The Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team nearly had their postseason dreams shattered before they could even begin. What was once a comfortable 17-point lead turned into a nail-biting, pulse-pounding thriller as Liberty roared back with a vengeance. The Wildcats clung to a 79-78 victory by the thinnest of margins, thanks to Georgia Amoore’s ice-cold nerves and scoring heroics.
Early Dominance and Collapse
For three quarters, Kentucky played like a team ready to send a message. They built a commanding 17-point lead, shooting 41.4% from three-point range, sinking 12 of 29 attempts. The Wildcats' aggressive defense, highlighted by 12 blocks and seven steals, kept the Flames in check for most of the game.
But Liberty was far from finished. Down 17 points, the Flames unleashed a relentless 16-2 run over five agonizing minutes in the fourth quarter. With each bucket, the tension mounted. Emma Hess’s hot hand from beyond the arc and Bella Smuda’s dominance in the paint (14 points, 12 rebounds) made it feel like the momentum had swung fully in Liberty’s favor.
With 41 rebounds to Kentucky’s 32, Liberty pounded the glass and fought for every loose ball like their lives depended on it. Their 18 offensive rebounds were particularly devastating, giving them countless second-chance points and chipping away at the Wildcats’ once-comfortable lead.
Georgia Amoore Saves the Day
But with Kentucky on the ropes, their star shone the brightest. Georgia Amoore refused to let her team crumble under the pressure. Amoore delivered a masterclass performance, tying a postseason record with 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting, including a scorching 6-of-10 from deep. But it was her clutch free throws down the stretch that ultimately sealed the win for Kentucky.
With the game on the line, Amoore calmly sank four of five from the charity stripe, her expression unflinching as Liberty’s comeback threatened to make history for all the wrong reasons. The Wildcats, who had only committed seven turnovers all game, managed to protect the ball in those final minutes like their season depended on it. Because it did.
Lessons Learned
For all of Kentucky’s offensive brilliance, the Wildcats were painfully outmatched in the rebounding battle and allowed Liberty to outscore them 40-24 in the paint. Those glaring deficiencies nearly cost them a game they seemed destined to win.
It was a lesson learned, a reminder that no lead is ever truly safe in March Madness. And yet, despite the breakdowns, Kentucky survived. Thanks to Amoore’s all-time great performance and a defense that made timely stops when it mattered most.
The Wildcats advance, but they do so with more scars than they bargained for. As the tournament heats up, they’ll need to find answers to the vulnerabilities Liberty exposed. For now, they can breathe a sigh of relief.
The Wildcats’ season lives on, but only just. They will take on the winner of 5 seed Kansas State and 12 seed Fairfield who play later today.