Lexington, KY—The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team took center stage as they hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Their opening matchup saw them face off against Liberty in a thrilling first-round battle.
A Strong Start for the Wildcats
The game tipped off at noon, and it didn’t take long for Kentucky to make an impact. Georgia Amoore set the tone early, draining a three-pointer to get the Wildcats on the board. She dominated the first half, outscoring Liberty by herself for much of the period. Her impressive performance was complemented by contributions from teammates Key, Strack, and Lawrence, who combined for 21 additional points.
Defensively, Kentucky set the tone early, registering five blocks in the first two quarters. Their strong play on both ends helped them take control heading into halftime.
Building Momentum in the Third Quarter
The Wildcats came out of the break determined to extend their lead. Amoore continued her stellar play, opening the third period with a floater, drawing a foul in the process. Strack also stepped up, making key plays on both ends of the court. Kentucky’s offensive firepower shined in the quarter, as they put up another 20 points and stretched their lead to 14, heading into the final period with a 64-50 advantage.
A Late Surge by Liberty
Despite Kentucky’s dominance, Liberty refused to go down without a fight. The fourth quarter started with Amoore making an impact on defense, securing a block and a steal before assisting Hassett on a three-pointer. However, Liberty responded with relentless energy, slowly chipping away at the Wildcats’ lead.
With just under two minutes left, Kentucky faced serious pressure. A costly turnover allowed Liberty to capitalize with a crucial three-pointer, bringing the score to 74-73. Amoore answered with a clutch left-side layup to push the Wildcats ahead 76-73 with under a minute to play. Liberty responded once more, scoring inside to cut the deficit to one.
Kentucky Holds On for the Win
In the final moments, Kentucky managed to fend off Liberty’s comeback attempt. Amoore sealed the victory at the free-throw line, hitting three of four foul shots to secure a 78-75 win. Liberty’s last-second three-pointer wasn’t enough, and the Wildcats advanced to the second round.
Historic Performance by Amoore
Amoore’s outstanding night saw her tie a school record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game, finishing with 38 points. She matched the mark set in 2013 by Mathes, cementing her place in Kentucky basketball history.
Final Stat Lines
- Georgia Amoore – 38 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
- C. Strack – 15 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks
- D. Lawrence – 16 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
With this hard-fought victory, Kentucky moves on to the second round, set to take the court again on Sunday.
