I don’t think I have ever heard Historic Memorial Coliseum get as loud as it did today. South Carolina was in town, 5 seniors were being honored, Marlana VanHoose sang the national anthem, and Red Panda performed at halftime.
Kentucky started the game well enough, but they hit a really rough patch mid-way through the first and deep into the second.
Kentucky found itself down 14 with 3:45 to go in the 2nd quarter. A Kenny Brooks timeout fueled a huge 8-0 run to get the Cats back within striking distance
as the teams headed to halftime, 33-27.
The Cats were led by Clara Strack (10 points) and Amelia Hassett (6 points). 3 players had 5 rebounds each (Jordan Obi, Tonie Morgan, and Clara Strack). South Carolina was led by Madina Okot, who had 11 and 9 in a dominant first half.
Kentucky crowd pushes Cats, but they fall short
Right out of the halftime, Asia Boone found herself open from the top of the key. She was 0-6 last game, but she was dead center with that one. The lead was back down to 3. But a turnover allowed the Gamecocks to push it back to 5.
Again, the Cats cut it to 3, again they turned it over and allowed South Carolina to push it back to 5. A Clara Strack fadeaway had HMC on its feet again, but she committed her 3rd foul right after. Joyce Edwards converted just one, and Asia Boone tied it up this time with another huge 3.
Madina Okot was a pain all night long, though; she scored. Stole it from Strack and made an easy layup to put the Gamecocks back up 4.
Tonie Morgan cut it to 2, but a Tessa Johnson 3 pushed it right back to 5 with 4:46 to go.
Teonni Key had a night to forget. With Kentucky in striking distance, the senior missed bunny after bunny. She was just 1-9 through 3. Kenny kept calling her number, but she just could not convert. The Gamecocks went on a 9-0 run to open back up a game that was just tied.
Turnovers turned the tide as they had all season long. Kentucky had 6 in the 3rd quarter alone. South Carolina went to the fourth up 54-41.
Outside of that 14-4 stretch, this game was about even. But when you play a team like South Carolina, they don’t need much.
Clara Strack had 4 straight and had a chance to cut it to 5, but she missed two free throws. The Cats again got the stop, and this time it was Teonni Key who converted.
Another Kentucky stop and another Teonni Key layup had HMC roaring. It was Dawn Staley’s turn to try and stop the bleeding as she called a timeout up 3 with 3:30 to go. Tessa Johnson and Clara Strack traded baskets, and HMC roared for another stop, and they got it.
Kenny Brooks took a timeout to get a shot he wanted. He got it, but Asia Boone couldn’t convert from deep.
Tessa Johnson got a clean look, but she couldn’t convert from deep either. And the teams reset with 1:10 to go as Kenny Brooks called another timeout.
Jordan Obi drew a foul but could only convert 1. The Cats got a steal and had a chance to tie or lead. But they couldn’t convert. A jump ball gave the ball back to South Carolina. Dawn Staley called a timeout, and all they had to do was make their free throws.
The Cats had just one team foul, and before they could get them into the bonus, Madina Okot made a layup after 2 Cats collide. South Carolina escapes 60-56.
Kentucky finishes the regular season at 21-9 overall and 8-8 in SEC play. They’ll return to action in the SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, this week. The day, time, and opponent are still to be determined.
