Down 18 points, 11th-ranked UK women rally but come up short at LSU
The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team picked a bad time to put together one of its worst offensive games of the season.
The 11th-ranked Wildcats staged a valiant rally, turning what looked like a blowout into a two-possession game. But an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit proved too much to overcome as Kentucky fell to LSU, 65-59, in Baton Rouge. The loss ended a four-game win streak for Kentucky (15-2 overall, 4-2 Southeastern Conference).
It was an ugly game all around for the Cats. Sophomore star Rhyne Howard scored a game-high 26 points, but she hit just seven of 22 shots from the field. UK has been deadly from three-point-range most of the season, but against LSU (14-4, 4-2 SEC) went just six of 26 from the perimeter and shot 23 percent overall. Howard hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to set the final score.
Kentucky struggled against the Tigers’ superior size. LSU’s 6-foot-5 center, Faustine Aifuwa, had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. LSU won the rebounding battle 42-34.
The Wildcats scored a season-low 16 points in the first half. They went without a field goal the final 8:39 of the third quarter, missing 10 straight shots as LSU built a 45-27 lead.
The Cats came charging back in the fourth as Coach Matthew Mitchell switched to a five-guard lineup. UK went on a 9-0 run to close within 47-38. Howard sank a three-pointer to cut the deficit to four with 49 seconds to play, then LSU hit seven of eight free throws to ice the game.
Five Tigers scored double figures, led by Ayana Mitchell’s 15. Sabrina Haines had 11 points for UK while Jaida Roper added 10. Kentucky forced 20 turnovers, with Howard accounting for five steals.
“We played good enough defense today to win, but just could not get the ball in the basket,” Mitchell said. “We had a hard time scoring, obviously, up until the fourth quarter and you have to give LSU’s defense credit for that.”
The Wildcats were once again without the services of junior forward KeKe McKinney, who missed her fourth straight game. Before last week’s win over Texas A&M, UK reported McKinney’s absence was due to recurring migraine-type headaches.
The Cats will have plenty of time to get back on track before their next game. They get a full week off before hosting Auburn next Monday. Another bit of good news: Kentucky plays three of its next four at home.
Next game
Auburn at No. 11 Kentucky
7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27 (SEC Network)
