No. 11 Kentucky women’s basketball (14-1, 1-0 SEC) begins conference play with a 80-78 win over No. 5 LSU (14-1, 0-1 SEC).
This win became Kentucky’s highest ranked road win in program history.
The Tigers were handed their first loss of the season after Tonie Morgan drained a 3-point shot with 0.5 seconds left in the game.
Morgan led the Wildcats with 24 points on 7-10 shooting, 3-3 from behind the 3-point line. She also had 12 assists for her third double-double of the season.
This game was decided by which team could withstand scoring droughts the best. In the end, it was a five minute stretch without a field goal that cost LSU the game.
Teonni Key had a standout performance as Clara Strack battled foul trouble. Key tied her season high with 17 points for the fourth time this season, she also set a career high with 16 rebounds.
Kentucky struggled from the free throw line, converting just 12 of 22 attempts.
The Tigers shot more efficiently than Kentucky, shooting 49.2%/45.5%/86.7% to the Cats 43.5%/29.6%/54.5%.
LSU took a 10-2 lead in the first two minutes of the game, making four of its first five shots with two 3-pointers.
Kentucky went on a three-minute scoring drought, shooting 0-5 from the field in that span. LSU expanded its lead to 12-2 during the Wildcats struggles.
Two 3-pointers from Asia Boone helped the Wildcats rattle off an 13-0 run over a three-minute stretch. Kentucky took a 18-17 lead with a Clara Strack mid-range jumpshot.
LSU made a buzzer-beater to take a 23-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats made six of their last seven shots in the quarter to bounce back from a slow start. Kentucky shot 9-17 (52.9%) from the field in the quarter, 2-8(25%) from 3-point range. The Cats struggled from the line, shooting just 2-6 (33.3%).
LSU had a rough stretch after its hot start, allowing UK to erase a 12 point lead. The Tigers shot 8-16 (50%) from the field, 3-7 (42.8%) on 3-pointers.
Another mid-range shot from Strack gave Kentucky a 24-23 lead on the first possession of the second quarter.
Kentucky had another 0-5 shooting stretch, allowing LSU to regain a 33-30 lead with an 8-0 run.
Strack committed her third foul of the half with two minutes remaining, sending LSU to the line to take a 39-35 lead.
Morgan was sent to the line following her buzzer- beater attempt. She drained both free throws to send the game to halftime tied at 41-41.
The Wildcats shot less efficiently than the Tigers in the second quarter, but eight offensive rebounds helped UK outscore LSU 19-18 in the quarter.
The Wildcats shot 16-36 (44.4%) from the field and 3-13 (23.1%) from 3-point range. LSU shot 15-31 (48.4%) and 3-8 (37.5%) from behind the arc.
Kentucky shot 6-11 (54.5%) on free throws, LSU was 8-9 (88.9%) from free-throw line.
Teonni Key scored nine points and grabbed 10 boards in the first half. Boone and Strack also had nine points.
Tonie Morgan scored eight points and recorded seven assists.
LSU’s Mikaylah Williams had 14 points and six rebounds in the first half.
Morgan drained a 3-pointer to give Kentucky a 50-49 lead four minutes in to the second half.
Williams drained a 3-pointer that caused the crowd to erupt after a 10-0 LSU run. Kentucky called a timeout after falling behind 59-50.
Kentucky pulled back within three points with 20 seconds left in the third quarter, but LSU hit yet another buzzer-beater to pull ahead 65-60.
LSU shot 11-16 (68.8%) from the field in the third quarter, but the Wildcats held their own to stay within five points.
A three minute scoring drought from LSU allowed Kentucky to tie the game at 75-75 with 2:10 to go.
Strack capped off an 8-0 Kentucky run with a fadeaway through a foul to give the Cats a 77-75 lead with a minute remaining.
LSU was on a 4:45 scoreless stretch before Strack fouled a 3-point shooter, allowing the Tigers to take a 78-77 lead with 18 seconds remaining.
Morgan made a 3-point shot as time expired to give Kentucky a 80-78 win.
The Wildcats will be back at Historic Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 4, for a match up with Missouri at Noon ET.
