LEXINGTON, Ky.
— Texas Longhorns took a decisive 67-49 victory over the eighth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats on Thursday night, with Kayla Oldacre and Madison Booker each scoring 19 points to lead the charge.
Following a narrow four-point win against second-ranked South Carolina just days prior, Texas has now extended their impressive winning streak to nine consecutive games. The Longhorns hold a record of 25-2 and 9-2 in the Southeastern Conference, having already defeated eight ranked teams throughout the season, five of which were in the top 10.
Additionally, Taylor Jones contributed 15 points to the team’s success.
On the other side, Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore topped the score sheet for her team with 14 points, while Teonni Key added a solid 12 points and 10 rebounds. Dazia Lawrence also made a contribution with 11 points.
One significant takeaway from the game was Texas’ dominance in the paint, where they scored an impressive 42 points. Oldacre set a strong foundation by netting 13 of her points in the first half. The Longhorns, who are experiencing their best start since the 2015-16 season, outperformed Kentucky on the boards with a rebounding margin of 45-28 and secured 21 points from second-chance opportunities. Their average for second-chance points this season sits at 18.8.
In contrast, the Wildcats struggled to produce results from their post players. Key contributors Clara Strack and Amelia Hassett managed to combine for merely two points, with Strack failing to score before fouling out early in the fourth quarter. Kentucky also struggled with ball control, committing 17 turnovers that allowed Texas to seize 20 points from those errors. Having recently broken into the top 10 rankings, Kentucky now faces the disappointment of two consecutive losses.
The defining moment of the matchup occurred towards the end of the second quarter when Texas outscored Kentucky 12-3 in the last five minutes, shifting from a 22-21 disadvantage to a 33-25 halftime lead. During this pivotal run, Booker found her rhythm after missing her initial four shots and contributed six points. Texas solidified their control over the game by scoring 18 of the first 21 points in the second half.
Looking ahead, both teams will return to the court on Sunday. Kentucky will play at home against Georgia, while Texas will host fifth-ranked LSU.
