NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a dynamic Sunday match, Georgia Amoore shined with a stellar performance, accumulating 24 points and nine assists, while Amelia Hassett displayed her sharpshooting skills by making six three-pointers to add 20 points. This victory propelled the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats to their sixth consecutive win, defeating Vanderbilt with a score of 96-78 and ending the Commodores’ impressive second seven-game winning streak of the season.
The Wildcats, boasting a 13-1 record and 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play, came into the game riding high after setting a school record with 18 three-pointers in a dominant 91-69 triumph over Mississippi State just days prior. They started strong, making six three-pointers in a powerful 31-point first quarter that helped them build an early 14-point lead. Although the hosting Commodores (now 14-2, 1-1 in conference play) managed to narrow the gap by one point in the second quarter, they headed into halftime trailing 51-38.
In the third quarter, Vanderbilt mounted a challenge, narrowing the margin to 54-49. However, Kentucky’s Teonni Key quickly responded with a layup and subsequently hit a three-pointer, igniting a 9-0 scoring run that restored a comfortable 14-point lead, allowing the Wildcats to control the game thereafter.
Amoore was efficient for Kentucky, making 8 of her 18 attempts from the field, including three long-range shots. Hassett’s performance included a 6-for-10 success from beyond the arc, along with nine rebounds and five assists. Clara Strack contributed significantly as well, scoring 17 points and achieving a career-high 15 rebounds, marking her seventh double-double of the season. Dazia Lawrence added e3 three-pointers for a total of 17 points, while Key rounded out the scoring with 14 points and seven rebounds, as the starting lineup accounted for all but four points in the game.
On the other side, Mikayla Blakes led Vanderbilt with 24 points, following up on a previous standout performance in which she scored a school-record 36 points as a freshman. Sophomore Khamil Pierre made her mark too, recording 19 points and 11 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season. She has consistently scored in double figures for 18 consecutive games dating back to last season, while Iyana Moore contributed with 17 points.
Looking ahead, Kentucky is set to face Florida on Thursday, while Vanderbilt will take on No. 25 Mississippi on the same day.
