No. 16 Kentucky gets back in the win column with dominant victory over Queens
Kenny Brooks and the Kentucky Wildcats worked their way back into the win column with an 87-45 victory over Queens University of Charlotte in Memorial Coliseum on Monday night.
The game also served as a reunion between Brooks and Queens head coach Jen Brown, who played for Brooks at James Madison from 2005-08. Brown’s final college game was a 2008 WNIT matchup between James Madison and Kentucky.
The No. 16 Wildcats (8-1) jetted out to an early lead with a 29-point first quarter, besting their previous season high of 26 first-quarter points against South Carolina-Upstate in the first game of the year. Kentucky’s dominance continued in the second period, outscoring the Royals 23-9.
Kentucky poured it on in the second half, riding a balanced scoring effort and an effective free-throw percentage all the way to a 47-point lead through three quarters. Four Wildcats — Georgia Amoore, Amelia Hassett, Clara Strack and Teonni Key — reached double-figure scoring (and Key, a double-double on points and rebounds) prior to the fourth period.
All 11 of Kentucky’s healthy players received playing time in the win.
Amoore led all players in scoring with 20 points. She added one rebound, four assists and one block.
Strack, who totaled just four points, four rebounds, two assists and one block in the Wildcats’ loss to North Carolina on Dec. 5, returned to her usual form against the Royals. Against Queens, Strack finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Key added 12 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal.
Amoore, Strack and Key were joined in double figures by Hassett, who eclipsed 1,000 career points early in the third quarter and delivered a season high in scoring. She finished with 19 points against the Royals, and added six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal.
Jordyn Weaver led the Royals in scoring with 11 points, and contributed five rebounds, one block and one steal. Ana Barreto added 10 points, one rebound and a pair of steals.
Next game
No. 16 Kentucky at Purdue
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
TV: Big Ten Network
Records: UK 8-1, Purdue 5-4
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 8:00 PM.
