The mistakes that Lady Vols basketball works to correct in practice came out in the game against Vanderbilt, especially in the second quarter.

Vanderbilt women's basketball beat the Tennessee Lady Vols for the first time in five years with Mikayla Blakes' layup just before time expired.

Vanderbilt ended its eight-game losing streak in the series between in-state Southeastern Conference rivals, but Tennessee still holds a commanding lead at 80-11. The Commodores hadn't beaten the Lady Vols since winning 76-69 in Knoxville on Feb. 28, 2019; they did so at home for the first time since a 74-63 victory on Feb. 10, 2014.

The No. 15 Lady Vols lost another heartbreaker, falling 71-70 to Vanderbilt. It was an uphill battle to erase the 11-point lead at halftime that Vanderbilt (15-4, 2-3 SEC) had built. Tennessee had one of its worst shooting games of the season, going 6-for-26 from 3-point range, and the way the game was called was not in its favor.

Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball vs Tennessee Lady Vols on Jan. 19, 2025, at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper (55) and Tennessee forward Zee Spearman (11) celebrate a play during a women's college basketball game between the Lady Vols and LSU at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Lady Vols dropped in the AP poll after losing their third game of the season. Tennessee lost by one point at Vanderbilt on Sunday.

The Lady Vols came back from an 11-point deficit at halftime, but lost another heartbreaker in conference play and fell 71-70 at Vanderbilt on Sunday.