Kentucky overcomes slow start to secure win over Northern Kentucky: Highlights, recap, and 3 stars

A slow-starting Kentucky team looked a bit disorganized early on. They were getting shots, but once again, their three-point attempts weren’t landing, going just 3 of 12 in the first half. Overall, the Wildcats shot 15 of 31, but missed several easy shots.

The first-half leaders for the Norse included Abby Wolterman, who scored 6 points, along with Anna Hamilton and Kalissa Lacy, each adding 5. Notably, the Norse’s leading scorer, Halle Idowu, was scoreless, shooting 0 of 4 from the field.

Kentucky was led by Strack and Amoore, each scoring 9 points, while Clara Silver added 8. Strack also contributed 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. Amoore added 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Kentucky’s defense was strong, finishing with 7 blocks and 6 steals while forcing 7 turnovers, as the Lady Norse protected the ball much better than they had against Middle Tennessee State in the opener.

The Norse did their best to keep up with Kentucky, and for most of the first quarter the game was close. The Cats did pull away near the end of the first half to stretch the halftime lead to 36-23.

The third quarter saw much of the same; Kentucky got good looks at the basket but struggled to convert. Northern Kentucky also had trouble scoring, so the Wildcats’ missed opportunities went unpunished.

Kentucky finished the third quarter with a small flurry, pushing their lead to 18, and entered the fourth with a 53-35 advantage. While the offense wasn’t as sharp as it had been in the first game, the defense showed improvement. Early-season games like this are all about working out the kinks, and Kentucky’s passing looked more cohesive.

The Cats cruised to a 70-41 win, but shot just 5 of 25 from three-point range and 30 of 69 from the floor. They dominated the glass, winning the rebound battle 52-34. On the other hand, the Norse shot only 26 percent from the floor, while Kentucky tallied an impressive 16 blocks. Special shout-out to Amelia Hassett, who recorded 16 rebounds. Time for the 3 stars of the night:

3 stars of the night

1. Clara Strack

Strack was dominant in the first half, less aggressive in the third quarter, but then asserted herself again early in the fourth. She finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 blocks. Just shy of a triple double.

2. Georgia Amoore

Silver, standing at 6'7", was a mismatch all night, finishing with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and a game-high 5 blocks.

3. Georgia Amoore

Amoore struggled with her shot at times, finishing 5 of 13 for 13 points. However, she contributed across the floor, adding 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and helping to pace the game.

Kenny Brooks and Kentucky will be back in action on Tuesday as they face Wofford before the first big test of the season against rival Louisville next Saturday.