
Vanderbilt

Georgia
Highlights
Summary
ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) â Dani Carnegie scored 29 points to lift the Georgia womenâs basketball team to a 76-74 win over Vanderbilt in a Southeastern Conference matchup Sunday at Stegeman Coliseum. The Bulldogs, who improved to 20-6, built a 27-20 lead after the first quarter but were outscored 36-29 in the middle periods as the Commodores rallied. Georgia secured the win with a 20-point fourth quarter. Carnegie added eight rebounds and three assists for Georgia. Mia Woolfolk contributed 19 points and seven rebounds. Mikayla Blakes led Vanderbilt, now 24-3, with 27 points and six assists. Justine Pissott added 23 points. The Commodores had a chance to tie in the final seconds but could not convert. Attendance was 3,682.
Extended Summary
ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) â In a game defined by explosive runs and a frantic final minute, Dani Carnegieâs clutch free throw with 27 seconds remaining proved the difference as the Georgia womenâs basketball team edged No. 10 Vanderbilt 76-74 in a Southeastern Conference thriller on Sunday at Stegeman Coliseum. Carnegie, a guard from Mount Vernon, New York, scored a game-high 29 points, including the decisive point from the line, to lift the Bulldogs to a critical victory in front of 3,682 fans. The win improved Georgia to 20-6 overall, while handing Vanderbilt, which entered with a 24-2 record and national championship aspirations, just its third loss of the season. The contest was a tale of dramatic momentum swings. Georgia stormed out to a 27-20 lead after the first quarter, fueled by Carnegieâs hot hand and 10 early points from Mia Woolfolk. Vanderbilt, displaying the resilience that has defined its season, responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 16-12 to trim the deficit to 39-36 at halftime. The Commodoresâ defense tightened, and Mikayla Blakes of Somerset, New Jersey, began to find her rhythm, scoring 11 of her 27 points before the break. The third quarter saw Vanderbilt seize control, winning the period 20-17 to knot the score at 56 heading into the final frame. Justine Pissott of Toms River, New Jersey, was instrumental in the comeback, hitting key three-pointers on her way to 23 points. The teams traded blows throughout the fourth quarter, with neither leading by more than four points. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With Georgia clinging to a 75-74 lead after a Trinity Turner jumper, Vanderbilt inbounded with a chance to take the lead. The Commodoresâ set play broke down, resulting in a turnover by Aga Makurat with 30 seconds left. Carnegie was immediately fouled on the ensuing possession. She calmly sank the first free throw to extend the lead to 76-74 but missed the second. Vanderbiltâs Sacha Washington secured the rebound, giving the Commodores a final opportunity with 24 seconds remaining. After using its final timeout to advance the ball, Vanderbilt ran a play for its star, Blakes. Georgiaâs defense, however, forced a contested, off-balance shot that missed. A scramble for the loose ball ensued as the clock expired, sealing the monumental victory for the Bulldogs. Beyond Carnegieâs heroics, Georgia received a massive contribution from Mia Woolfolk of Midlothian, Virginia, who posted 19 points and seven rebounds. Trinity Turner of Orlando, Florida, added six points and six assists, orchestrating the offense down the stretch. For Vanderbilt, Blakes filled the stat sheet with 27 points and six assists in a full 40 minutes. Pissottâs 23 points came on efficient shooting, and Washington of Lawrenceville, Georgia, just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. The outcome was a significant upset according to predictive metrics, as National Statisticalâs ELO system had given Vanderbilt a 77.6 percent probability of winning. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Commodores, who had been rolling since a Jan. 25 defeat at South Carolina. For Georgia, the victory served as a powerful bounce-back after a road loss at Mississippi State earlier in the week and avenged a narrow overtime loss to Tennessee in its previous home game. Vanderbilt will look to regroup on Feb. 22 when it hosts Kentucky. Georgia, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround, hosting Oklahoma on Thursday before a road trip to Auburn.
Preview
ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) â A top-tier Southeastern Conference womenâs basketball showdown is set for Sunday when the Vanderbilt Commodores visit the Georgia Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum. Vanderbilt (24-2, 11-2 SEC) enters on a five-game winning streak, most recently defeating Texas 86-70 on Thursday. The Commodoresâ offense, averaging 84.2 points per game, is powered by superstar guard Mikayla Blakes. The senior is in a historic groove, scoring 30 or more points in four of her last five games, including a 37-point effort in a narrow win at Kentucky on Feb. 5. Georgia (19-6, 8-5) looks to rebound after an 85-71 road loss at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs, led by guard Rylie Theuerkaufâs 26 points in that contest, are 12-1 at home this season. Their defense, allowing just 62.8 points per game, will face its toughest test of the season against Vanderbiltâs high-powered attack. Theuerkauf has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in seven straight games. This matchup pits Vanderbiltâs elite offense against Georgiaâs stout defense. The Commodoresâ two losses came on the road at then-South Carolina and Mississippi. Georgia has notable home wins over Kentucky and Mississippi but has struggled against the SECâs upper echelon, with losses to Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina. The outcome will have significant implications for the SEC standings and NCAA tournament seeding. Vanderbilt, chasing a regular-season title, cannot afford a slip-up. Georgia aims for a rĂ©sumĂ©-boosting victory to solidify its position as a top-16 host. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.