Amelia Hassett could give UK a boost with her 3-point shooting against Vanderbilt. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky does not have to win at Vanderbilt today to be able to host NCAA Tournament games next month. However, the chances of No. 16 Kentucky hosting first- and second-round games would be greatly enhanced by adding a win over No. 5 Vanderbilt (24-3, 10-3 SEC).
Kentucky was in position to beat Vanderbilt in Memorial Coliseum Feb. 5 with a nine-point lead before the Commodores won 83-82 thanks to a brilliant fourth quarter scoring surge by freshman Mikayla Blakes, the nation’s leading scorer at 26.2 points per game. The game featured seven lead changes.
Coach Kenny Brooks’ team had 20 turnovers that led to 25 Vanderbilt points in the first game against Vanderbilt while the Commodores had only six. However, Kentucky shot 58.4 percent from the field and outrebounded Vandy 39-21.
Kentucky became the only Division I women’s team to score at least 83 points, shoot at least 56 percent overall from the field, shoot at least 60 percent from 2, shoot at least 50 percent from 3, make at least 10 3-pointers, have at least 23 assists and have a rebounding margin of at least plus 18 against an AP top 10 opponent in the last 23 years.
Vanderbilt beat then top 10 Oklahoma 104-86 and Texas 86-70 in Nashville but lost at Georgia 76-74 its last outing. Athens.
Kentucky had had a week off since blitzing Ole Miss in the first quarter and holding off for the win. Kentucky lost at No. 4 Texas and then won at Texas A&M before beating No. 14 Ole Miss.
Kentucky had a 16-0 scoring run at Texas A&M followed by a 19-0 run against Ole Miss that led to a 20-point halftime lead over the Aggies and 19 points over Ole Miss. Both teams shot under 34 percent from the field in the game against UK.
Vanderbilt is eighth in the nation in scoring offense at 85 points per game and 16th in the game in field goal percentage at 47.2 percent because of Blakes. The Commodores are also fifth in the nation with 9.7 3-pointers per game.
Today’s game was moved back to a 4 p.m. EST start and moved to ESPN2 with Sam Gore and Brooke Weisbrod on the call.
