Speaking after a thrilling 80-78 win over No.5 LSU, Kenny Brooks praises LSU, and let's everyone know Kentucky is here to stay. "Any time you come to LSU... you know it's going to be a very intense game... they have one of the best crowds in the country." And he is right, LSU was loud and proud all night long. When Kentucky would make a run, the crowd would get up and cheer LSU back into a run.
LSU would throw a haymaker, and Kentucky would counter. It felt like a heavyweight fight that went 15 rounds. LSU was undefeated and had scored over 100 points in 11 of 14 games, Brooks was proud of the way his team went out and did what had to be done. "Coming into this game... it was one of the hardest scouts...they didn't have any close games...that is as talented of a team I have seen." LSU came into the game with an average margin of victory of 55. They had 7 players averaging over 11 points per game, Kentucky held them to 78 points, and only allowed 4 players to reach double digits.
Flau'jae Johnson hit her average of 15, Mikaylah Williams had 26, Amiya Joyner had 14, and Jada Richard had 14. Kate Koval averages 11; she had 2. Former Miss Kentucky ZaKiyah Johnson averages 11; she was held scoreless. MiLaysia Fulwiley averages 14; she had 2. Grace Knox averages 11 and had just 5.
That is the difference in the game.
Kentucky women's basketball is a 'big' challenge for anyone
Speaking on how they dominated the boards, 45-29, Brooks said, "We were tremendous on the boards...If you look at us, we're big...I don't think a lot of people realize how big we are." Teonni Key finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds, and was a dominate force after missing the last 2 games.
Brooks said that was intentional and he wanted to get his center some rest. "Teonni has been nursing a little ailment with her lower leg...we gave her a little bit of a break." That break paid off in a big way as Key was key for the upset victory. Without her rebounds, Kentucky drops a heartbreaker.
The Cats start 1-0 in the SEC for the third straight year. They will be back on the court Sunday afternoon against Missouri, tipping off on the SEC Network at noon. No streamer needed this time, thankfully.