Kentucky’s Hot Shooting Day Leads Lady Wildcats Past Princeton

RALEIGH, NC – Kentucky used a balanced attack from their starting lineup and shot 50 percent from three-point distance to advance past Princeton 82-77 on Saturday. The Lady Wildcats had four different players to score in double figures.

Princeton opened the game strongly, out rebounding Kentucky 7-2 by the first media timeout. Princeton guard Sydney Jordan led the first quarter with nine points and four rebounds.

Gabrielle Rush added seven points to the Lady Tiger’s effort. Forward Bella Alarie had five rebounds in the quarter while the entire Kentucky team only managed to grab six. Princeton led 20-16 after the first 10-minute session.

Princeton opened the quarter on a 7-2 run to extend the score to 27-18. The Lady Tigers used a 2-3 zone that gave Kentucky issue for the early part of the quarter. Kentucky countered by going to a full-court man press that really tested Princeton’s ball handlers.

The Lady Wildcats used that press to slow down the Tigers and went on a stretch where they hit five of seven shots to take a 33-31 lead. After Princeton’s Bella Alarie went coast-to-coast for a layup to tie the game, Kentucky would use a 6-0 run to take a 37-33 lead heading in to halftime.

The third quarter would be a back-and-forth battle with both teams being very physical. Macy Morris was key for Kentucky in the quarter, hitting three big three-pointers and a tough layup to score eleven of her game-high 17 points.

Rush was big for the Lady Tigers, scoring six of her game-high 19 points in the period. The Lady Wildcats hit six of their last seven shots of the quarter, including nine straight points as part of a 13-2 run to take a 61-52 lead in to the final quarter.

Princeton would get a three-pointer to open the quarter from Rush to cut their deficit to 61-55. Kentucky would respond with a Jaida Roper jumper to bring the score to 63-55. Kentucky would use a stretch of five of their last six field goals, including three straight to take a 73-63 lead. Murray led the way in the quarter with six points (3-3 FG). She would finish with 19 points for the game.

Princeton used a 4-0 run cut their deficit to five at 76-71 while Kentucky was in a two-minute scoring drought.

Kentucky got two late free throws from Roper to extend their lead. Alarie jump hook to give the Lady Tigers the to points back. Morris added two free throws to bring the score to 80-73 in Kentucky’s favor. Both teams would trade baskets before the game would end with Kentucky winning 82-77.

Kentucky (25-8) will move on to face tenth-ranked NC State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh on Monday night

(Photo courtesy of Kentucky Athletics)