NASHVILLE, Tn. (WKYT) – For the second time this season, the Kentucky Women’s Basketball team falls to Vanderbilt by one score, 81-79, this time by a midrange jumper from Aubrey Galvan to put Vandy ahead for good.
Kentucky had a chance to score the game-winner with five seconds left but Clara Strack turned it over, leading to free throws and ultimately to the final decision.
The Cats got an all-around effort with seven players scoring a basket. Clara Strack led the way with 17 points and 7 rebounds. She also totaled four blocks which led to her breaking her own program record for total blocks in a season. Strack recorded her 74th block in the third quarter, breaking her record from last year of 73 total blocks.
Ameilia Hassett finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds, Asia Boone had 13 points. Tonie Morgan had 10 points and 9 assists. Teonni Key had 10 points and 8 rebounds.
For Vanderbilt, Mikayla Blakes had 35 points and shot 10-13 from the free throw line. Aubrey Galvan had 20 points off the bench, including the game-winning shot.
Kentucky (20-8, 7-7 SEC) jumped out to an early lead as Key hit two free throws and Boone hit a three to give the Cats a 5-0 lead. After a Vandy basket, Hassett hit a three and UK led 8-2. After another VU bucket, Hassett hit another three and the Cats led 11-4. The ‘Dores would score to cut the UK lead to 11-6.
Boone hit another three, then Strack scored at the rim, giving Kentucky a 16-6 advantage. Vandy scored but Key answered and the Cats led by 10 again. Jordan Obi scored to extend the lead to 20-8 but Vandy went on a 16-4 run to tie the game at 24-24. However, a late basket by Key gave Kentucky a 26-24 lead after one quarter.
Kentucky started the second quarter hot again, getting a three-point play from Strack and a basket from Boone to lead 31-24. VU scored the next four but Hassett hit another three to lead 34-28. After Vandy hit a three, Boone scored and UK led by five. Another Vandy three got the ‘Dores within two.
Morgan scored to extend the lead to 38-34, but Vandy hit another three to get within one. Kaelyn Carroll hit a three for UK, but the ‘Dores answered with a three of their own, and UK’s lead was 41-40. Morgan scored again, but Vandy answered to get within one again. Carroll hit another three, but Vandy scored the final two points of the half. Kentucky took a 46-44 lead into the break.
Vanderbilt scored the first two points of the third quarter to tie the game, but UK got a three from Boone and a basket in the lane from Strack to lead 51-46. The ‘Dores answered by scoring six in a row to lead 52-51. A Strack free throw tied the game but Vandy made one of its own to take the lead back.
Strack converted a three-point play to give UK a 55-53 lead but Vandy scored four in a row to take the lead back. An Obi basket and a Strack layup gave the Cats a 59-57 advantage, but the ‘Dores tied the game at 59 apiece. Kentucky then got baskets from Key, Morgan and Strack to lead 65-59. Vandy scored the final points of the period, but UK led 65-61 after three.
Vandy scored first in the fourth quarter but an acrobatic Obi bucket gave the Cats a 67-63 lead. The Commodores got a three-point play to get within one, but Morgan scored and UK led 69-66. VU scored four in a row to lead by one, but two Key free throws gave UK a 71-70 lead.
The ‘Dores took the lead back on the next possession, but Hassett hit her fourth three of the game to give the Cats a 74-72 lead with 5:12 to play. Vanderbilt would tie the game at 74 apiece.
Hassett hit another three to give UK the lead but Vandy answered to tie the game at 77-77. The ‘Dores took the lead on a free throw with 53 seconds to play, but Morgan drove to the hoop and scored with 33 seconds left, giving Kentucky a 79-78 lead.
Vandy ran the clock down on their possession, then Galvan scored with seven seconds left to take an 80-79 lead.
UK called a timeout and had a final possession with a chance to win. However, the Cats did not get a shot off, turning it over.
Kentucky returns to action on Thursday, visiting Auburn. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network Plus.
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