Kentucky women’s basketball has no answer for hot-shooting Vanderbilt in SEC loss at home
Kentucky women’s basketball fell to 8-9 overall and 1-2 in Southeastern Conference play with Thursday evening’s 95-73 loss to Vanderbilt (16-1, 3-0 SEC) at Rupp Arena. The Commodores’ 95 points is the second-highest total Kentucky has given up all season.
Despite a quick start that saw the Wildcats take a 5-0 lead, Vanderbilt needed less than five minutes to figure out how to halt Kentucky’s offense. Thanks to a first period push led by junior guard Iyana Moore — who reached double-figure scoring before the end of the first period — and freshman forward Khamil Pierre, Vanderbilt eased to a double-digit lead after the first 10 minutes.
However, the Wildcats did find an answer for the Commodores’ balanced offense before halftime, closing the second quarter with momentum on their side — sinking their final five field goal attempts and tying Vanderbilt’s second quarter point total of 21 to sit at a 44-34 deficit at the half.
Vanderbilt clamped down on defense in the third quarter, holding the Wildcats to 36.8 percent shooting. The Commodores recorded their best shooting percentage of the night in the third quarter, shooting 75 percent (12-of-16) from the field and 80 percent (4-of-5) from long range to take a commanding 21-point lead with 10 minutes to play. The fourth quarter saw a push from the Wildcats spearheaded by nine points from Maddie Scherr, but the pre-existing hole was too deep to escape.
Moore led all scorers with 37 points. She was joined in double figures by two of her teammates, Khamil Pierre (16) and Jordyn Cambridge (12). Cambridge posted a double-double with 12 assists.
Ajae Petty led Kentucky with 23 points. Petty also recorded 21 rebounds, marking her 10th double-double of the season. Scherr contributed 20 points. Brooklynn Miles scored 11.
Next game
Kentucky at No. 1 South Carolina
When: Monday, 7 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
Records: Kentucky 8-9 (1-2 SEC), South Carolina 14-0 (2-0)
Series: South Carolina leads 39-35
Last meeting: South Carolina won 87-69 on Feb. 2, 2023, at Columbia, S.C.
