Oregon Survives Vanderbilt’s Comeback in Overtime to Advance in NCAA Tournament

The first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament delivered an electrifying game as Oregon edged past Vanderbilt 77-73 in an overtime thriller. The Ducks appeared to be in full control after building a commanding 19-point lead in the second half, but Vanderbilt refused to back down. A late surge by the Commodores forced the game into overtime, setting up a dramatic finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Missed Opportunities Lead to Overtime

With under 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Oregon held a slim two-point lead, but missed free throws proved costly. Vanderbilt’s Leilani Kapinus, coming off the bench, took advantage and scored a crucial layup to tie the game. Oregon had one last chance to avoid overtime, but Sofia Bell’s three-point attempt missed, sending the game into an intense extra period.

Overtime remained tightly contested until the final minute when Vanderbilt faced major setbacks. Freshman sensation Mikayla Blakes and Kapinus both fouled out, leaving the Commodores short-handed. Khamil Pierre, Vanderbilt’s second-leading scorer with 17 points, had already fouled out near the end of regulation. With three key players out, Vanderbilt struggled to keep pace with Oregon in the closing moments.

Peyton Scott’s Clutch Free Throws Secure the Win

Oregon held a narrow 75-73 lead when Peyton Scott stepped to the free-throw line after being fouled twice. She missed her first two attempts, giving Vanderbilt a glimmer of hope, but she recovered to make the next two. With only five seconds left, Vanderbilt ran out of time to mount another comeback, sealing Oregon’s hard-fought victory.

Despite Vanderbilt’s loss, Blakes delivered an outstanding performance, leading all scorers with 26 points. On the other side, Deja Kelly led Oregon with 20 points and eight rebounds, helping push the Ducks to the next round. Oregon will now prepare to face the winner of the Duke-Lehigh matchup on Sunday, as they look to continue their NCAA Tournament run.