NEWARK, NJ — The annual Coretta Scott King Classic returned to the Prudential Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, featuring a NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball doubleheader that brought four nationally ranked programs together on one stage in honor of Coretta Scott King’s legacy.
This event highlighted elite women’s basketball while celebrating leadership, equality, and continued growth within the sport.
The annual Coretta Scott King Classic at the Prudential Center on MLK Jr. Day had a bigger meaning than just basketball, honoring the legacy of Coretta Scott King – Image Credit: Michigan Women’s Basketball
The afternoon opened with No. 9 TCU facing No. 12 Ohio State, followed by No. 5 Vanderbilt vs No. 7 Michigan.
No. 9 TCU vs. No. 12 Ohio State
In the opening matchup, No. 12 Ohio State defeated No. 9 TCU 71-69 in a tightly contested affair that came down to the final possessions.
Despite the loss, TCU’s guard Olivia Miles delivered a standout performance, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Miles led all players in scoring and was a constant presence on the glass, helping the Horned Frogs generate extra possessions and remain competitive down the stretch.
“My mindset is always to crash the glass hard, we have big individuals on our team, so sometimes it’s hard to get there,” said Miles. “That’s kind of my mindset, just attack the glass so I can get the ball first and then start the break.”
After TCU’s late push, Ohio State answered with a strong showing in the second half, using balanced scoring and defensive pressure to swing momentum in its favor and close out the narrow win.
“We play with great pace, we can press, we can create turnovers. So, we never feel like we’re out of the game,” Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff said.
The Buckeyes were led by Chance Gray, who finished with 22 points, proving a consistent scoring presence throughout the game.
Chance Gray led the Buckeyes in scoring in Monday’s win against TCU with 22 points, shooting 8/13 from the field – Image Credit: Ohio State Athletics
Jaloni Cambridge followed with an all-around performance, recording 18 points, six rebounds, eight assists, six blocks, and two steals as Ohio State closed out the victory—their 16th on the season to move to 16-2 overall.
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs No. 7 Michigan
In the second game of the doubleheader at The Rock, No. 5 Vanderbilt held off No. 7 Michigan 72-69 to remain undefeated at 18-0. The Commodores jumped out to a big lead early, using a 47-30 halftime advantage to build momentum, but the Wolverines mounted a fierce comeback in the second half, cutting the deficit to just two points in the final minute.
Vanderbilt led the second quarter on a 10-0 run, helping extend their lead to 36-21. Soon, their momentum kicked in as they were able to score seven straight points.
Freshman guard Aubrey Galvan led Vanderbilt with a career-high of 20 points, knocking down key shots late and sinking a free throw with three seconds left to seal the victory.
Aubrey Galvan would not back down in Monday’s Vanderbilt-Michigan contest, dropping a game-high 20 points – Image Credit: Vanderbilt Athletics
Mikayla Blakes and Justine Pisscott each added 14 points, with Pisscott chipping in team-high eight rebounds and five assists to fuel Vanderbilt’s balanced effort.
For Michigan, Syla Swords and Kendall Dudley each scored 16 apiece, while Olivia Olson contributed 14 points and seven rebounds as part of the Wolverines second-half rally.
Swords entered the second half with renewed energy, sparking an 18-4 run that pulled her team back into the game and cut the deficit to single digits.
By the fourth quarter, the momentum had shifted, and the score was trimmed to a two-point margin with five minutes remaining. Sword continued to make an impact, knocking down a mid-range jumper, while Quarles Daniels came up with a key steal off Blakes, converting into a layup. With the score still separated by just two points, both teams battled down the stretch.
Vanderbilt, now leading the all-time series against Michigan, 4-1, with the schools last meeting in 1999 before Monday, later capsized at the free-throw line, converting two foul shots to extend its lead to three.
The Coretta Scott King Classic again showcased some of the nation’s top programs, with four ranked teams delivering a competitive doubleheader on MLK Jr. Day.
From Ohio State’s late push against TCU to Vanderbilt holding off Michigan’s second-half surge, the afternoon highlighted both resilience and execution on a national stage. The event not only celebrated elite women’s basketball, but also honored the legacy of Coretta Scott King by spotlighting leadership, perseverance, and opportunity through sports.
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