In a tough matchup against No. 24 Vanderbilt, the Kentucky women’s basketball team fell short with a final score of 95-73 at Rupp Arena. Despite the loss, Ajae Petty delivered an impressive performance, scoring 23 points and grabbing 21 rebounds. This marked Petty’s 10th double-double of the season and her fourth in a row. The senior from Baltimore also made history as the first player from Kentucky to achieve a 20-20 game since 1982.
Kentucky’s offense received additional contributions from Maddie Scherr with 20 points and Brooklynn Miles with 11. The game began with Kentucky taking an early lead, scoring the first five points through a three-pointer from Scherr and a layup by Petty. However, Vanderbilt quickly turned the tide and went on a 15-point run to establish a 15-5 advantage. Scherr managed to halt the run with a pair of free throws, but Vanderbilt maintained control and ended the opening quarter leading 23-13.
Kentucky showed resilience in the second quarter, starting with four straight points contributed by Amiya Jenkins and Petty. They reduced the deficit to six at 23-17. However, Vanderbilt responded once again by delivering a 10-2 run, extending their lead to 33-19. Although Kentucky managed to close the gap before halftime with an 8-3 run, the halftime score stood at 44-34 in favor of Vanderbilt.
The third quarter brought some hope for Kentucky as they began with a 6-3 run, bringing the score to 47-40. Unfortunately, Vanderbilt countered with an impressive 20-4 run, giving them a commanding 67-44 advantage at the end of the third quarter. Despite Kentucky’s efforts to narrow the gap slightly with five consecutive points, Vanderbilt still led comfortably with a score of 74-53.
In the final quarter, Kentucky made an additional push with a 9-3 run, cutting the deficit to 77-62. However, they were unable to close in any further. Although the game ended in a loss, Kentucky’s players displayed great resilience and determination.
Next, Kentucky will face a formidable opponent in top-ranked South Carolina on Monday in Columbia. The game is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
