The Cardinals’ success in this game was largely due to their performance at the free-throw line. They made an outstanding 36 of 49 attempts, drawing 40 fouls from New Mexico State – the most in program history. Head coach Kenny Payne expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “I’m proud of how they finished at the free-throw line late in the game. I’m proud of the fact that we won the game by being aggressive around the rim.”

Kentucky will have the advantage of playing on their home turf as they host James Madison, Baylor, and Wofford inside Rupp Arena at the Central Bank Center. The first and second round matches will begin on Thursday night. The action-packed schedule kicks off with regional two seed James Madison facing off against regional three seed Baylor at 4:30 p.m. ET. Following that, top-seeded Kentucky will take on the Wofford Terriers, the fourth regional seed.

Having already been a part of four (or in Tealer’s case, five) consecutive Southeastern Conference championships, as well as the 2020 national championship, won in a COVID-19 bubble in Omaha, this season presented unique challenges for the entire UK team. The Cats were displaced from their home at Memorial Coliseum due to renovations, which resulted in playing the majority of their matches on the road.

Leading the charge for Louisville was Kiki Jefferson, who finished with a team-high 21 points, shooting an impressive 7-for-10 from the field. Jefferson also contributed with four rebounds, tied for the team high with five assists, and racked up a team-best three steals. Nina Rickards also had a standout performance, tallying 16 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting, along with five assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Both Jefferson and Rickards were honored for their outstanding performances and named to the All-Tournament team.

Offensively, quarterback Devin Leary showcased his skill and composure, passing for 206 yards and three touchdowns with only one interception. In the crucial moments of the second half, when the Wildcats rallied from a double-digit deficit to seize the lead, Leary demonstrated pinpoint accuracy and leadership.

Last week I was as down on Stoops and Kentucky as I’ve ever been. …

This game marked the 50th season for the University of Kentucky women’s basketball program. Kentucky currently holds a 896-593 all-time record, with just four wins standing between them and the prestigious 900-win milestone.

In a thrilling match-up at the L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, KY, the Kentucky Wildcats emerged victorious, defeating the No. 9 ranked Louisville Cardinals with a final score of 38-31. With this win, Kentucky ends their regular season with a 7-5 record while Louisville finishes at 10-2.

Quarterback Jack Plummer had a solid performance, completing 24 of his 33 passing attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Plummer spread the ball around, connecting with ten different receivers throughout the game. Running back Jawhar Jordan led the Cardinals’ ground game with 67 rushing yards and two touchdowns, contributing to Louisville’s total of 161 yards rushing.

Stoops acknowledged the tough stretch his team has faced, being the only team in the country to play four straight opponents ranked in the top 10. Despite the adversity, the Wildcats were able to pick themselves back up and finish strong. Stoops praised his team’s resilience and their ability to come together as a unit.