RECAP: Kentucky suffers heavy defeat for South Carolina

RECAP: Kentucky suffers heavy defeat for South Carolina

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UK Athletics photo

After winning two consecutive games, the Wildcats were trying to make their biggest statement against South Carolina’s # 2. The Gamecocks were coming out of a defeat for Tennessee and hungry for a victory. If Kentucky wanted to win in Columbia, they would have to play their best ball yet. Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, they didn’t, losing 76-55.

The Wildcats certainly didn’t start the game with heat, but fortunately, neither did the Gamecocks. The two teams went without goals in the first two and a half minutes of the game, before Zia Cooke made two free throws for South Carolina.

The ‘Cats responded immediately with a quick layup from Chasity Patterson, followed by a free throw from Dre’Una Edwards. In the next few minutes, the game was a defense battle and South Carolina was winning. Gamecocks went up 7-3 with 4:30 remaining in the first quarter.

The two teams kept coming and going for the next few minutes. A bucket of Blair Green and a 3-point bucket from Patterson brought the game back to two points for the Wildcats. However, the Gamecocks refused to allow them to get close.

Both Kentucky and South Carolina continued to fight offensively for the remainder of the quarter. Kentucky ended the period 5/15 off the field, but luckily for the ‘Cats, South Carolina was playing even worse and closed the quarter with just 19/4 on the field.

Kentucky got out of range and immediately took the lead after Jazmine Massengill was able to take down a big triple. Although the ‘Cats were able to grab the lead, they were not necessarily in a good place. With nine minutes to go, Rhyne Howard committed his second foul and was eliminated from the game.

Rhyne Howard was not the only ‘Cat being called for fouls. With 8:30 am remaining in the second half, South Carolina had already hit 14 free throws. Now that Rhyne Howard was out of the game, South Carolina hit hard and fast. In the blink of an eye, Gamecocks went on an 8-0 run and took the lead 22-15.

After a timeout and some considerations, trainer Elzy made an extremely risky move: she put Rhyne Howard back in the game. The change was apparently worth it. The Wildcats returned directly to an offensive pace and hit two consecutive jumpers.

However, South Carolina was not ready to give up leadership so easily. With each basket in Kentucky, South Carolina responded quickly. Despite the UK’s best efforts, ‘Cats seemed unable to break South Carolina’s seven-point lead.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the break, however, was the lack of displays by the team’s stars. With 3:00 to go, Howard was still goalless for Kentucky, while Aliyah Boston had contributed just one point to Gamecocks.

Much to South Carolina’s disappointment, Howard did not plan to remain silent. Within seconds, Howard drilled three consecutive points. Howard may have led on the offensive side, but his teammates were doing everything they could to contribute on the defensive side.

Immediately after Howard’s two buckets from rock bottom, Tatyana Wyatt received a massive charge against Boston and Massengill intensified with an unpleasant rejection. Massengill maintained his momentum with a three on the buzzer to reduce South Carolina’s lead to four at the end of the time.

Although Kentucky found new life at the end of the semester, old problems were still killing them. South Carolina had 15 offensive scholarships in the first half and, consequently, 14 second chance points. In order for the ‘Cats to have a chance, they would have to leave the range ready to fight for each of the boards.

The ‘Cats would not only need more second chance opportunities, but they would also need to turn around South Carolina and totally reduce the opportunities. One of the keys behind the Wildcats’ recent winning streak was their fast-paced style. After turning the Gamecocks just four times in the first half, Kentucky would have to create an attack on its defense. However, in the end, no change would be enough.

The Wildcats had a lot to think about in the second half, and maybe a little too much. South Carolina hit four points unanswered at the start of the third period, extending its lead to eight points. Coach Elzy wasted no time and asked for time to discuss the problems with her team.

Rhyne Howard tried to answer Kyra Elzy’s call after the timeout by firing back three steps, but failed. However, the ‘Cats would not be discouraged so easily. Kentucky continued the battle for the next few minutes, but as many times before, it struggled to diminish the Gamecocks’ advantage.

With 5:30 remaining for the third, South Carolina had slightly extended its lead to 45-34 behind a smooth tray from Destiny Henderson. With only 15 minutes to go, Kentucky was struggling to have a leader at the forefront, while South Carolina’s Cooke had already scored 15 points.

After a media break, trainer Elzy and the company decided to increase the pressure. The sudden intensity of the Wildcats led to a bucket by Olivia Owens, followed by a stealthy theft.

Kentucky continued to arrest South Carolina, but it continually failed to convert at the other end. As the third quarter came to an end, South Carolina found its pace again and extended the lead to 14, the highest in the game. With each passing second, Kentucky grew closer and closer to letting the game get out of hand.

UK Athletics photo

Playmaker Zia Cooke continued to fly around the court and finished the third quarter with 21 points. Cooke and his teammates found the free throw line over and over again, while Kentucky had made only two free throws in the game. For Kentucky to return, they would have to play a fourth more physical period.

Rhyne Howard, for example, knew this. After a quick bucket in Kentucky, Howard tried to set an example for his team by getting into the painting and hitting two free throws. Unfortunately for Howard, his example came very little, very late.

With 7:40 to go, Boston drilled his first field goal in the game and extended South Carolina’s lead to 16 points. The Wildcats continued to lose and lose, while South Carolina’s victory became increasingly inevitable. After a nearly three-minute scoring drought for the Wildcats combined with a 9-0 run for the Gamecocks, South Carolina easily took over the game. Six minutes from the end of the game, South Carolina won 66-46.

Dre’Una Edward started the foul with three minutes to go, but the dispute was almost over at that point. Despite Kentucky’s best efforts, the South Carolina defense appeared to be a brick wall in which the ‘Cats were lucky to find a hole. The fourth period increased the injury, as the Wildcats ended the last nine minutes of the game without a field goal before the final two seconds.

When all was said and done, South Carolina defeated the Wildcats 76-55. The Wildcats failed once again to defeat Gamecocks and this was mainly due to the same old problems.

Kentucky was defeated by 19 rebounds, gave 46 points in the painting and hit just 35% of the field. In order for Wildcats to compete with the top five teams, they will have to fix some of their main problems.

Despite the UK’s ability to hold South Carolina’s star, Aliyah Boston, with just four points, the Wildcats were still dominated inside and out. South Carolina guards, Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson, scored 35 points. In contrast, Howard and Patterson added just 21 points.

For Kentucky to overcome the increasingly irritating obstacle of blue-blooded opposition, they will have to make the necessary adjustments. With Georgia number 22 next, the Wildcats will have just four days to regain their composure and prepare for another SEC battle. All ‘Cats can do now is use this disappointing loss as a stepping stone to reach new heights in the near future.

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