Blakes Leads Vanderbilt's Record-Breaking Season

0:00On March 4, Vanderbilt Women's Basketball has had a breakout season thanks largely to Star Guard Michaela Bliggs. The Commodores wrapped up the regular year with 27 wins and three losses, setting a program record and climbing to second place in the SEC. After being picked eighth in preseason polls, Bliggs earned SEC Player of the Year honors after becoming the first player this century to average 30 points per game in the conference. The team also celebrated a rare awards sweep, with head coach Shay Rauf, named SEC Coach of the Year, and freshman Aubrey Galvin, taking freshman of the day, year. This March, just the sixth time one school has claimed all three major individual awards. Bliggs's scoring and leadership turned preseason skeptics into believers, powering Vanderbilt through one of college basketball's toughest leagues. Fans and analysts are buzzing about Bliggs' national impact, especially as she vies for national Player of the Year against Yukon's Sarah Strong. While Strong boasts higher shooting efficiency on an undefeated team, Bliggs leads the nation

1:03in scoring at 27.1 points per game, with solid assists, rebounds, and steals too. Digging deeper, Bliggs shone brightest against top competition, facing eight ranked teams in SEC Play Alone, far tougher than Yukon's schedule, which hasn't seen a ranked foe since early February. She even dropped 30 or more points, five, straight times, versus ranked opponents, fueling Vanderbilt's biggest victories. As tournaments heat up, Bliggs' production against elite defenses gives her the edge in the national race, blending raw output with schedule strength, for a compelling case.