In Lexington, a thrilling match unfolded as Georgia Amoore led fourth-seed Kentucky with an impressive 34 points, including crucial free throws in the final seconds, clinching a narrow 79-78 win over 13th-seeded Liberty in the opening round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats faced a near disastrous fourth quarter, almost squandering a significant 17-point advantage.
Amoore, honored as a second-team All-America guard, was a standout performer, successfully hitting 6 out of 10 attempts from beyond the arc, and contributing significantly on defense with eight assists, two steals, and two blocks. She was instrumental in Kentucky’s strong first-half play, leading the charge with 23 points as the team surged ahead 67-50 early in the final quarter.
However, the Wildcats soon faced a scoring drought that lasted nearly five minutes, during which they missed eight consecutive shots. This allowed Liberty, led by a clutch 3-pointer from Avery Mills in the closing minutes, to narrow the deficit to a mere point, trailing 74-73.
“We encouraged each other not to lose hope and to keep fighting,” remarked Liberty’s Jordan Hodges, who contributed with 13 points. In response, Amoore executed a critical driving layup, marking her first points since the third quarter’s end, maintaining a slight edge for her team.
“Liberty had nothing to lose and brought tremendous energy,” Amoore commented on the tense showdown. Emma Hess added drama to the closing seconds with a three-pointer for Liberty, but Amoore skillfully avoided a foul, ensuring Kentucky’s first tournament victory in four years.
Kentucky is set to confront either Kansas State or Fairfield in their subsequent matchup on Sunday. “Georgia’s outstanding play was pivotal for us,” praised Kentucky’s coach Kenny Brooks. “She and Dazia Lawrence led us mentally, but we’ll need more players stepping up as we advance.” Lawrence supported with 16 points, while Clara Strack contributed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Liberty’s efforts were significantly impacted by the loss of Asia Boone due to a foot injury early in the contest. In her absence, 6-foot-3 freshman Emmy Stout emerged as a key scorer, leading Liberty with 20 points. Emma Hess followed with 17 points.
Despite Boone’s exit, Liberty showcased resilience with Stout and Bella Smuda, a senior center, combining for substantial points in the second half. Their efforts resulted in fouling out Strack and Teonni Key from Kentucky in the fourth quarter, aiding Liberty’s comeback attempt. Smuda concluded with an impressive 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Liberty, in search of their first tournament victory in two decades, fell just short of their need for a historic comeback. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s ability to weather the storm and capitalize on Amoore’s late-game heroics ensured they moved forward.
A critical moment occurred as the first half concluded when Amoore, instead of shooting, expertly passed to Lawrence, who nailed a crucial buzzer-beater three-pointer, ensuring a pivotal 44-34 halftime lead. Reflecting on the play, Amoore shared her confidence in the setup, knowing the opportunity would lead to a significant score.