Kentucky Falls to Alabama on Thursday
Jada Walker scored 15 points but the Kentucky women’s basketball team lost to Alabama 72-65 on Thursday night at Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky (10-13, 2-9 SEC) got 14 points from Robyn Benton and 11 from Maddie Scherr in the game. Adebola Adeyeye had nine points and nine rebounds for the Cats before fouling out late. Alabama won Thursday’s game due to three-point shooting. The Tide hit 13 of 28 from behind the arc, while Kentucky hit seven of 21 from three-point land. Alabama (18-6, 7-4) got 22 points from Brittany Davis.
Cardinals Come from Behind to Defeat Virginia, 63-53
In its first trip to Charlottesville in almost four years, the University of Louisville women’s basketball team used a big second half to defeat Virginia 63-53 Thursday night at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cardinals (18-8, 9-4) trailed at the half for the third-straight game but had another second half comeback for their third-straight win. The Cardinals outscored the Cavaliers (14-11, 3-11) 37-19 in the second half to secure the win. Hailey Van Lith led all scorers with 17 points on the night, her second-straight game with 17 points. Van Lith added five assists, four rebounds and two steals in the win. Chrislyn Carr was held to two points over the first three quarters but scored 12 in the fourth to finish with 14 points. Merissah Russell was clutch off the bench for the Cardinals with nine points and a career-high rebounds to lead the Cardinals on the night. Mykasa Robinson led the team with six assists to go with six points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Lady Toppers Fall on the Road at Middle Tennessee
WKU women’s basketball (13-10, 10-4 C-USA) fell on the road to Middle Tennessee (19-4, 12-2 C-USA) on Thursday night in a high scoring 94-81 game. Sophomore Mya Meredith led WKU in scoring with a season high 21 points on 5-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc and 8-of-9 shooting from the floor. It was the fifth 20-point game of her career. Freshman Acacia Hayes scored 17 points and tied her season high in assists with four. Aaliyah Pitts connected on four 3-pointers for 14 points. Jaylin Foster flirted with a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. The Lady Toppers broke a school record with 16 made 3-pointers in the game, topping the previous record of 14 reached five times, including twice this season. WKU shot 50.0 percent from beyond the arc (16-of-32), which is a season high for the Lady Toppers. WKU has now made 203 threes overall this season which ranks as the fourth most all-time at WKU. All the top five seasons on the 3-pointers made list came during Collins’ time at WKU as an assistant and head coach.
WKU Wins Third in a Row with Victory Over Middle Tennessee
Through a 40-minute game, WKU Hilltopper Basketball defeated Middle Tennessee on Thursday night. WKU picked up its third victory in a row with a 93-89 win over the Blue Raiders. The 93 points are the most the Hilltoppers have scored since their second game of the season. McKnight led all scorers with 33 points, shooting a crucial 13 for 13 mark from the charity stripe. He pulled down five boards and dished out five assists to just two turnovers. Additionally, he shot 10 of 18 from the field. Jamarion Sharp went a perfect 4 for 4 from the field and 3 for 3 at the free throw line. He blocked five shots and added five rebounds. Eli Lawrence paced the Blue Raiders with 21 points including 15 points from beyond the arc. He logged seven boards and four steals. WKU remains a perfect 13-0 this year when leading with five minutes to play in the game, moving to 119-8 under Stansbury in that category. Each of the eight Hilltoppers who scored on Thursday night made their first field goal attempts of the game. Middle Tennessee made just four 3’s in the first half but went a whopping 8 for 12 in the second, shooting a 54.5% over the whole game from long range. WKU made 27 of 29 free throws compared to the Blue Raiders going 9 of 14. This was WKU’s first win over the Blue Raiders in the last four contests between the two teams, but improves to 98-46 in the all-time series.
Governors fall on the road at North Alabama
Despite leading at halftime, the Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team was unable to hold off a second-half charge by North Alabama and fell, 70-57, in ASUN Conference play, Thursday, at Flowers Hall. After missing just a single contest, Sean Durugordon returned to the court and led Austin Peay (8-18, 2-11 ASUN) with 15 points. Elijah Hutchins-Everett added a dozen points and a team-best eight rebounds while Drew Calderon made his first start of the season and rounded out the Governors in double-figures with 10 points. Jacari Lane led North Alabama (15-11, 7-6 ASUN) with 29 points while Daniel Ortiz posted an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Historic defensive performance leads to milestone win for Young
Austin Peay State University head women’s basketball coach Brittany Young became the first head coach in program history to win 35 games in their first two seasons as the Governors earned their 10th ASUN Conference win in a 77-35 victory against North Florida, Thursday, in the Winfield Dunn Center. With the win, Austin Peay also clinched its first-ever berth in the ASUN Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Governors (15-7, 10-2 ASUN) posted their most complete game in the win against North Florida (6-16, 3-9 ASUN), shooting over 50 percent from the field and holding the Ospreys to just 27.8 percent from the floor. The 35 points allowed are the fewest in the modern era of APSU women’s basketball, which dates to 1970, and are the fewest in any conference game since the Govs held Lambuth to 33 points, Deb. 13, 1937.
Racers Return Home Looking To Snap Skid
The Murray State women’s basketball team returns home Friday looking to snap a six-game skid when it welcomes Indiana State to the CFSB Center for a 6 p.m. tip-off.
>>College Basketball Roundup
(Undated) — College basketball returns tomorrow. Number-5 Tennessee will square off against Missouri in Knoxville. The Commodores will head to Florida. Kentucky will travel to Athens to play Georgia. Louisville will hit the road to play Number-20 Miami. Memphis host Temple on Sunday.