FINAL: Kentucky WBB avoids fourth straight loss, beating Missouri 76-71
Following a 62-point loss to South Carolina, all hope seemed lost for the Kentucky women’s basketball team. A hungry Missouri Tigers squad marched into Rupp Arena, ready to hand the ‘Cats their fourth consecutive L, but in the end, it was Kentucky who came out on top. Thanks in part to a blistering 11-1 run to open the second quarter and Eniya Russell, Kentucky was able to secure a 76-71 win over Mizzou. The ‘Cats now sit at 9-10 (2-3 in the SEC).
After Maddie Scherr struggled mightily against South Carolina, she responded by putting up a much more respectable (and efficient) scoring outing. On 5-12 (42%) shooting, the senior guard proved that she doesn’t stay in cold slumps for long. She would foul out with 1:45 left in regulation, ending with 19 points. When she has a bad game, she immediately comes back and makes up for it. She also recorded nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks on the day.
Then, against her home state Tigers, Saniah Tyler again answered the call when her team needed her the most. In 35 minutes of play, Tyler scored 10 points on 3-8 (38%) shooting.
However, Eniya Russell was the talk of the game as she went NUCLEAR in the second half to get Kentucky the win. She would finish with 20 points and seven rebounds in the end. She helped lead Kentucky to their second conference win of the 2023-24 season with a go-ahead bucket and free throw.
The first quarter started off rather slow, with Kentucky getting down 14-7 early. It sort of seemed like we would have a repeat of the South Carolina game. Stagnant offense plagued the ‘Cats, despite a really smooth first possession that was full of cuts and screen and was quite literally poetry in motion. However, the second quarter was a completely different story.
Kyra Elzy lit a fire under her team, and the ‘Cats were out and running in the second ten minutes of play. Kentucky began the second quarter on a 11-1 run, and Missouri just struggled to keep up. For maybe the first time since conference play began, Kentucky looked like the faster and more athletic team. At the break, Kentucky led 38-32 with all of the momentum heading into the second half.
Despite getting down, the Tigers would rally back and make this one competitive, to the surprise of absolutely no one. However, if we know anything about this Kentucky team, it’s that they can fight their way through adversity. And that they did. Kentucky will play their first repeat opponent in the Arkansas Razorbacks, this time in Bud Walton Arena.
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