No. 14 Kentucky suffers first loss of the Kenny Brooks era, falls at No. 16 UNC
Big Blue Nation witnessed the first loss of the Kenny Brooks era Thursday, when the 14th-ranked Kentucky women’s basketball team suffered a 72-53 blow at the hands of No. 16 North Carolina in Chapel Hill as part of the 2024 SEC/ACC Challenge.
For much of the first quarter, the Wildcats (7-1) struggled to keep up with the Tar Heels. Though Kentucky and North Carolina represent two of the strongest defenses in Power Four basketball, it was the Tar Heels (8-1) who got out to a quick start; UNC led by as many as 15 in the first quarter. However, a 10-0 scoring run to close the final three minutes of the first period allowed Kentucky to dig itself out of the double-digit hole.
An underwhelming second period for the Wildcats’ offense — outscored 15-9 by UNC in the second quarter after shooting just 23.1% (3-of-13) from the field, including zero made 3-pointers on six attempts, and 75.0% (3-of-4) from the free-throw line — shifted the momentum back in North Carolina’s favor. The Tar Heels entered the half with an 11-point advantage, a far more balanced scoring attack (three Tar Heels — Maria Gakdeng, 10, Alyssa Ustby, nine, and Ciera Toomey, eight — recorded at least eight points in the first 20 minutes, while only Georgia Amoore, 10, scored more than five) and two fouls each assessed to Kentucky’s typically dominant post duo of Clara Strack and Teonni Key.
Because of foul trouble, Strack played just seven minutes in the first half and did not score her first points until early in the third period. However, not even Strack — who carried the Wildcats’ offense through a difficult first half against Illinois last week in Nashville — could overcome the defense of the experienced North Carolina frontcourt. A 14-14 scoring split in the third period kept the Wildcats at bay, trailing by 11 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Prior to a 3-pointer made by Amelia Hassett, UNC set a new largest lead of the game (not the last time it would do so) with a 16-point advantage with 7:36 to play in the fourth quarter. However, Kentucky kept grinding; UK relied on a few well-placed 3-point shots from its most talented shooters (Hassett, Dazia Lawrence), and cut the Tar Heels’ lead to as few as nine. Ultimately, missed opportunities in the final half of the fourth quarter — including a scoring drought lasting more than three minutes and a double-digit fourth quarter performance from Reniya Kelly — meant the Wildcats would not survive their first true road game of the season.
Brooks is now 10-3 all-time against North Carolina.
Lawrence led all Wildcats in scoring with 17 points. She added one rebound. Hassett recorded a double-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, one block and one steal. Amoore added 10 points, eight assists and one steal. Key contributed seven points, eight rebounds and one steal.
Gakdeng had a standout night defensively for UNC, having limited Strack, Key and Silva to just 15 combined points, and finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocks. Ustby added 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Kelly contributed 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and one steal.
Next game
No. 14 Kentucky vs. Queens University of Charlotte
When: 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9
Where: Memorial Coliseum
TV: SEC Network+ (online only)
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
Records: UK 7-1, Queens 4-3
SEC/ACC Challenge
Wednesday
▪ Virginia Tech 70, Georgia 61
▪ Georgia Tech 78, Mississippi State 75
▪ No. 11 Oklahoma 78, No. 22 Louisville 72
▪ Tennessee 79, Florida State 77
▪ Texas A&M 57, Syracuse 45
▪ Vanderbilt 88, Miami 70
Thursday
▪ No. 16 North Carolina 72, No. 14 Kentucky 53
▪ Auburn at Virginia, 6 p.m.
▪ No. 4 Texas at No. 10 Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
▪ No. 18 Ole Miss at North Carolina State, 7 p.m.
▪ Boston College at Arkansas, 7 p.m.
▪ Florida at Clemson, 8 p.m.
▪ No. 8 Duke at No. 3 South Carolina, 9 p.m.
▪ Stanford at No. 5 LSU, 9 p.m.
▪ No. 19 Alabama at California, 9 p.m.
▪ SMU at Missouri, 9 p.m.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 7:01 PM.
