Kyra Elzy was pleased with Kentucky's fight despite OT loss to Mississippi State

PStevensKSR

kyra-elzy-pleased-kentucky-fight-despite-loss-mississippi-state — Photo by Eddie Justice | UK Athletics

It’s not oftentimes that you leave a loss with a good taste in your mouth. However, Kentucky women’s basketball’s crushing loss to Mississippi State on Thursday night was bittersweet in a way. It wasn’t all bad, and Kyra Elzy made note of that postgame.

Following the game against the Bulldogs, Elzy said, “I love their fight, and that’s what they needed. We talked about staying together. We only had each other, and I thought they fought and sold out. Obviously disappointing. You want to win, that’s the name of the game.”

In previous games, and against Arkansas and Alabama specifically, Kentucky seemed to just crumble in the face of adversity. By the time the second and third quarters came to a close, the ‘Cats were practically already waving the white flag. But it was a different story against Mississippi State.

Maddie Scherr made sure that this one wouldn’t get out of hand with a lead-changing three midway through the third quarter. In games past, Mississippi State would probably take a firm lead during that stretch. Instead, Kentucky proved that they weren’t down for the count just yet.

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YEAH MADDIE🔥🔥🔥@madd1escherr #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/vQfWM8fcRq
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) February 2, 2024

On Thursday, Kentucky came in ready for a fight. It’s just unfortunate that the Bulldogs landed the last blow.

Elzy added, “So, their spirits are really down right now, and rightfully so because they’re competitors. We did a lot of good things. We gotta be able to finish out, but we did grow up in this game, and that’s what we needed. Obviously, we want to grow up and get the win, but you gotta live, learn, and we gotta continue to be resilient.”

Whether you believe in moral victories or not, you have to admit that Kentucky made a small step in the right direction on Thursday. On Sunday, the ‘Cats will have to go to war again against Georgia in Athens. In what will be one of the more winnable games left on the schedule, it is imperative that Kentucky shows up with that same fight they showed against Mississippi State.

Then, maybe Kentucky can be rewarded with a win too.