Kentucky Falls to N.C. State on Thursday

The Kentucky women’s basketball team fell behind early to No. 10 N.C. State and never recovered as the Wolfpack won 84-55 on Thursday at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Three Wildcats scored nine points in the game to tie for the team scoring lead. Ajae Petty made two field goals and five free throws to score nine points, while Eniya Russell made four field goals, including a three pointer, to also score nine. Saniya Tyler hit three triples for her nine points.

Amiya Jenkins and Emma King each scored eight while Maddie Scherr had seven for the Cats.

Kentucky (2-3) got on the board first via a Petty jumper. However, N.C. State would score the next 15 points as the Cats went cold. That run would end on an Eniya Russell three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 15-5. The Wolfpack would lead 31-16 after 10 minutes of play.

N.C. State would extend its lead in the second quarter, outscoring Kentucky 24-8 to take a 55-24 lead into the break. Scherr led the Cats with seven points in the first half.

In the third quarter, N.C. State continued to extend the lead. The Wolfpack had a 21-10 advantage in the period and would lead 76-34 with 10 minutes remaining. Petty was UK’s leading scorer through three quarters with nine points.

The Cats return to action on Friday, facing No. 3 Colorado in the second game of the Paradise Jam. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN Plus.