Kentucky breaks record for 3-pointers in a game in SEC-opening rout of Mississippi State
The 16th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats dominated their first SEC opponent of the Kenny Brooks era with a 91-69 defeat of Mississippi State on Thursday night, and made a program-record 18 3-pointers in the process.
The Wildcats (12-1 overall, 1-0 SEC) got out to a quick start against the Bulldogs (13-2, 0-1), sinking five of their eight attempts from beyond the arc, and shooting 56.3% (9-of-16) from the field en route to a nine-point lead after the first 10 minutes. Both of Kentucky’s graduate guards, Georgia Amoore and Dazia Lawrence, came up big in the first quarter — with Amoore scoring eight points and dishing four assists, and Lawrence making three of her four 3-point attempts to close the period with nine points.
Kentucky only upped its defensive hustle in the second quarter, holding Mississippi State scoreless for more than three minutes at one point as the Wildcats continued their long-range heroics. Amoore, junior forward Amelia Hassett and junior guard Saniah Tyler each made at least one 3-pointer during the second period. During the first half, Kentucky shot 60% (9-of-15) from 3-point range and 51.9% (14-of-27) from the field to take a 14-point lead at the break.
UK’s sharpshooting continued out of the locker room in the third quarter, with a pair of early 3-pointers highlighting what would become a 10-0 stretch to open the second half. The Wildcats would balloon their lead to as many as 25, as the Bulldogs struggled to keep up with Kentucky’s high-powered offense. Though Mississippi State would cut the lead to as few as 16 with a 14-2 run in the back half of the quarter, UK was able to maintain its double-digit lead.
The Wildcats broke the program record for made 3-pointers in a single game during the fourth quarter, besting the previous record of 16, set in 2020. Amoore also recorded her fifth consecutive game with at least 20 points; she tied UK legend Rhyne Howard’s four-game streak set in 2022 in the Wildcats’ Dec. 28 victory over Western Kentucky.
Amoore finished with 27 points, one rebound, nine assists and two steals Thursday. Lawrence led all Wildcats in scoring with 28 points. She also had one rebound, one steal and dished four assists. Hassett finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one block. Junior forward Teonni Key contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and one steal. Sophomore center Clara Strack added seven points, 11 rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal.
Jerkaila Jordan led the Bulldogs in scoring with 17 points. Former Kentucky Wildcat Eniya Russell added 13 points. Quanirah Montague added 13 points. Destiney McPhaul finished with 10.
Next game
No. 16 Kentucky at Vanderbilt
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
TV: SEC Network+ (online only)
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
Records: Kentucky 12-1 (1-0 SEC), Vanderbilt 13-1 (0-0)
Series: Vanderbilt leads 39-27
Last meeting: Vanderbilt won 95-73 on Jan. 11, 2024, at Rupp Arena in Lexington
This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 9:08 PM.
