Estimated read time: Less than a minute
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Mikayla Blakes scored a Southeastern Conference freshman record 53 points, making 16 field goals and 16 free throws to help No. 23 Vanderbilt beat Florida 99-86. Blakes fell one short of the NCAA Division I freshman record held by Delaware's Elena Delle Donne, who scored 54 in a loss to James Madison as a redshirt freshman in 2010. The previous high by a true freshman was 51 points by Southern California's JuJu Watkins last season. Blakes scored 33 in a win over then-No. 19 Alabama last time out and her previous season high was 36. She became the only player in Division I — men's or women's — to score at least 50 points in a game this season.
