Kentucky Loses to No. 3 Colorado on Friday

Eniya Russell scored 14 points and Maddie Scherr added 13 but the Kentucky women’s basketball team lost to No. 3 Colorado 96-53 on Friday in the Paradise Jam.

Ajae Petty had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Cats.

Kentucky (2-4) got off to a fast start, scoring the game’s first four points and eventually building a 9-2 lead on a layup and free throw by Jenkins. But Colorado would respond, tying the game with a 7-0 run of its own. The contest was tied at nine, 11 and 14 before the Buffaloes closed the first period on a 14-0 run to lead 25-14 after 10 minutes of play.

In the second quarter, the Cats would cut into the Colorado lead, getting within single digits and eventually within five, 35-30, on a Saniya Tyler three pointer. After a Colorado basket, Scherr cut the deficit to five again, 37-32. UK would get even closer as Petty hit a pair of free throws to cut it to 37-34. The Buffaloes would score eight in a row and would lead 45-34 at the half.

Colorado would open the game up in the third quarter. After Kentucky scored the first point of the period, Colorado scored 12 straight lead extend the lead to 57-35. The Buffaloes would lead 73-48 after three quarters.

The Buffaloes would outscore the Cats 20-5 in the fourth quarter to provide the final margin of victory.

Kentucky returns to action on Saturday in the final game of the Paradise Jam. The Cats face Cincinnati at 3:15 in a game that can be seen on ESPN Plus.