No. 11 Kentucky women’s basketball (17-2, 6-1 SEC) returned home to Historic Memorial Coliseum, blowing out the Arkansas Razorbacks (8-14, 1-6 SEC) and picking up a 89-69 win.
After a 61-55 loss on the road to Texas A&M where the squad only made one 3-pointer, the Wildcats shot 13-28 from deep.
Kentucky rolled out the same starters as usual, consisting of Georgia Amoore, Dazia Lawrence, Amelia Hassett, Teonni Key and Clara Strack.
The Cats started off hot early, taking an 11-0 lead just three minutes into the game. Every starting Wildcat got themselves on the board during this run.
The first quarter consisted of physical play down low for the Cats, forcing themselves to line. Shooting 10 free-throws and making eight, Kentucky held a 29-10 lead.
By the time of the next media timeout, Kentucky had jumped to 42 points with six different players draining a 3-pointer.
Before the half, Kentucky went cold, just shooting 1-7 from the field, but the lead from earlier still stood. Amoore’s 11 points and Key’s eight points and seven rebounds reflected the 44-28 lead at the break.
The defense swarmed Arkansas in the first half, forcing it to shoot just 9-33 from the field and 5-17 from three. Only 12 of its points came via the starters in the first half. Izzy Higginbottom and Carly Keats provided the only offense with 11 points each.
In the third quarter, Strack scored nine straight to start the second half. Shortly after, Hassett drained back-to-back 3-pointers before the next media timeout.
These personal runs boosted the Wildcat lead up to 20. Higginbottom, who tallied 14 points in the third quarter, served as the only Razorback to pick away at the lead. She finished the game with 32 points.
Strack, Hassett and Lawrence finished the third quarter with nine points each, helping Kentucky maintain a large lead.
A slow fourth quarter was highlighted by a late bucket by Key, securing her double-double and securing double-digit point nights for every Kentucky starter. She finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Strack also grabbed a late rebound, picking up her double-double as well with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Cassidy Rowe and Clara Silva checked in for Amoore and Strack, signaling the game was over. Hassett, at an attempt to stat pad, pulled a buzzer-beating three, but ultimately missed.
Amoore tallied 19 points and eight assists, leading the team in both categories yet again and helping Kentucky get back in the win column.
Up next, the Wildcats will host the No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday, Jan. 30, their first ranked opponent of conference play and a start to a daunting remaining schedule. The game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. and will air live on the SEC Network.
