutes. Her early 3-pointer gave the Bulls a brief lead, and she was a consistent scoring threat throughout the contest. Vanderbilt, however, showcased a balanced and efficient attack. Mikayla Blakes, a 5-8 guard from Somerset, New Jersey, led the Commodores with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, and added three assists. Sacha Washington, a 6-2 forward from Lawrenceville, Georgia, controlled the interior with 16 points, while Justine Pissott, a 6-4 guard from Toms River, New Jersey, contributed 13 points, four assists and a block. The most important stretch of the game began with Vanderbilt leading 11-7 after a slow-paced first quarter. The Commodores’ offense ignited, stringing together a series of runs. A 3-pointer from Blakes, followed by another from Pissott, extended the lead to double digits. Vanderbilt’s defense simultaneously tightened, forcing several South Florida shot-clock violations and turnovers that fueled their transition game. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Commodores had outscored the Bulls 27-18 in the period, establishing a rhythm and a margin from which South Florida never threatened. Aubrey Galvan, Vanderbilt’s 5-6 point guard from Deerfield, Illinois, orchestrated the offense with precision, dishing out eight assists to go with 11 points. Her backcourt partner, Blakes, was instrumental in the decisive quarter, hitting key shots and applying relentless defensive pressure. South Florida, which shot poorly from the field, struggled to find consistent scoring beyond Ingram. Carla Brito of Puerto del Rosario, Spain, scored five points, and Raina Tomasicka of Jekabpils, Latvia, added eight off the bench. The Bulls were hampered by 18 turnovers, which Vanderbilt converted into 23 points. Vanderbilt continued to apply pressure in the second half, opening the third quarter with a quick 5-0 spurt to push the lead to 18. The Commodores’ lead ballooned to as many as 31 points in the fourth quarter as head coach Shea Ralph was able to empty her bench. Ten different players scored for Vanderbilt, with Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, adding 10 points and Aiyana Mitchell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, contributing eight points and two blocks. The victory keeps Vanderbilt perfect on the season as it heads into its final non-conference tests. South Florida, which has faced a challenging early schedule, will look to regroup quickly before its next outing. An announced crowd of 2,188 watched at Memorial Gymnasium. Vanderbilt was a 17.5-point pregame favorite, and the total score of 145 fell under the projected over/under of 144.5. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Vanderbilt entered the game with an 87.6 percent probability to win. South Florida next hosts South Carolina on Thursday. Vanderbilt will also be at home on Thursday, facing Albany.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — The undefeated Vanderbilt women’s basketball team puts its perfect record on the line Monday when it hosts South Florida at Memorial Gymnasium. The Commodores (9-0) have been one of the nation’s early surprises, powered by high-scoring guard Mikayla Blakes. The standout is averaging 26.2 points per game and is coming off a 28-point, 7-assist performance in an 81-68 win over Virginia on Dec. 3. In her last four games, Blakes has scored no fewer than 27 points, including a 35-point outburst against Oregon State. Vanderbilt’s start is its best since the 2004-05 season. The Commodores’ offense has been potent, averaging 85.2 points and winning by an average margin of 30.2 points. They will face a South Florida squad (6-4) looking to build momentum after a 91-58 rout of Houston Christian on Dec. 5. The Bulls have shown resilience with wins over Duke and Harvard but also have lopsided losses to ranked opponents Connecticut and UCLA. South Florida will rely on forward L’or Mputu, who posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Houston Christian. Mputu is averaging 12.3 points per game and provides a key interior presence for the Bulls. This nonconference matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Vanderbilt seeks to continue its flawless run and solidify its standing before Southeastern Conference play begins Jan. 1. South Florida aims to secure a resume-boosting road victory before its own American Athletic Conference schedule opens. Following this game, Vanderbilt will host Albany on Thursday. South Florida travels to face South Carolina on Dec. 18. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST Monday at Memorial Gym.