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  "path": "/college-sports/2026/03/23/illinois-falls-to-vanderbilt-75-57-in-womens-ncaa-tournament",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-24T01:13:21.730Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mikayla Blakes scored 25 points as No. 2 seed Vanderbilt beat seventh-seeded Illinois 75-57 Monday night to advance to the Sweet 16 in the women's NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.</p><p>Vanderbilt (29-4) now is one off matching the 30-win seasons of the 1993 Final Four squad and the 2001-02 Commodores for most wins in program history. The Commodores will <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/college-sports/2026/03/23/notre-dame-beats-ohio-state-83-73-to-move-into-womens-ncaa-tournament-sweet-16\" >play No. 6 seed Notre Dame, </a>a winner over Ohio State earlier Monday, in the Fort Worth 1 Region on Friday in their 15th regional semifinal all-time.</p><p>Blakes just missed the first triple-double of her career. She checked out with 2:12 left with 10 rebounds and nine assists along with four steals. Justine Pissott scored 18 points, making four 3-pointers. Aubrey Galvan added 12.</p><p>Seventh-seeded Illinois (22-12) came in with the youngest team in this tournament after having to replace four starters. The Fighting Illini goes home still looking to end a Sweet 16 drought extending back to their last berth in 1998.</p><p>Berry Wallace led the Fighting Illini with 18 points, and Cearah Parchment and Jasmine Bown-Hagger each added 12.</p><p>These teams split the previous two games with this the first between the programs since November 1987. A lot has changed, especially for Vanderbilt.</p><p>Blakes is the nation's leading scorer averaging 27.1 points a game, and she set Vanderbilt's single-season scoring record in the first round. The AP All-American and Southeastern Conference player of the year missed her first three shots, so she stayed busy helping her teammates.</p><p>Parchment gave Illinois its only lead on the opening bucket before Vanderbilt took the lead for good with seven straight points. Parchment hit a jumper, and Aaliyah Guyton added a layup to pull the Fighting Illini within 7-6.</p><p>That was as close as Illinois would get as Vanderbilt finished the first quarter scoring the final nine points for a 21-8 lead. The Fighting Illini missed 11 consecutive shots and 13 of their final 15 in the quarter. Illinois outscored Vanderbilt 17-15 in the second quarter with Vanderbilt up 36-25 at halftime.</p><p>Illinois got within nine in the third on a bucket by Maddie Webber with 4:26 left. That's when Vanderbilt finished the quarter on a 14-4 run keyed by four straight 3s. Blakes hit a pair of those and finished the spurt with a jumper as Vandy outscored Illinois 24-16 in the quarter for a 60-41 lead.</p><h3>Perfect at home</h3><h3></h3><p>Vanderbilt finished this season going undefeated at Memorial Gym in 18 games. The Commodores also improved to 16-2 in NCAA Tournament games on this court.</p><h3>Anchor D</h3><h3></h3><p>Illinois ranked 26th nationally shooting 45.7% from the floor this season, but Vanderbilt held the Fighting Illini to a season-low 29.6% (21 of 71).<br></p>",
  "title": "Illinois falls to Vanderbilt 75-57 in women's NCAA Tournament",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-24T01:13:21.730Z"
}