The Kentucky Wildcats women’s basketball team begins its NCAA Tournament journey as a No. 4 seed, hosting the No. 13 seed Liberty Flames on Friday, March 21 at noon ET on ESPN. The Wildcats have the advantage of playing at home in Lexington, and they’ll need every bit of that boost to take down a well-coached Liberty squad looking to pull off a monumental upset.
Breaking Down the Matchup
Liberty Flames (No. 13 Seed)
Liberty comes into the tournament with a solid 71.9 points per game while holding opponents to just 59.7 points per game, giving them a healthy scoring margin of +12.3. The Flames shoot a strong 46% from the field and an impressive 37% from beyond the arc, making them a dangerous team when they get rolling.
Their rebounding game is another key strength. Averaging 39 rebounds per game, Liberty boasts an 8.6-rebound advantage over opponents, which could cause problems for the Wildcats if they can’t match that energy on the boards.
Key Players for Liberty:
Bella Smuda (C) – The 6'5" center leads Liberty with 12 points and 7 rebounds per game while shooting 55% from the field.
Asia Boone (G) – A strong scorer, averaging 11 points per game, while also contributing 3 rebounds and 1 steal per game.
Emma Hess (G) – A sharpshooter hitting 34% of her threes, Hess averages 10 points and 2 assists per game.
Kentucky Wildcats (No. 4 Seed)
Kentucky enters the tournament as a battle-tested squad averaging 76 points per game, nearly matching Liberty’s rebounding numbers with 40 per game. The Wildcats have shown the ability to score efficiently, shooting 45% from the field and 32% from three-point range.
Defensively, Kentucky limits opponents to 62 points per game, while forcing nearly 13 turnovers per contest. Their ability to turn defense into offense could be the key to a deep tournament run.
Key Players for Kentucky:
Georgia Amoore (G) – Kentucky’s floor general, putting up 19 points and 7 assists per game. Her playmaking and scoring will be essential against Liberty’s defense.
Clara Strack (C) – The Wildcats’ inside presence, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Her battle with Smuda will be one to watch.
Dazia Lawrence (G) – A versatile guard scoring 13 points per game while shooting a remarkable 40% from three-point range.
Keys to the Game
- Control the Paint: With Liberty’s Smuda anchoring the middle, Kentucky needs big games from Clara Strack and Teonni Key to win the rebounding battle.
- Limit Liberty’s Perimeter Shooting: The Flames knock down over 8 threes per game. Kentucky’s perimeter defenders must close out hard and make every shot attempt difficult.
- Use Tempo to Their Advantage: Playing at home, Kentucky should look to push the pace and tire out Liberty, especially by turning defense into quick offense.
Prediction: Kentucky 78, Liberty 62
How to Watch
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: Noon ET
Location: HIstoric Memorial, Lexington, KY
TV: ESPN
A win over Liberty would advance Kentucky to face the winner of No. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 12 Fairfield on Sunday.