No. 8 Kentucky women’s basketball gets back on track with a dominant win over Georgia
The eighth-ranked Kentucky women’s basketball team picked up a much-needed 84-55 win against Georgia at Memorial Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats were one game removed from its first home loss of the season — a lopsided 67-49 defeated against No. 3 Texas on Thursday that was the team’s second consecutive setback.
Kentucky (20-4, 9-3 SEC) returned to the court with a renewed sense of energy and a more consistent shot. The Wildcats made 62.5% (10-for-16) of their first-quarter shots from the field, including an efficient 75% (6-for-8) from 3-point range to take a 15-point advantage in the first 10 minutes.
UK had made only three baskets from beyond the arc altogether against Texas, and four total in its loss at Ole Miss on Monday.
Sunday’s first quarter included the usual strong start from All-America point guard Georgia Amoore — who scored 10 points and also, per UK Sports Network statistician Corey Price, became the third player in Division I women’s basketball history to have at least 2,300 career points and 800 career assists alongside Iowa legend Caitlin Clark and Oregon icon Sabrina Ionescu.
There was a welcome return-to-form for junior forward Amelia Hassett, who made all three of her 3-point attempts in the first quarter. Hassett was averaging double figures in scoring before underwhelming in the Wildcats’ past three contests.
Georgia (10-16, 2-10 SEC) opened the second period on an 11-3 run before the Wildcats adjusted, and ultimately broke even with the Bulldogs, 15-15, in the quarter.
Though UK didn’t gain any additional ground before halftime, seven of the nine Wildcats to receive playing time had contributed to the comfortable lead.
Kentucky largely shut down the Georgia offense through the first 20 minutes, holding eight of the nine Bulldogs to take the floor to four points or fewer. Only freshman Trinity Turner, the team’s second-leading scorer, could garner any scoring momentum, and she led all players with 20 points through two periods.
Out of the locker room, the Wildcats were more successful in containing Turner and her teammates; UK outscored the Bulldogs 17-10 in the period, and held Turner to zero points while also limiting Georgia to zero field goals over the course of nearly five minutes in the back half of the quarter. Amoore, Hassett and junior forward Teonni Key had each reached double figures in scoring by the end of the third quarter, with Key securing her third consecutive double-double.
Sophomore center Clara Strack, who scored zero points on one field goal attempt against the Longhorns, reached double figures in scoring at the top of the fourth quarter as the Wildcats continued to twist the knife along the way to its largest lead of the afternoon at 29 points. Strack (six points) and graduate guard Dazia Lawrence (10 points) led the way for the Wildcats during the final period of play, ensuring at least 13 points for each member of Kentucky’s starting five.
Kentucky held Georgia without a field goal for the final four minutes and 45 seconds of the fourth quarter.
Amoore finished with a team-high 21 points to go with seven assists. Strack added 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal.
Lawrence was perfect from the field until late in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Lawrence also grabbed five rebounds.
Key finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and one block. Hassett contributed 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.
Turner scored 22 points for the Bulldogs. Freshman Mia Woolfolk, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, had nine points.
Next game
No. 8 Kentucky at Missouri
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
Records: Kentucky 20-4 (9-3 SEC), Missouri 13-13 (2-9 SEC)
Series: Kentucky leads 12-5
Last meeting: Kentucky won 76-71 on Jan. 21, 2024, at Rupp Arena
This story was originally published February 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM.
