Kentucky Falls to Top-Ranked South Carolina on Monday

Saniah Tyler scored 13 points, but the Kentucky women’s basketball team lost to No. 1 South Carolina 98-36 on Monday night at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

Kentucky (8-10, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) got nine points from Maddie Scherr. The senior from Florence, Kentucky, added four rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals.

The game was tied early, 2-2, before South Carolina went on an 8-2 run to lead 10-4. Kentucky would trail 12-6 before scoring five in a row, a three from Scherr and an Eniya Russell layup, to get within one, 12-11. But South Carolina would score five of the final seven points to lead 17-13 after 10 minutes of action.

South Carolina (16-0, 4-0) opened the second period with a 14-0 run before Tyler hit a three to cut the deficit to 31-16. South Carolina scored the next seven points before Tyler scored again to cut it to 38-18 Gamecocks. South Carolina would lead 46-21 at the half.

Kentucky scored the first points of the third quarter on a runner by Emma King. South Carolina would score the next 12 points before a Brooklynn Miles layup for the Cats. The Gamecocks outscored the Cats 33-11 in the period to lead 79-32 after three periods.

The Gamecocks outscored the Cats 19-4 in the fourth quarter to provide the final margin of victory.

Kentucky returns to action on Sunday, hosting Missouri at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network Plus.