November 16th, 2024.
A sold-out Memorial Coliseum saw the UK women’s basketball team break a seven-game losing streak to UofL tonight, 71-61 in overtime. Kentucky was led by Georgia Amoore with 19 points and Teonni Key with 17.
UofL held the lead throughout most of the game, eventually building a seven-point lead on four straight threes by Imari Berry. Kentucky chipped away all night and had several opportunities to take or extend a lead throughout the game. Turnovers plagued the Cats, who committed 24 on the night. Coach Brooks said in his postgame press conference that several of those mistakes were “on me.” Point guard Georgia Amoore had eight turnovers on the evening but never wavered as the back-and-forth game reached crunch time. To be fair, Kentucky forced their fair share of turnovers as well. The Cards had 19 turnovers, including a crucial one late in overtime that sealed the win for the Cats.
After the game, UofL head coach Jeff Walz started the postgame press conference by stating, “We gave the game away,” referencing their inability to hit free throws. While UofL was 9-for-15 from the charity stripe—and maybe that was a contributing factor—the Cardinals failed to score a single bucket from the floor in overtime. Coach Walz also stated that Kentucky’s height didn’t play a factor, but the stats tell a different story. The Cats had 9 blocks on the night, outrebounded the Cards by 12, and scored 8 more points in the paint. It was clear that Kentucky had a significant height advantage, and at times, it really rattled UofL inside.
The relationship between 2023 ACC Tournament MVP Georgia Amoore and Coach Brooks is undeniable. The trust and faith he has in her to run the offense is unmatched, with him stating she has full autonomy to call or change plays at will. Having an asset like Amoore on a new team is massive as he tries to build a national championship contender in Lexington. But their relationship and bond go beyond basketball. Coach Brooks described Georgia as being “like a daughter to him” and said she’s special not only to the team but also to his family and kids. A bond like that between player and coach can lead to special seasons, and so far, this one is off to an amazing start.
