In a tough battle on Sunday, February 19, the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team took on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were unable to come away with the victory, as they were defeated 79-57.
The Wildcats now have a 10-16 overall record, with a 2-12 record in the league. The Commodores, on the other hand, have a 12-16 overall record, with a 3-11 record in the league.
During the game, Kentucky used a different starting lineup for the first time this season, which included Jada Walker, Adebola Adeyeye, Robyn Benton, Blair Green, and Nyah Leveretter. Vanderbilt won the opening tip, but it was Walker who scored the first points for Kentucky, as she has done 10 times this season. Amiya Jenkins was the first substitute off the bench for the Wildcats for the second time this season.
Kentucky led Vanderbilt 15-11 at the end of the first quarter. The game had a see-saw start, with the Commodores starting with a 4-0 lead before the Wildcats went on a 6-0 run to take a 6-4 lead, with Adebola Adeyeye scoring the final four points of that run on a pair of layups. Vanderbilt responded with a 5-0 run, but Kentucky managed to regain the lead with a 7-0 run, with Blair Green capping off the run with a make from long range. The Wildcats closed the first period with a 9-2 run, after Adeyeye drew a shooting foul and knocked down both of her free throws.
Kentucky trailed the Commodores 24-22 at halftime. Vanderbilt scored the first points of the second quarter, with a jumper in the paint, which turned into an old-fashioned three-point play after a blocking call on Adeyeye. Kentucky scored its next three points on free throws, then Eniya Russell turned that into a 5-0 run after a jumper in the paint. Kentucky led Vanderbilt 20-14 with four minutes and 59 seconds remaining in the half. However, a 10-2 run by the Commodores in the final five minutes of the period would give them a two-point lead at halftime.
The third quarter was dominated by Vanderbilt, as they outscored Kentucky 28-13, taking a 52-35 lead at the end of the period. The Dores’ Marnelle Garraud went on a 6-0 run for herself with straight layups in the first two minutes and 27 seconds of the third quarter, which prompted the Cats to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Dores turned their 6-0 run into a 14-0 run over the first three minutes and five seconds of the third quarter. Six of those 14 points came off turnovers. Vanderbilt led Kentucky 38-22 after that series, with 6:55 remaining in the period.
Vanderbilt opened up the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run. During that stretch, both Robyn Benton and Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy received technicals, and Benton was ejected from the game. Scoring was back-and-forth for almost the remainder of the fourth quarter, with neither team going on a run for more than four points until Kentucky went on a 9-3 run down the stretch, which included a 7-0 series.
Despite their efforts, the Wildcats were unable to come back from their deficit, ultimately losing the game 79-57. However, there were some standout performances by Kentucky players, with Adeyeye leading the team with 13 points, going 5-6 from the floor and a perfect 3-3 at the line. She also added nine rebounds, making this her second straight game with double-digit points and the first time she has led the team in scoring.
Graduate guard Blair Green also had a solid performance, scoring 11 points and adding a season-high three assists. It marked her second straight game with double-digit points and the second straight game where she dished out three assists. Green also contributed a rebound to the Wildcats’ effort.
Sophomore guard Jada Walker scored eight points and continued to show why she’s the conference leader in steals, adding four to her already impressive total. She also had two rebounds and an assist.
Freshman guard Amiya Jenkins had a solid game, scoring seven points and grabbing a career-high eight rebounds. Meanwhile, freshman forward Zennia Thomas had a career-high six points on 3-4 shooting and a career-high tying two rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Wildcats matched the Commodores in rebounds, with both teams recording 36 rebounds. The Wildcats also outscored the Commodores in second-chance points, 16-9, and in bench points, 21-8. Kentucky’s 57 points were also largely due to their play in the paint, where they scored 36 points.
The Wildcats will have a chance to bounce back in their next game, as they take on the Texas A&M Aggies in Bryan-College Station, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network. With just a few games left in the season, the Wildcats will look to turn things around and end their season on a high note.
