Missouri’s Lauren Hansen scored 18 factors earlier than fouling out Thursday evening towards Kentucky’s Muddy Sher. Cher completed with 11.
Missouri Athletics
On the identical basketball court docket the place the Kentucky males’s workforce lacked grit, well timed protection and sharp offense the evening earlier than, the Kentucky girls’s workforce demonstrated all three components Thursday evening in Columbia, Missouri. .
However, the tip outcome was the identical, shedding within the opening game of the Southeastern Conference.
Kentucky’s males seemed dazed and confused after shedding by 14 factors, however Kentucky’s males had been despatched off. Thursday night’s 74-71 defeat Equally dissatisfied, however with motive for hope.
After ending off-conference play as one of many least productive three-point taking pictures groups within the nation, the Wildcats posted 10 over the arc Thursday evening. On protection, Britain pushed Missouri to his twenty fifth turnover, and he scored 36 factors (greater than half of his whole) from a Tigers mistake. Kentucky stepped up their nasty free-throw taking pictures, sinking 13 of their 15 makes an attempt.
One of the dangerous quarters was the Cats’ failure to undo on Thursday evening. As a outcome, England’s Southeastern Conference successful streak from final season ended at 10.
Kentucky notoriously sluggish to begin the season (8-5 overall, 0-1 sec) It opened on a Thursday evening to nice success. Blair Green scored eight factors after his first ten minutes to steer the Cats 19-10.
In the second quarter, Missouri outscored Kentucky 29-11, making a deficit the Wildcats by no means recovered. Britain went ice chilly off the sector (14 for 3) simply because the Tigers opened hearth. Missouri made 5 three-pointers and his 10 of his 11 free-throw makes an attempt within the quarter. At halftime, Missouri led him 39–30.
Outside of these fateful ten minutes, the Wildcats outscored the Tigers 60-45.
In the second half, Kentucky repeatedly carved out Missouri’s lead however couldn’t. The fourth quarter was a lot the identical till Kentucky lastly tied the rating 66-66. Jada Walker A drive layup with 3:06 remaining capped off a 10-0 UK run.
Twice within the ultimate three minutes, the Wildcats had possibilities to take the lead with the ball, however they got here up empty. The Tigers (he is 12-2 total, 1.0 wins) made a number of clutch free throws within the ultimate minute to safe the win.
The Cats’ ultimate gasp had 3.4 seconds remaining. Robin Benton After closing the hole to 73-71 on the primary of two free throws, he deliberately missed the second in hopes of making a chance for a putback to tie the game. . But Benton’s try fell harmlessly out of bounds.
Benton led all scorers with 22 factors and contributed 6 steals defensively. Walker tallied his 15 factors and he had six assists, however notched 5 turnovers. Green ended up scoring 13 factors, with Muddy Shea including 11 factors for five rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals.
Kentucky coach Keira Elsey saved the Wildcats’ SEC Opener rotation tight, with seven gamers absorbing a lot of the minutes.
Haley Frank and Lauren Hansen scored 20 and 18 respectively to steer Missouri, main Kentucky 32-18 in paint and beating the Wildcats 41-27.
New Year’s Basketball
On Sunday, No. 24-ranked Arkansas will journey to Memorial Coliseum for a uncommon New Year’s Day game towards the Wildcats.
The 2:00 p.m. tip-off is Kentucky’s first New Year’s Day game since 2016-17 and the sixth within the historical past of this system.
The Wildcats have crushed Florida (2011-12), Mississippi Valley State (2009-10), North Carolina A&T (2008-09) and Morehead State (1980-81) for a 4-2 document on the vacation season. Tennessee (2016-17) and Xavier (2007-08).
Razorbacks Reconnaissance
Kentucky beat Arkansas 78-55 in Fayetteville, Arkansas final season, making it the one assembly between the 2 groups in 2021-22. Since that point, the Wildcats have undergone an virtually full roster transformation, with the Razorbacks being a mannequin for stability.
11 players return this season Last season, the Arkansas workforce went 18-14 total, 7-9 within the SEC, and misplaced within the opening spherical of the NCAA Tournament.
coach mike neighbors After shedding Thursday evening’s league opener to No. 9 LSU 69-45 in Fayetteville, the workforce is 13-3 total and 0-1 within the SEC this season.
Going into Thursday evening, 5-foot-7 sophomore guard Samara Spencer led the 4 Razorbacks, averaging double-digit scoring at 16.3 factors per game, whereas 6-foot-2 senior Erin Added Barnum (15.8), 5-8 senior Makaira Daniels (14.1). 6-1 Sr. Chrissy Kerr (11.4).
Arkansas has its first 13 wins this season. earlier than dropping back-to-back video games at the San Diego Invitational to No. 17 Oregon on December twentieth and South Florida on December twenty first.
subsequent game
No. 24 Arkansas at Kentucky
when: Sunday at 2:00 pm
television set: SEC Network Plus (on-line solely)
wi-fi: WLAP-AM630
document: Arkansas 13-3 (0-1 SEC), Kentucky 8-5 (0-1)
collection: Kentucky leads 26-14
Final assembly: Kentucky gained 78-55 at Fayetteville, Ark on February 20, 2022.