Once Again Cats get ‘Key’ Contributions to Beat Arizona State

Teonni Key, left, did a little bit of everything, including helping teammate Amelia Hassett, during Tuesday's win. (UK Athletics Photo)

The three seasons Teonni Key spent at North Carolina did not go the way she expected. She tore her ACL in a preseason scrimmage to miss her  2021-22 freshman season. The next two years she averaged 2.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 9.9 minutes per game — and she also missed the first 10 games of the 2023-24 season with an injury.

The 6-4 forward was a McDonald’s All-American and ranked ninth in the ESPNW Class of 2021 rankings.

She transferred to Kentucky this season to play for coach Kenny Brooks ready to make a fresh start

So far, she’s been sensational for Kentucky. She had 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 at the foul line Tuesday night when No. 14 UK (6-0) beat Arizona State 77-61 in  the Music City Classic at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville.

Key also had 13 rebounds, six blocked shots, four assists and three steals in her 35 minutes to help spark the win. It was her third double-double this season and her second straight game with 13 rebounds. She is also averaging 5.3 blocks per game in UK’s last three games.

Key is averaging 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game and leads the team with 22 blocks.

Sophomore Clark Strack was limited to 27 minutes due to foul issues but still had a career-high 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including 2-for-3 from 3, along with 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists. It was her third double-double this season also. Strack is averaging l7.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game — one of only 30 players in the nation averaging a double-double. She also has 19 blocks.

All-American Georgia Amoore played 38 minutes and responded with 20 points on 7-for-16 shooting, including 4-for-4 at the foul line. Once again, though, she did more than score with nine assists and three steals while still reaching the 20-point mark for the second straight game. Amoore is averaging 16.2 points and 8.3 assists per game — she has had at least seven every game this year. . She also leads UK with eight steals.  

Junior forward Amelia Hassett finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists. She is averaging 10.2 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats are to face No. 19 Illinois (6-0) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST in the final game of the Music City Classic.