Kenny Brooks' team is now 9-1 after a 30-point win at Purdue. (Vicky Graff Photo)
What was expected to be a major test for Kentucky women’s basketball started that way Saturday night when coach Kenny Brooks’ team scored only eight points in the first quarter.
However, by the time it ended, Kentucky had rolled to an 82-52 win — UK’s largest margin of victory in a non-conference road game (30 points) since Nov. 10, 2013 at Wagner (39 points).
Kentucky was just 4-for-14 in the first quarter and All-American point guard Georgia Amoore had to carry the scoring load. However, UK ended up 30 of 63 from the field — meaning it was 26 of 49 the final three periods. The 47.6 percentage for the game was UK’s second best of the season. Kentucky also went 10-for-10 at the foul line.
The Cats took a season-high 30 3-pointers and made 10. Kentucky also had 20 assists, the fifth time in 10 games it has reached the 20 assist mark.
Once again, it was a terrific effort from all five starters for No. 16 UK as it improved to 9-1 this season.
Here is what the five starters did:
— Amoore had 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting and went over 2,000 points in her collegiate career. It was her second straight game of at least 20 points and fourth 20-point game this season. She also had two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
— Junior forward Amelia Hassett had a game-high and season-high 22 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including 5-for-10 from 3. It was her first 20-point game at UK thanks to a season-high five 3-pointers. Hassett, who went over 1,000 points in the previous game, has made three or more 3’s in three straight games. Hassett also had nine rebounds, two assists and one steal.
— Sophomore center Clara Strack had another double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. It was her fifth double-double of the season to go with four assists and three blocks. She has scored in double figures in nine of 10 games this season and has had at least three assists and three blocks in six games.
— Guard Dazia Lawrence had 13 points and a season-high six assists. She made three 3-pointers and grabbed two rebounds.
— Junior forward Teonni Key just missed another double-double as she finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal. Key now has six games with three or more blocks and five games with three or more assists.
Kentucky outscored Purdue 24-11 in the second quarter, 20-10 in period three and 30-19 in the final period. A 13-0 surge in the third quarter broke the game open after UK had a 32-23 halftime lead.
Purdue (5-5) was 3-for-19 from 3-point range and lost the rebounding battle 41-34.
