Kentucky Falls to South Carolina, Misses Out on SEC Championship
The No. 15 Kentucky women’s basketball team saw its hopes of securing an SEC Championship slip away Sunday afternoon as the No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks claimed a 78-66 victory at Colonial Life Arena. With the win, South Carolina improved to 27-3 overall and 15-1 in the Southeastern Conference, clinching at least a share of the SEC regular-season title.
Strong Start but a Tough Finish
Kentucky (22-6, 11-5 SEC) battled throughout the game, but a late surge by the Gamecocks ultimately put the contest out of reach. Clara Strack led the Wildcats with an impressive 23-point, eight-rebound performance, while Georgia Amoore added 16 points, Teonni Key contributed 12, and Dazia Lawrence finished with 10. Amoore and Lawrence, both seniors, played in their final regular-season collegiate games.
The defending national champions came out strong, buoyed by a raucous home crowd celebrating Sania Feagin, Bree Hall, and Raven Johnson’s senior day. The atmosphere at Colonial Life Arena was electric, as the Gamecocks honored the most decorated four-year class in program history.
Late Turnovers Prove Costly
Despite the challenging environment, Kentucky stayed within striking distance for most of the contest. Amoore’s clutch basket brought the Wildcats within a single point late in the game, but South Carolina quickly answered, preventing Kentucky from gaining momentum. A pivotal stretch saw the Gamecocks go on a 9-0 run, forcing UK head coach Kenny Brooks to call a timeout as the deficit grew. Four crucial turnovers in the closing minutes sealed the Wildcats’ fate, as South Carolina capitalized on each mistake to extend the lead to double digits. With two minutes remaining, Kentucky trailed by 11, and the deafening crowd made any chance of a comeback nearly impossible.
Looking Ahead to the SEC Tournament
Kentucky used its consistent starting lineup of Amoore, Lawrence, Amelia Hassett, Key, and Strack for the 28th consecutive game. Despite their reliable core, the Wildcats struggled to finish plays down the stretch. Kentucky shot 42.9 percent from the field (27-of-63) and narrowly outrebounded South Carolina 34-33. However, the Gamecocks’ defensive pressure led to costly mistakes that ultimately proved too much for the Wildcats to overcome.
While the loss dashed Kentucky’s SEC title hopes, the Wildcats will now turn their focus to the SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. As the fourth seed, Kentucky will have a double-bye and will play its first game on Friday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. With the postseason on the horizon, the Wildcats will look to regroup and make a deep tournament run to solidify their standing for the NCAA Tournament.
