Kentucky Women’s Basketball (8-9, 1-2 SEC) fell to the Vanderbilt Commodores (16-1, 3-0 SEC) by a score of 95-73.
Despite the lopsided defeat, some history was made inside Rupp Arena and it came in the form of senior Ajae Petty, who became the second player in program history to have at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in one game. Petty finished the game with 23 points and recorded 21 rebounds.
Along with Petty, Brooklynn Miles, Cassidy Rowe, Maddie Scherr and Emma King started the game for the Wildcats.
Scherr opened up the scoring with a 3-pointer followed by a steal and fast break layup by Petty to give the Cats a quick 5-0 lead.
Four turnovers and a four-minute scoring drought by the offense resulted in the lead being quickly erased as a 15-0 run by Vanderbilt gave it a 15-5 lead.
The Wildcats were finally able to get back on the board with two made free throws by Scherr. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter and the deficit remained at 10 points as the score now stood at 23-13 going into the second quarter.
Kentucky was able to go on a four-point run to shorten the deficit, but the Commodores responded with a four-point run of their own to extend the lead back to 10.
This remained the trend for the rest of the quarter as both teams put up 21 points in the second quarter and Vanderbilt took a 44-34 lead into the break.
Much like the second quarter, both teams came out the locker room trading points, however a five-point scoring run for the Commodores saw the Wildcats down 57-42.
Scherr made a layup that broke the five-point run, but another defensive breakdown from Kentucky allowed Vanderbilt to go on another 10-0 run and extend its lead to 67-44.
Despite a five-point run from the Wildcats, they were unable to keep the Commodores from scoring as the score stood at 74-53 going into the final quarter.
“You know, the third quarter has really been our nemesis this year,” head coach Kyra Elzy said when speaking on the breakdown in the third.
A Vanderbilt 3-pointer opened the scoring in the fourth, but the offense was able to string together a 9-0 run to trail by 15 points.
Both teams traded points as the clock hit zeros and the score ultimately finished at 95-73.
“They didn’t feel us defensively,” Elzy said. “I didn’t think we have a passion or energy or heart for today for whatever reason.”
Kentucky’s only lead of the game came on the opening 5-0 run and it held it for 3:16.
Scherr and Miles also joined Petty with double-figure points with 20 and 11 respectively.
“Just wanting to do it like wanting to get into the gym, wanting to watch the film, and wanting to see what you can do better in order to improve, ” Petty said about how making sure the team’s back to back losses does not lead to a season-long spiral.
Things do not get any easier for the Wildcats as they will hit the road and head to Columbia, South Carolina, for a matchup against the No. 1 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. The game will take place on Monday, Jan. 15, at Colonial Life Arena at 7 p.m. ET.
