No. 24 Kentucky women’s basketball (3-0) benefitted from great frontcourt play to cruise to an 81-47 victory over Buffalo (0-2).
The Wildcats offense has been streaky at times through three games, but dominant defense has been a constant. Kentucky has excelled at forcing turnovers and tough shots with great rebounding and shot blocking.
Kentucky ended with 11 blocks and nine steals, forcing 23 Buffalo turnovers and winning the rebounding battle 41-39.
Kentucky struggled mightily from behind the arc after an excellent effort from 3-point range against Monmouth. Kentucky shot 5-29 (17.2%) on 3-pointers against Buffalo.
Clara Strack showed out against her hometown team, setting a new career high in points and recording the 18th double-double of her career. She ended with 27 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks while shooting 8-11 (72.7%) from the field.
Strack started 2-6 from the field then shot 7-8 (87.5%) to close out the game.
Teonni Key recorded the 13th double-double of her career with 17 points, 12 rebounds and one steal while shooting 8-12 (66.7%) from the field.
Kentucky mounted a 13-2 run early in the first quarter to pull ahead comfortably.
Buffalo scored its fourth point then began a long stretch of offensive struggles. The Bulls shot 1-12 over a five minute span.
The Wildcats defense was dominant in the first quarter, Buffalo shot just 4-17 (23.5%) with seven turnovers.
Kentucky struggled late in the first quarter, going scoreless for 2:37, but still held a 19-8 lead thanks to its defensive effort.
The Cats shot a perfect 5-5 in the first three minutes of the second quarter to mount an 11-3 run.
The Bulls started 1-6 with two turnovers half-way through the second quarter.
Kentucky’s offense ran into struggles halfway through the second quarter, going scoreless over a three minute span, allowing a 5-0 run from Buffalo.
Kenny Brooks took advantage of the new ability to challenge calls. His first challenge was successful, overturning a Strack turnover.
The Wildcats struggled from 3-point range in the first half, shooting 2-12 (16.7%). UK made up for it on the interior, scoring 20 points in the paint.
Kentucky’s front court duo of Strack and Key led the charge on both ends in the first half. Strack had 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks heading into the break, Key had eight points, seven rebounds and a steal on 4-6 shooting.
Buffalo couldn’t get anything going on the offensive end heading into the break. The Bulls shot 7-28 (25%) in the first half with 13 turnovers
The struggles of Buffalo allowed Kentucky to hold a 37-17 lead at the break, despite a streaky half on the offensive end.
Kentucky saw its offense stall out once again in the third quarter, making just one shot in 5:40 of game time.
Strack (9) and Key (5) accounted for 14 of the Wildcats 16 points in the third quarter.
Buffalo scored 15 points in the third quarter, despite shooting 4-16 (25%) from the field, thanks to seven free throws. Kentucky still held a 53-32 lead after three quarters.
The Wildcats returned to form in the fourth quarter on both ends, scoring 28 points and holding buffalo to 15 points.
Kentucky rounded out the fourth quarter with a 17-7 run in the final 4:38 of game time.
Kentucky returns home to Historic Memorial Coliseum for its next matchup, taking on USC Upstate on Wednesday, Nov. 12, with a 6:30 p.m. ET tip.
