The Kentucky Wildcats women’s basketball team pulled off a historic comeback on the road against the Florida Gators, winning 81-75 in Gainesville. The win ties the largest deficit overcome in a win against an SEC opponent in program history, as the Wildcats came back from 16 points down.
This is the fourth comeback of 16 points in a win against an SEC opponent in program history, most recently on Feb. 14, 2013 against South Carolina. The game also ties Kentucky’s largest deficit overcome in a win in an SEC road game, as they also came back from 16 points down at Ole Miss on Feb. 8, 2007 in a victory.
Kyra Elzy, in her third season as head coach of the Wildcats, led her team to victory with a 46-30 overall record, and an 18-19 record in the SEC. Kentucky remains the leader in the all-time meetings with Florida, 35-27, in a series that began in 1978. This win also broke Kentucky’s tie with Florida in games played in Gainesville, 13-12.
The game was a back and forth battle, with the Gators opening up the second quarter with a 12-4 run in the first two minutes, all 12 of its points coming off 3-pointers made by KK Deans. But Kentucky responded with a 7-0 run and then a 13-2 run to make it a five-point game, 32-27, with two minutes and nine seconds remaining in the period.
Kentucky’s Jada Walker and Maddie Scherr led the team in scoring, while Kennedy Cambridge had an intentional foul called on her, which sparked a 4-0 run for the Gators on a couple free throws and then a layup.
The win improves Kentucky to 9-9 overall and 1-5 in the league, while Florida falls to 12-6 overall and 1-4 in the league. Kentucky will have a bye game this week, before meeting Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi, on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. ET.
