LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – The #18 Kentucky Wildcats dropped another ranked matchup, this time falling 64-53 to #4 Texas in Austin.
Asia Boone led the way with 16 points and four made three pointers. Clara Strack finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Tonie Morgan had 12 points and four assists.
Justice Carlton led Texas with 17 points on 8-12 shooting.
Kentucky’s turnover issues continued with the Cats finishing with 23 turnovers and shot 11-19 from the free throw line. Texas was able to get everything in the paint while keeping Kentucky out, winning the points in the paint battle 30-16.
The Wildcats and Longhorns started the first quarter trading buckets back and forth until Texas went on a 5-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. Both teams shot efficiently in the first frame with Texas getting to the rim with ease while Kentucky shot well from outside the paint.
The Wildcats three three-pointers, helping them hang around the Longhorns who shot 71% in the first quarter, taking a 23-19 lead.
In the second, Kentucky only scored nine total points, all of them coming from Asia Boone three-point shots. Boone hit all three of her shots in the first three minutes before the Cats went cold for the rest of the quarter.
The Cats sloppiness turned into eight second quarter turnovers that led to Texas closing the half on a 10-0 run to take a 38-28 lead at the break.
In the third, both teams struggled to put the ball in the hoop but the Cats aggressiveness led them to the free throw line 11 times in the quarter. Kentucky outscored Texas by three, heading into the final frame down 48-41.
Every time it seemed like momentum would be shifting towards the Wildcats, Texas would score to keep UK at an arms length away. Kentucky took a page out of the Texas playbook and played elite defense, switching to a zone, and keeping the Longhorns from making a field goal for over half the period.
That allowed Kentucky to go on a run to bring it to a one point game halfway through the period. Texas was able to keep the lead by getting to the free throw line and making those shots count. UT’s first field goal of the final frame came off an offensive rebound that led to a three-point bucket to give Texas a six point lead. Teonni Key dealt with foul trouble which took some of UK’s size off of the court.
Kentucky made it a one point game with 6:23 left on the clock and only scored two points in the next five minutes while Texas scored seven.
Kentucky has now dropped five of its last six games.
The Wildcats will return to Memorial Coliseum on Thursday when the Cats take on Texas A&M. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.
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