The Kenny Brooks era has yet another signature rivalry win, and if Saturday was any indication, the state of Kentucky is firmly blue, at least in women's basketball.
For the second straight year, the Wildcats took down the Louisville Cardinals, this time on the road, walking out of the KFC Yum! Center with a 72-62 victory that was decided by one simple fact: Kentucky was tougher.
Bully ball in the paint
You want to know how this game was won? Look at the paint points.
Kentucky outscored Louisville 40-24 in the paint. They outrebounded the Cards 41-27. This wasn't a finesse game; it was a physical dismantling. And the Cats were the aggressor all night long.
The frontcourt trio of Clara Strack, Teonni Key, and Jordan Obi was simply too much for Louisville to handle.
- Clara Strack: 17 points, 10 rebounds (Double-Double).
- Teonni Key: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks.
- Tonie Morgan: The engine of the offense with 19 points, 7 assists, and 5 boards.
The 3rd quarter clamp dooms the Cardinals
The game was tight at halftime, but the third quarter was a defensive masterclass.
Kentucky held Louisville to just 6 points in the period, forcing them into 3-of-20 shooting (15%). While the Cards were clanking shots, the Cats were feeding the post and building a lead they would never relinquish.
Louisville tried to make a run in the fourth, but it was too little, too late.
A new standard
This isn't the same old Kentucky women's basketball program. Shooting 52.5% from the field on the road against a ranked rival is elite stuff. And Kenny Brooks may just have a really good program on his hands again.
The second year Kentucky head coach has this team playing with a swagger and physicality that BBN loves to see. Beating Louisville is always sweet, but beating them by physically dominating them on their own floor? That’s a statement.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion