No. 16 Kentucky women’s basketball (18-7, 5-6 SEC) dropped its second straight game against an AP Top-10 ranked opponent, falling 64-53 to No.4 Texas (23-2, 8-2 SEC).
This is the fourth time Kentucky and Texas have faced off, with Texas winning each of the first three games.
With the win over Kentucky, Texas has extended its home winning streak to 40 consecutive games.
The Wildcats struggled mightily to end both halves. With a seven minute scoring drought to end the first half and zero made field goals in the last 4:17 of the game.
Outside of those combined 11 minutes of struggle, Kentucky outscored Texas 53-50.
Kentucky once again just got in its own way too much to compete against a top tier team. The Cats turned the ball over 23 times, the second straight game with 20 or more.
The Wildcats also struggled containing the Longhorns interior offense, Texas scored 30 points in the paint.
Kentucky shot 39.1% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in the game. Texas shot 45.8% from the field and 21.4% from three. Texas also made 17 free throws, Kentucky made 11.
Asia Boone led the Wildcats in scoring with 16 points. Boone started the game 4 of 4 from 3-point range.
Both teams made two of their first four shots leaving the game tied at 4-4 two minutes in.
Texas rattled off a 7-0 run as Kentucky went scoreless for three minutes. This extended the Longhorns lead to 11-6.
The Wildcats responded with a 7-0 run of its own to take its first lead of the game. Texas evened it back up at 13-13 on the next possession.
Kentucky turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions, Texas took advantage with a 6-0 run to pull out a 19-13 lead.
Texas made eight of its last nine field goal percentage in the first quarter, holding a 23-19 lead.
Kentucky shot 7 for 13 (53.8%) in the first quarter, three of six on 3-pointers. Texas shot 10 for 14 (71.4%) from the field.
The Longhorns Justice Carlton scored 12 first-quarter points on 6 of 7 shooting, she also recorded two steals and block.
The Longhorns and Cats traded 3-pointers in the first minute of the second quarter.
Boone hit three 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the quarter to tie the game at 28-28, forcing Texas to call a timeout. This brought her to 4 of 4 from behind the arc in the game.
Texas took a 38-28 lead as the Wildcats went scoreless for seven minutes after the timeout. The Longhorns defense was simply suffocating Kentucky.
The Wildcats missed five straight shots and committed seven turnovers in this scoreless span.
Thanks to her second quarter outburst, Boone led the Wildcats with 12 points after shooting 4 for 4 from behind the arc in the half.
Tonie Morgan also had a solid first half with five points and four assists.
Kentucky shot 47.6% from the field in the first half and 66.7% from 3-point range. Texas shot 61.5% from the field and 20% on 3-pointers.
The Wildcats recent turnover struggles carried over into the first half of this game. Kentucky turned the ball over 13 times, Texas scored 12 points off of these turnovers.
Texas recorded eight steals and three blocks in the first half.
Texas dominated the Wildcats interior defense, scoring 24 first-half points in the paint.
The Wildcats went scoreless for two minutes once again early in the third quarter. Allowing Texas to take a 45-31 lead.
The Wildcats managed to outscore Texas 13-10 in the third quarter. Texas was held to 27% shooting after shooting 61.5% in the first half.
Kentucky started the fourth quarter on a 7-1 run, cutting the Longhorns lead to three points. Buckets from Morgan and Clara Strack on back-to-back possessions forced Texas to take a timeout.
In the next two minutes, Texas pushed its lead back to six points with four free throws and a 3-pointer. Kentucky called a timeout as it fell behind 56-50.
Texas burned 25 seconds off the shot clock before sinking two free throws, pulling ahead 62-51 with 45.4 remaining.
The Wildcats started fouling with 34.8 remaining trailing by 11 points.
That 11 point difference would stand as the final score, with Texas winning 64-53.
The Wildcats will return back home to Historic Memorial Coliseum for their next game on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Kentucky will host Texas A&M.
