It was a big upset in Oxford as No. 8 Kentucky women’s basketball (19-3, 8-2 SEC) fell to Ole Miss (16-7, 7-4) 66-57.
UK’s junior, Teonni Key, had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Cats this game.
Early on, Georgia Amoore drove in for an uncontested layup to put Kentucky up. The game was knotted after an Ole Miss basket, but Amoore’s second goal put the Cats ahead 4-2.
UK received buckets from Dazia Lawrence, Clara Strack, another from Lawrence and a three from Key after the Rebels scored four consecutive goals. The Cats led 13–6 after the 9–0 run.
The following six points from Ole Miss would bring the score within one point, but an Amoore three put UK ahead 16–12. The Cats led 22-16 after a 6-2 run following two Ole Miss free throws. After one quarter, the Cats led 22–18, but the Rebels would make the last basket of the quarter.
To increase the margin to 29–23, Key made a basket. Key made a 3-pointer to give the Cats a 32–25 lead after the Rebels had made two more free throws. Strack made a 3-pointer to give Kentucky a 37-31 lead at the half after the Rebels scored four straight points.
Before a Strack layup late in the third quarter made it 47-43 Cats, the Rebels would score the next six points. However, Ole Miss took a 48-47 lead after three quarters and scored the final five points of the game.
The Rebels took a 52-47 lead after scoring the opening four points of the fourth quarter. An Ole Miss 3-pointer increased the Rebels’ advantage to 55-49. To reduce the lead to 55-51, Amoore scored once more.
With 3:13 remaining, Strack scored on successive possessions after the Rebels scored again, bringing the score to 57-55, but Ole Miss ended the game with the following eight points.
Ole Miss conquered the paint with offensive rebounds with 46 and 14 assists in total.
Strack’s eight blocked shots in a game set a new school record for Kentucky. DeNesha Stallworth previously held the mark in 2013, when she recorded seven blocks versus Texas A&M.
Strack finished with 10 rebounds and 13 points. Amoore had a 15-point game with five assists.
With the loss, the Cats turn to a crucial game next on Thursday, hosting No. 3 Texas. The start time is scheduled to be 7 p.m. ET.
