Amoore’s second-half bounce-back lifts No. 16 Kentucky to comeback victory over Belmont
Kenny Brooks and the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats will ride a three-game winning streak into the holiday break after Friday’s 84-78 comeback victory over Belmont.
For the second consecutive game, the Wildcats (10-1) trailed after the first 10 minutes. The Bruins, whose tough schedule this season has featured losses to Kansas State, Ohio State, Duke, Michigan and Mississippi State, outscored Kentucky 22-20 in the first period, and held the Wildcats to just 36% (12-of-33) shooting in the first half.
The Wildcats didn’t grab their first lead until 5:44 remained in the second period, but an 8-0 run from the Bruins (5-6) kept UK at bay for a bit longer.
A 14-point third quarter boost from All-America point guard Georgia Amoore, who sat for the majority of the first period after picking up a pair of early fouls, lifted Kentucky to their first winning quarter of the game and set the Wildcats up to maintain their undefeated home record. Amoore made just one basket in the first 20 minutes, a 3-pointer in the second period, before delivering a dominant second half during which she drained seven shots from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats took their largest lead of the contest (12) in the fourth quarter, but a 6-0 scoring run from Belmont took it to the wire before a game-clinching 3-pointer from junior forward Amelia Hassett iced it for Kentucky, despite a pair of late fouls committed by junior forward Teonni Key giving the Bruins a chance to cut it closer at the free-throw line.
Amoore led the Wildcats in scoring with 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting from the field. She added three rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes. Hassett finished with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, and contributed 11 rebounds, one assist and a pair of steals. Graduate guard Dazia Lawrence finished with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Sophomore center Clara Strack added 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal. Key had 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block.
Jailyn Banks led the Bruins in scoring with 23 points. Kendall Holmes added 18 points, while Emily La Chapell finished with 12, Tuti Jones 11 and Kendal Cheesman 10.
Next game
Western Kentucky at No. 16 Kentucky
When: Dec. 28 at 4 p.m.
TV: SEC Network+ (online only)
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
Records: Western Kentucky 8-2, Kentucky 10-1
Series: Tied 14-14
Last meeting: WKU won 66-57 on Dec. 4, 2008, in Bowling Green
This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 7:55 PM.
