The Kentucky women’s basketball team is off to its best start since 2019-20 after Wednesday’s 76-53 win over No. 19 Illinois.
Clara Strack led the Wildcats (7-0) with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Dazia Lawrence added 15 points. Georgia Amoore finished with 8 points and a team-high 8 assists.
Here are notes from the win:
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#14/16 KENTUCKY 76, #19/19 ILLINOIS 53 – FINAL
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky is 7-0 to begin the season, while Illinois moved to 6-1.
UK improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2019-20.
UK has defeated its first six opponents of the season by at least 10 points for the first time since 2013-14.
UK moved to 2-0 against ranked opponents this season.
UK defeated each of its first two ranked opponents of the season for the first time since 2016-17, when UK defeated No. 14 Miami and No. 12 Oklahoma.
It also marked the first time in program history that UK has defeated two AP-ranked opponents in November.
The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 51st season of varsity status.
UK has a 913-608 (.600) all-time record.
Kenny Brooks is in his first season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 7-0 record in Blue and White.
He is just the second head coach in program history to begin their first season at UK undefeated through seven games. Terry Hall went undefeated through her first nine games in 1980-81.
He improved to 524-204 (.719) in his 23rd overall season as a head coach.
Kentucky trails the all-time series against Illinois, 3-4.
The two teams are tied on a neutral court, 1-1.
In its next game, Kentucky will play No. 16/14 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Team Notes
Kentucky used the starting combination Georgia Amoore, Dazia Lawrence, Amelia Hassett, Teonni Key and Clara Strack for the seventh straight game.
UK is 7-0 when using that starting combination
The Wildcats won the opening tip for the fourth time this season.
Teonni Key was the first player to score for Kentucky for the second time this season.
Cassidy Rowe was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky for fourth time this season.
The Wildcat shot 47.3 percent (35-of-74) from the field compared to the Fighting Illin’s 26.7 percent (16-of-60) from the field.
The Cats have held four of its seven opponents to under 30.0 percent this season.
The Cats also held the Fighting Illini to just 1-of-16 from the arc.
Kentucky went 1-of-2 from the line, while Illinois went 20-of-27 from the line.
UK outscored Illinois, 48-25, in the second half.
UK went on a season-high 18-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats had just 10 turnovers, the third time this season they have had 10 or less.
Clara Strack and Teonni Key have produced double-doubles in two straight games, marking the first time two players have recorded back-to-back double-doubles since Rhyne Howard and Dre’una Edwards did so in February 2022.
Arizona State – Clara Strack (24 pts, 10 rbs), Teonni Key (16 pts, 13 rbs)
Illinois – Clara Strack (25 pts, 15 rbs), Teonni Key (12 pts, 10 rbs)
UK has had four double-digit scorers in six of seven games this season, including tonight.
Player Notes
Clara Strack, sophomore center, had her fourth double-double this season – and her second straight – on a career-high and game-high 25 points and a career-high-tying and game-high 15 rebounds.
She has led UK in scoring three times this season.
She has scored in double-digits in all seven games this season.
She has scored 20+ points in three games this season, including a current streak of two straight.
She has led UK in rebounds twice this season.
She has pulled down double-digit rebounds in four games this season.
She added four assists, one steal and one block.
Dazia Lawrence, a graduate guard, scored 15 points on 6-of-10 from the field.
She has scored in double-digits in five games this season.
She made two 3-pointers, extending her streak of making a 3-pointer in all seven games this season.
She added one rebound and two steals.
Teonni Key, junior forward, had her fourth double-double this season – and her third straight – with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
She has scored in double-digits in six games this season.
She has pulled down double-digit rebounds in four games this season.
She added three assists and three blocks.
She has recorded at least three blocks in five games this season.
Georgia Amoore, graduate guard, had eight points, eight assists and two steals.
She is just 42 points away from 2,000 career points.
She has made at least seven assists in all seven games this season.
Amelia Hassett, a junior forward, had 10 points and nine rebounds.
She is just 27 points away from eclipsing 1,000 for her career.
She made two 3-pointers.
She added one assist.
The post Kentucky Destroys No. 19 Illinois, Off to Best Start Since 2019-20 first appeared on Nation of Blue.