Clara Strack named MVP of Music City Classic, Georgia Amoore makes All-Tournament Team

Kentucky women’s basketball sure looked the part of a Top 10 team in the country after back-to-back wins over Power 4 opponents earlier this week. Sophomore center Clara Strack even looked the part of a possible All-American candidate.

Strack was named the Most Valuable Player of the Music City Classic in Nashville, which saw the No. 14 Wildcats take down Arizona State 77-61 on Tuesday and No. 19 Illinois 76-53 the following day. The six-team event also featured Dayton, South Dakota, and Maryland Eastern Shore, but no individual player was better than Strack. The Virginia Tech transfer, who turned 19 on Wednesday, was special for head coach Kenny Brooks this week — and all season long, honestly.

During Kentucky’s two wins in Nashville, Strack averaged 24.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 32 minutes per outing. The 6-foot-5 center shot 60 percent from the field and 3-6 from deep. She recorded double-doubles in both outings, her third and fourth of the season. More individual accolades (SEC Player of the Week, anyone?) will come her way once the week wraps up.

Not to be outdone by too much, fifth-year point guard Georgia Amoore was named to the Music City Classic All-Tournament Team. Although she struggled to shoot the ball efficiently (a trend she has yet to shake this season), the Virginia Tech transfer was instrumental in Kentucky’s two wins this week. Amoore averaged 14 points, 8.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in 37 minutes per game. She shot just 33.3 percent from the floor and 14.3 percent from deep, but racked up 17 assists along the way.

Strack and Amoore have led the way this season for Kentucky. They’ve been the Wildcats’ two best players through the 7-0 start. Teonni Key, Dazia Lawrence, Amelia Hassett, and Cassidy Rowe have all carved out their roles and play them to near-perfection, but the pair of former Hokies are the engines behind UK’s early success.