Kentucky defeats the Belmont Bruins, 84-78, to move to 10-1

It’s been 11 days since Kentucky Women’s Basketball played a game at Memorial Coliseum. Previously, the ‘Cats overcame a stagnant first quarter to charge to a win over Queens. Tonight’s game against Belmont was much of the same.

Coming off a 30-point win against Purdue, the ‘Cats had some much needed momentum for the first of their final two non-conference games. The Bruins, much like Queens and Purdue Fort Wayne, were not going to back down without a fight, and that was evident from the beginning.

While Kentucky came out of the gate slow offensively, they quickly picked up the pace, but finished out the first quarter with a 22-20 deficit. Georgia Amoore collected two fouls three minutes into the game, and wouldn’t see the floor again until the second quarter. Despite a few threes by Amelia Hassett and Dazia Lawrence, Kentucky wasn’t able to head into the second on top.

Lawrence tied the game at 26 with a little over six minutes to go in the first half. Amoore pushed the ‘Cats up three with a nothing-but-net shot from the perimeter. Despite that, Belmont tied the game once again, and it seemed like these two teams would be trading possessions for the remainder of the game.

However, Kentucky was dry from the field. In the second, Kentucky shot only 6-19 (31.6%) and only 12-33 (36%) in the entirety of the first half. Belmont, on the other hand, shot 16-33 (48%) during the half, including 6-15 (40%) from three. Not a single Wildcat was in double-digit scoring yet, but Lawrence led her team with nine points.

In order to come out on top, the ‘Cats were going to have to make some halftime adjustments. To start the third, Amoore came out on an eight point hot streak. Thanks to the guard, Kentucky overcame a six point deficit and gave the ‘Cats a two-point edge over the Bruins. Just like that, Kentucky flipped into high gear. After their offense was practically nonexistent in the first half, the ‘Cats scored 24 points on 10-16 (62.5%) from the field in the third. Despite that, Kentucky only led Belmont by three.

To start the fourth quarter, Kentucky took a seven point lead over the Bruins. The seven point lead quickly turned into a 12 point lead, thanks to a couple threes from Amoore. The guard finished with 23 points on 8-17 from the field and 7-13 from three. 20 of her points came in the second half alone. Clara Strack finished Friday’s matchup with 12 points and five rebounds.

Hassett and Lawrence also finished in double-digits, with 16 and 15 points, respectively. The pair shot a combined 5-15 (33%) from three, plus 16 rebounds. After a slow start from Teonni Key, the forward joined the double-digit club, finishing with 12 points.

Instead of crumbling under pressure, the ‘Cats, led by Amoore, scored 27 points to finish out the game and pull out a win. Up next, Kentucky takes on Western Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 4:00 p.m. EST at Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats could head into SEC play in January with only one loss if they win against the Hilltoppers.