Benton, Scherr Lead Cats Past Dayton in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas – Robyn Benton scored 15 points and Ajae Petty had 12 as the Kentucky women’s basketball team topped Dayton 70-44 on Wednesday in the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship.

Maddie Scherr had an outstanding all-around game for the Cats. She scored just five points but dished out 11 assists, grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals. Jada Walker had 11 points and three steals for the Cats in the game.

Kentucky (5-1) got off to a fast start in this game, hitting four of its first five shots to grab an early 8-5 lead. Scherr assisted on all four of the made baskets. The Cats would get into some foul trouble later in the period, with both Blair Green and Jada Walker being assessed two fouls and being forced to the bench.

Dayton would tie the game at 12-12, but the Cats closed the quarter with five straight points, including a late three by Robyn Benton, to lead 17-12 after one period.

Kentucky clamped down on defense in the second period, forcing eight turnovers and holding Dayton to just five points. Meanwhile, the Cats got five points in the period from Scherr and three from Benton. Altogether, it added up to a 29-17 UK lead at the half.

The lead would stay in double digits throughout the third period. Dayton would get within 12, but Kentucky would lead 49-32 with 10 minutes to play.

In the fourth quarter, Kentucky stared with a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach. The Cats would eventually lead by as many as 29 points before settling for the 26-point victory.

Kentucky returns to action on Sunday,  Dec. 4, hosting UNC Greensboro at Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network Plus.