No. 11 Kentucky women’s basketball (16-2, 5-1 SEC) went on the road to face Texas A&M (10-8, 3-3 SEC) on Jan. 23, losing 61-55.

The loss marked the Cats’ first conference loss of the season and ended a nine-game win streak.

The Wildcats shot under 40% for just the second time this season against the Aggies, making only one 3-pointer the entire matchup, a season low. 

Per usual, Kentucky rolled out the same starting five consisting of Georgia Amoore, Dazia Lawrence, Amelia Hassett, Teonni Key and Clara Strack.

Nothing was falling for Kentucky early on. Key scored the first field goal for the Cats at the 5:10 mark in the first quarter after the team started 0-7.

By the first media timeout, half of the Wildcats’ points came via the free-throw line and they were only shooting 2-11 from the field. A&M led 9-8, with Aicha Coulibaly scoring seven out of the nine points. 

Despite the early struggles, Amoore and Strack woke up offensively to give Kentucky some energy heading into the second quarter. Amoore, Strack and Key all had four points each in the first quarter.

A trend that would continue all game was Key’s hustle and determination. She was seemingly the only offensive piece that could get anything going due to the Aggies’ tight on-ball pressure to the playmakers. 

In the first half, Kentucky scored the lowest amount of points in the first half since the beginning of SEC play. Despite that, the Wildcats still held a five-point lead. Amoore (10 points and four assists) and Key (eight points and six rebounds) were the main factors in helping the Cats hold a 35-30 lead at the break. 

At the next media break, it seemed like Kentucky was about to pull away. Key was up 13 points and nine rebounds and the Wildcats led 39-30. However, Taliyah Parker scored seven straight for the Aggies, giving them a roar from the fans. 

After a scoreless second quarter, Coulibaly rounded off the third quarter with an easy layup and a free-throw. She scored 10 points in 10 minutes. 

Early in the fourth quarter, Strack picked up her fourth foul of the game and headed to the bench. 

Key hit the first 3-pointer of the game for the Wildcats just three minutes in, setting a new career-high. That personal achievement wouldn’t last long, as A&M scored six straight before the next media break. 

Right when action resumed, Lawrence hit an easy pull-up jumper and forced herself to line the very next play. Kentucky led 52-50 with 4:25 remaining and suddenly had all the momentum.

However, Lawrence’s jumper marked the last time Kentucky would make a field goal for the rest of the game. Sahara Jones tipped one in and was quickly followed by a Sole Williams 3-pointer and an Erica Moon jumper. 

Head Coach Kenny Brooks called a timeout, trailing 57-52 with just 47 seconds remaining. The Wildcats had fouls to give, trying to play the free-throw battle and pull off a miracle. 

After Amoore went 1-2 from the line and Williams sank both from the line for the Aggies, Brooks called another timeout to draw up the best possible play. 

Amoore trailed from half-court, pulling up for three, but was blocked by Coulibaly, a perfect exclamation to her 21-point performance. 

Amoore and Strack, the team’s leading scorers, shot a combined 7-30 from the field and 0-10 from behind the arc. A night to forget for the No. 3 and No. 13. 

After the game, Brooks admitted that they weren’t on their ‘A’-game. 

“We were a step slow pretty much the whole night in pretty much every category,” he said. 

However, with admiration, he quickly turned down the notion of losing focus.

”We’ll get back at it, and we’ll work hard,” Brooks said. “We’ll learn from this. [The players] will be excited to learn from this.”

Up next, the Wildcats will return home on Sunday, Jan. 26, to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (8-13, 1-5 SEC). The game is set to tip-off at 12 p.m. and will air live on the SEC Network.