Eniya Russell put up another impressive performance for the Kentucky women’s basketball team, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure a victory as the Wildcats fell to Arkansas with a final score of 88-61.
This game marked Russell’s second consecutive game with 20 points, following her stellar performance against Missouri earlier in the week. Amiya Jenkins also contributed with 11 points for the Cats, while Ajae Petty had a solid game on the boards, grabbing a total of 16 rebounds despite only scoring six points.
Kentucky got off to a slow start, missing their first six shots and committing five turnovers in the game’s opening seven minutes. Meanwhile, Arkansas took advantage and quickly built an 18-0 lead.
The Wildcats finally got on the scoreboard when Maddie Scherr drove to the basket for a layup, breaking their drought with just over three minutes remaining in the first period. Kentucky managed to go on a 7-2 run, capped off by a basket and free throw from Russell. Nevertheless, Arkansas still held a commanding 29-10 lead going into the second quarter.
In the second period, Kentucky, led by Amiya Jenkins, managed to score the first seven points, cutting Arkansas’ lead down to 29-17. However, Arkansas responded with a 10-0 run of their own, extending their lead to 39-17. The Razorbacks maintained a significant advantage throughout the rest of the half, heading into halftime with a 44-23 lead.
Although Brooklynn Miles scored the first four points of the third quarter for Kentucky, Arkansas continued to hold onto a substantial lead. The Wildcats did manage to cut the deficit to 52-36 with five consecutive points from Russell. However, by the end of the third quarter, the Razorbacks were still comfortably ahead with a 66-46 lead.
In the final quarter, Arkansas maintained their dominance and led by as many as 29 points before ultimately settling for a 27-point victory.
Kentucky will look to bounce back in their next game as they visit Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Sunday. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. ET tipoff and will be broadcasted on the SEC Network.
