Kentucky-Illinois Postgame Notes

UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME MATERIALS
#14/16 KENTUCKY VS. #19/19 ILLINOIS
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27, 2024
TROJAN FIELDHOUSE (TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY) – NASHVILLE, TENN.
 

#14/16 KENTUCKY 76, #19/19 ILLINOIS 53 – FINAL

Team Records and Series Notes 

• Kentucky is 7-0 to begin the season, while Illinois moved to 6-1.
  • UK improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2019-20.
  • UK has defeated its first six opponents of the season by at least 10 points for the first time since 2013-14.
  • UK moved to 2-0 against ranked opponents this season.
    • UK defeated each of its first two ranked opponents of the season for the first time since 2016-17, when UK defeated No. 14 Miami and No. 12 Oklahoma.
    • It also marked the first time in program history that UK has defeated two AP-ranked opponents in November.
  • The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 51st season of varsity status.
    • UK has a 913-608 (.600) all-time record.
  • Kenny Brooks is in his first season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 7-0 record in Blue and White.
    • He is just the second head coach in program history to begin their first season at UK undefeated through seven games. Terry Hall went undefeated through her first nine games in 1980-81.
    • He improved to 524-204 (.719) in his 23rd overall season as a head coach.
  • Kentucky trails the all-time series against Illinois, 3-4.
    • The two teams are tied on a neutral court, 1-1.
  • In its next game, Kentucky will play No. 16/14 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Team Notes

• Kentucky used the starting combination Georgia Amoore, Dazia Lawrence, Amelia Hassett, Teonni Key and Clara Strack for the seventh straight game.
  • UK is 7-0 when using that starting combination
• The Wildcats won the opening tip for the fourth time this season.
• Teonni Key was the first player to score for Kentucky for the second time this season.
• Cassidy Rowe was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky for fourth time this season.
• Kentucky’s 23-point triumph over Illinois marked its largest margin of victory against an AP-ranked opponent since March 4, 2016 against Florida (23 points).
• The Wildcat shot 47.3 percent (35-of-74) from the field compared to the Fighting Illin’s 26.7 percent (16-of-60) from the field.
  • The Cats have held four of its seven opponents to under 30.0 percent this season.
  • The Cats also held the Fighting Illini to just 1-of-16 from the arc.
• Kentucky went 1-of-2 from the line, while Illinois went 20-of-27 from the line.
• UK outscored Illinois, 48-25, in the second half.
  • UK went on a season-high 18-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter.
• The Wildcats had just 10 turnovers, the third time this season they have had 10 or less.
• Clara Strack and Teonni Key have produced double-doubles in two straight games, marking the first time two players have recorded back-to-back double-doubles since Rhyne Howard and Dre’una Edwards did so in February 2022.
  • Arizona State – Clara Strack (24 pts, 10 rbs), Teonni Key (16 pts, 13 rbs)
  • Illinois – Clara Strack (25 pts, 15 rbs), Teonni Key (12 pts, 10 rbs)
• UK has had four double-digit scorers in six of seven games this season, including tonight.

Player Notes

• Clara Strack, sophomore center, had her fourth double-double this season – and her second straight – on a career-high and game-high 25 points and a career-high-tying and game-high 15 rebounds.
  • She has led UK in scoring three times this season.
  • She has scored in double-digits in all seven games this season.
  • She has scored 20+ points in three games this season, including a current streak of two straight.
  • She has led UK in rebounds twice this season.
  • She has pulled down double-digit rebounds in four games this season.
  • She added four assists, one steal and one block.
• Dazia Lawrence, a graduate guard, scored 15 points on 6-of-10 from the field.
  • She has scored in double-digits in five games this season.
  • She made two 3-pointers, extending her streak of making a 3-pointer in all seven games this season.
  • She added one rebound and two steals.
• Teonni Key, junior forward, had her fourth double-double this season – and her third straight –  with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
  • She has scored in double-digits in six games this season.
  • She has pulled down double-digit rebounds in four games this season.
  • She added three assists and three blocks.
    • She has recorded at least three blocks in five games this season.
• Georgia Amoore, graduate guard, had eight points, eight assists and two steals.
  • She is just 42 points away from 2,000 career points.
  • She has made at least seven assists in all seven games this season.
• Amelia Hassett, a junior forward, had 10 points and nine rebounds.
  • She is just 27 points away from eclipsing 1,000 for her career.
  • She made two 3-pointers.
  • She added one assist.