Kentucky WBB closes regular season in 83-63 loss to Tennessee

Kentucky women’s basketball did not win a game in the final 29 days of its regular season.

On Sunday, the Cats (10-18, 2-14 SEC) poetically ended their regular season with an 83-63 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers (21-10, 13-3 SEC). Kentucky has dropped seven-straight contests. As if the 20-point defeat wasn’t a big enough disappointment on its own, Sunday was Kentucky’s Senior Day.

Before the game, the program honored Blair Green, Robyn Benton and Adebola Adeyeye in its annual ceremony. Of the three seniors, Green was the only player who began and ended her collegiate career in a Kentucky uniform. Benton transferred from Auburn two years ago while Adeyeye joined the Wildcats this offseason.

All three Kentucky WBB senior celebrations, including a hug between Blair Green and fiancé CJ Fredrick pic.twitter.com/Zn6h8UqRoo

— Grant Grubbs (@grant_grubbs_) February 26, 2023

Although Sunday was about the seniors, a Kentucky junior was the highlight for the Cats. Maddie Scherr recorded a career-high 27 points and four rebounds while shooting 10-21 from the field. The 5-foot-11 guard scored 21 points in just the second half.

Sadly for UK, the rest of the team’s statistics weren’t so glamorous. In the loss, Kentucky shot 24-65 (37%) from the field and 3-9 (33%) from beyond the arc. The Wildcats never led during the loss on Sunday. The agony didn’t hesitate to pounce on the Cats.

A sluggish start for Kentucky

The fun for Kentucky ended the moment the Volunteers won the tip-off. Tennessee rattled off seven unanswered points, forcing UK head coach Kyra Elzy to call a timeout. The quick conversation didn’t cage the Volunteers.

The team scored another six points before Scherr finally found Kentucky’s first basket. Just when all hope was lost for the Cats, the team created four Tennessee turnovers in a mere minute and a half. The Cats capitalized on the Volunteers’ brief lapse, drilling home a 10-2 run to close the quarter.

Cats in the first quarter on a 10-2 run. ✌️#GameOn pic.twitter.com/6q3CIoQkJm

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) February 26, 2023

Kentucky’s scoring streak stopped the bleeding but didn’t heal the wound. Tennessee took a 25-15 lead into the second frame. The Cats kept things close through the first five minutes of the second quarter, fueled by six-straight Robyn Benton points.

However, the team’s luck dwindled along with the time on the clock. Kentucky hit just one of its final eight first-half field-goal attempts. In turn, Tennessee strolled into halftime with a comfortable 46-28 lead.

No comeback in the Cats

Tennessee’s steam-rolling performance didn’t stop there. After Kentucky scored the first basket of the second half, the Volunteers went on a lightning-fast 6-0 run. Star forward Rickea Jackson propelled the team’s hot streak forward.

The 6-foot-2 senior scored eight points on 4-4 shooting in the third period alone. On the other end of the court, UK couldn’t will a shot to fall. The team shot 25% from the field in the period, scoring nearly half their points at the free-throw line. Tennessee breezed into the final frame ahead 68-41.

Like many recent games, foul trouble struck again in the fourth quarter. With five minutes left in the contest, Adeyeye fouled out. Just three minutes later, Benton joined her fellow senior on the bench. Scherr was the only thing standing between Kentucky and its worst loss of the season.

.@madd1escherr with the last nine straight Kentucky points. 👏#GameOn pic.twitter.com/rcsQjO4eH0

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) February 26, 2023

The 5-foot-11 guard recorded 14 points in the fourth period, draining back-to-back 3’s. Scherr’s standout performance wasn’t enough to make the Volunteers break a sweat. Tennessee left Memorial Coliseum with a commanding 83-63 victory.

In the defeat, the Wildcats only recorded four bench points. Of course, the team was missing one of its key bench pieces. Kennedy Cambridge was out for the second game in a row with illness.

Tennessee outscored Kentucky 50-30 in the paint. Additionally, the Volunteers grabbed 16 more rebounds than the Cats. Despite its down sides, Kentucky did win the turnover battle. The team forced 21 Tennessee turnovers while committing just 14 themselves.

Benton and Jada Walker were the only other Kentucky players who scored double figures besides Scherr. Benton contributed 17 points on 5-11 shooting in the loss. Walker added 10 points and four assists, as well.

Kentucky finished the season at No. 13 in the SEC standings. As punishment, the team will most likely face Vanderbilt at 11 a.m. on March 1 in the First Four of the SEC Tournament. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.