Aubrey Galvan's 20 points help No. 5 Vanderbilt hold off No. 7 Michigan 72-69

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Vanderbilt's Aubrey Galvan, left, and Michigan's Mila Holloway compete for the ball during the first half of an NCAA women's college basketball game in Newark, N.J., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, left, moves around Michigan's Syla Swords during the first half of an NCAA women's college basketball game in Newark, N.J., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) — Vanderbilt's Aubrey Galvan, left, and Michigan's Mila Holloway compete for the ball during the first half of an NCAA women's college basketball game in Newark, N.J., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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5:22 PM on Monday, January 19

By EVERETT MERRILL

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Freshman guard Aubrey Galvan hit a late free throw and finished with 20 points as No. 5 Vanderbilt beat No. 7 Michigan 72-69 on Monday as part of a doubleheader played at the Prudential Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Galvan was 7 of 14 from the field and Mikayla Blakes and Justine Pissott, both New Jersey prep stars, scored 14 points apiece for Vanderbilt (19-0), which ran its season-opening winning steak to 19 games.

Syla Swords and Kendall Dudley each scored 16 points for Michigan (15-3). Olivia Olson added 14 points as the Wolverines had their four-game winning streak halted.

The Wolverines trailed by 17 points in the first half before battling back and closing within two points at 65-63 with two minutes remaining. Vanderbilt got a jumper from Aiyana Mitchell and a 3-pointer from Galvan to increase its lead to 70-63 with 3:03 left.

After two consecutive baskets by Vanderbilt that made the score 71-67, Dudley's layup with 44 seconds left pulled Michigan within 71-69.

Galvan hit a free throw with three seconds left that gave Vanderbilt a three-point lead, and a 3-point try from the corner by Swords fell short as time expired.

The Wolverines led for just 2:51 in the first quarter. Vanderbilt took its biggest lead of the first half after Sacha Washington sank two free throws for a 17-point lead, 47-30, with 43 seconds left.

Vanderbilt leads the series against Michigan, 4-1. The schools last met in 1999.

Up next

Vanderbilt: Hosts Auburn on Thursday.

Michigan: At Rutgers on Thursday.

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