No. 14 Kentucky Comes Up Just Short Against No. 7 LSU
Georgia Amoore scored 16 points, but the 14th-ranked Kentucky women’s basketball team lost to No. 7 LSU 65-58 on Sunday inside Historic Memorial Coliseum.
Freshman Clara Silva came off the bench to score 12 points while grabbing a career-high eight rebounds.
Kentucky (21-5, 10-4 Southeastern Conference) led by as many as 16 points in the first half, and held a 38-26 lead at the half. However, the Tigers outscored the Cats 23-6 in the third quarter to take the lead. UK would rally in the fourth quarter, briefly retaking the lead before seeing LSU close out strong to bring home the victory.
Both teams were cold early, with Kentucky missing its first five shots and LSU missing its first six. The Cats scored the first points of the game on an Amelia Hassett putback with 8:02 left in the first quarter. Kentucky extended the lead to 6-0 on a Dazia Lawrence bucket and two Lawrence free throws. After LSU got on the board, UK stretched the lead to 8-2 on a Clara Silva putback. However, the Tigers would score the next four to cut the Kentucky lead to 8-6.
Hassett made two free throws to give the Cats a 10-6 lead but the Tigers scored four in a row to tie the game. An Amoore three made it 13-10 UK but LSU hit two free throws to get within one. Amoore made one of two at the line to give the Cats a 14-12 lead, which would be the score after 10 minutes of play.
Lawrence scored the first two points of the second quarter, making it 16-12. After an LSU basket, Clara Strack got loose underneath and scored, giving UK an 18-14 advantage. Hassett then scored on a putback and a three-pointer to give the Cats a 23-14 lead. Lawrence hit a three from the top of the key and Silva scored from the corner, closing out a 12-0 run that gave Kentucky a 28-14 lead.
After LSU stopped the run, Amoore hit a long three to make it 31-16. LSU would score before Amoore hit another three and the Cats led 34-18. After another LSU bucket, Amoore made the play of the day, knocking down a long LSU pass, then tipping it to herself and driving for a layup that extended the UK lead to 36-20. The Tigers would make two free throws before Silva scored to stretch the lead to 38-22. LSU would score the final four points of the half, but UK took a 38-26 lead into the break. Amoore had 12 points in the first half to lead all scorers.
LSU scored the first six points of the third quarter to get within six, 38-32. A Saniah Tyler three made it 41-32 but LSU scored the next eight points to get within one, 41-40. A Teonni Key free throw gave UK a 42-40 lead, but the Tigers hit a three on the next possession to lead 43-42. LSU would score the next six before Silva scored on a putback just before the buzzer. The Tigers led 49-44 after three quarters.
The Tigers scored the first two points of the second half before fast break layups from Amoore and Strack got the Cats within three, 51-48. And when Strack drove to the basket and scored, UK was within one. An Amoore bucket gave the Cats a 52-51 lead with 5:26 to play. However, the Tigers scored the next four to lead 55-52.
Strack made two free throws to get the Cats within one, 55-54 with 4:14 to play. A Silva fadeaway jumper gave UK a 56-55 lead with 3:17 remaining, but LSU scored on the other end to lead 57-56. The Tigers would score again, extending the lead to 59-56 before Silva scored again, making it 59-58 with 1:08 to play. LSU would hit a three on the other end to stretch the lead to 62-58 with 50 seconds to play. Kentucky would get no closer.
Kentucky returns to action on Thursday, hosting Tennessee inside Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
