After putting together an incredible debut season at Kentucky, head coach Kenny Brooks picked up his first NCAA Tournament win against the 13-seeded Liberty Flames today. The Wildcats will advance to the Second Round, where they will play the winner of Kansas State versus Fairfield.

The Wildcats got to host this game and Historic Memorial Coliseum was jumping. Despite dominating most of the game, Liberty clawed their way back into the game and made it dangerously close, with the Wildcats just narrowly avoiding the upset. The final score was 79-78.

Georgia Amoore was the star of the show today, scoring 34 points. Dazia Lawrence was feeling it as well, tallying 16 points.

Below is the full box score:

Georgia Amoore scored the Cats’ first eight points, scoring a tough runner and knocking down two threes. Liberty kept it close though, responding with some quick offense of their own. Dazia Lawrence joined in on the action, knocking down a triple of her own, before also getting a steal that led to her going to the free throw line. This extended the Wildcats’ lead a bit. It felt like the two senior guards did all of the heavy lifting to start the game.

After a Clara Silva block, Dazia Lawrence got back to the free throw line and extended Kentucky’s lead. After a Liberty score, Georgia Amoore knocked down a mid range shot and Clara Strack got a block on the other end.

Kentucky’s length was messing with Liberty early in this one. Georgia Amoore continued to dominate, knocking down a step-back three to push UK’s lead to 9. Teonni Key got on the board at the end of the first quarter, and Kentucky finished the first quarter leading by nine points.

Georgia Amoore continued cooking in the second quarter, knocking down a crazy step-back three at the end of the shot clock. Clara Strack got her first points shortly after, and then Amoore scored again. Liberty didn’t go away, however, as they had a couple possessions in a row where they scored. Still, Kentucky maintained a semi-comfortable lead for most of the quarter. Georgia Amoore nailed another three, extending the Kentucky lead to 13. After that, Liberty went on a run of their own, cutting the lead to single digits before Teonni Key scored and got it back up to 10. Dazia Lawrence then hit a three at the buzzer, making the halftime score 44-34.

Georgia Amoore had 23 points at halftime on 5/6 shooting from beyond the three point line, willing her team to success.

Dazia Lawrence opened up the second half with a corner three, and Liberty followed it up with a three of their own. Clara Strack then responded by knocking down a triple herself, and she followed it up with a block on the other end. It was a three-point barrage for Kentucky as Georgia Amoore knocked down another one, and then Dazia Lawrence got a bucket on a fast break after a steal. The ‘Cats were rolling, forcing Liberty to take a timeout.

Clara Strack had an eventful third quarter, scoring and grabbing tough rebounds. The other Clara, Clara Silva, got in on the scoring action as well after a tough offensive rebound and putback. Liberty started to try to claw their way back into the game, but Georgia Amoore stole the momentum right back with an and-one bucket with thirty seconds left in the quarter. Kentucky ended the third leading by 14.

Amelia Hassett started off the fourth quarter with a three, finally getting on the board with her first points. Then, Hassett hit another one a couple possessions later, extending their lead even more. Liberty fought the whole way, though, shaving the lead down to 4 with two minutes left. Teonni Key and Clara Strack both fouled out of the game and Kentucky was on their heels a bit from it. Thankfully, Dazia Lawrence nailed a midrange jumper to push the lead back up to 6, but Liberty cut it back down to 4 after a trip to the free throw line. Then, the Flames drilled a three, and all of a sudden it’s a one point game. After a timeout and with under a minute to go, Georgia Amoore got to the rim and laid it in, making it a 3-point lead. Liberty scored on the next possession, but after a tough offensive rebound by Amelia Hassett, Georgia Amoore knocked down two free throws to get the lead back to 3 for Kentucky.

Liberty then turned the ball over, and then they fouled Amoore again, and she knocked down 1/2, making it a 4-point contest once more. Liberty then hit a prayer of a three with 2.8 seconds remaining, cutting it to 1, but Kentucky was able to run out the clock and get the win.

Overall, it was a good win for Kentucky, but the last few minutes of the game were a little worrying. Regardless, a win is a win, and the ‘Cats stay alive in the tournament. Georgia Amoore controlled the first half and then the rest of the team pitched in during the second. It was a good day offensively and defensively for Kenny Brooks’ squad, and gives the Wildcats some good momentum going into Sunday’s matchup against the winner of Kansas State and Fairfield.

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