Kentucky women’s basketball is on a historic shooting heater from deep. If the Wildcats shoot anywhere close to how they have over the last two games, this team will legitimately challenge for a Final Four.
We already knew they had the size with three 6-foot-5 starters. We knew they had the depth with five McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster. We knew they had the defense, anchored by a rim protector in Clara Strack, who has the talent to break single-season block records.
And watching this team
practice, we knew they had the shooting. It hadn’t shown up until NC State. The Cats were just 24 percent on 3s heading into that game. But these last two games?
NC State- 18-for-39
Evansville- 18-for-39
Folks, that is elite territory.
Adding this level of record-breaking perimeter firepower makes them a nightmare matchup for anyone in the country.
It was all on display against Evansville.
The Purple Aces were heavily outmatched, and I said beforehand how important it would be to see whether Kentucky could keep its intensity up against a lesser opponent.
They did not play with their food. The Wildcats jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter, stretched the advantage to 46-11 at halftime, and ultimately cruised to a 98-30 victory.
Kentucky WBB puts on a shooting clinic
The story of the night was the shooting clinic. For the second straight game, Kentucky tied the team school record by draining 18 3-pointers.
On Sunday, Ajsa Sivka tied Rhyne Howard’s individual school record with eight made 3s against NC State. That mark didn’t last long.
Emily McDonald put on a show on Thursday, knocking down nine 3-pointers to set a new single-game record and finish with a game-high 27 points. Joining her in double figures were Me’Arah O’Neal with 18, Sivka with 12, and Strack with 11.
Beyond the scoring explosion, it was really good seeing Maddyn Greenway get some extended run. After just two minutes against the Wolfpack, I was hoping she would get back on the court, and she did in a big way.
She looked in control of the offense, constantly feeding McDonald on her record-breaking night and threading great bounce passes off the dribble to Savvy Swords.
Greenway only scored two points, but she dished out eight assists with zero turnovers. That is the kind of poised, floor-general performance you want to see from a young guard.
When you combine elite interior size with unselfish passing and historic outside shooting, you get a 68-point blowout where the opponent never stands a chance.
Head coach Kenny Brooks and his squad return Sunday against Eastern Michigan at Noon on the SEC Network.
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