Kentucky players were calling the 3 before Dazia Lawrence even let the shot fly Thursday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Normally if a team is outscored in the paint 42-12 it makes for a long night. However, that was not a problem for Kentucky Thursday night against Mississippi State.
Coach Kenny Brooks’ team started Southeastern Conference play with a 91-69 win over the Bulldogs, who came into the game 13-1, because it went 18 of 33 from 3-point range, a 54 percent mark. The Cats have made at least 10 3-pointers in three of the last four games and the 18 makes Thursday broke the school record of 16 set against Alabama about five years ago.
Kentucky had two players — guards Dazia Lawrence and Georgia Amoore — hit at least seven 3-pointers in the same game for the first time in school history. Lawerence was 7-for-11 from 3 and had 28 points. She has made at last one 3 in all 13 games this season.
Amoore was 7-for-10 from 3 and had 27 points, her fifth straight game with at least 20 points. Amoore also had nine assists for the second straight game — and her fifth game this season with at last nine assists. The last Kentucky player to have at least 27 points and nine rebounds in the same game was Rita Adams on Dec. 21, 2003.
“Really good win for our kids and it was really fun watching them,” Brooks said. “We came out and did what we were capable of doing. We had not shot the ball well early in the year. If we can make half those shots we are going to be a really good team. To do that tonight against really good competition … it was a really good win for us.”
Kentucky took control immediately with a 25-point first quarter and never let Mississippi State back in the game.
“My two 23-year-olds (Lawrence and Amoore) were shooting the lights out and just understanding this is what they are capable of doing,” the Kentucky coach said.
Lawrence joked that she was not doing anything special.
“I was just knocking down shots,” Lawrence said. “I was just shooting when I was open. I was confident in my shot and knocking them down.”
Lawrence said starting SEC play it was important to “finding the best play” for the team to win.
“We love playing for each other. We just come in everyday ready to play, ready to practice and play whoever is in front of us,” Lawrence said. “Every game is going to be different. I am just trying to do what I can. I know every night I am not going to be the leading scorer.”
Kentucky-Mississippi State WBB
Photos by Vicky Graff
One Response
Welcome to the Execution. What a terrific performance and good read. Hopefully, we can get Strack back playing her best and then we should be able to challenge the best of SEC. Brooks is the Man!!