Kentucky Falls to South Carolina, SEC Title Hopes Fizzle in 78-66 Loss
The No. 15 Kentucky women’s basketball team saw its SEC Championship dreams slip away on Sunday afternoon, as No. 6 South Carolina secured a 78-66 victory at Colonial Life Arena. With the win, the Gamecocks improved to 27-3 overall and 15-1 in the SEC, clinching at least a share of the conference’s regular-season title.
Kentucky Battles, But South Carolina Pulls Away Late
Kentucky (22-6, 11-5 SEC) fought hard throughout the game, but a late push by the Gamecocks proved too much to overcome. Clara Strack led the way for the Wildcats, delivering an impressive 23-point, eight-rebound performance. Georgia Amoore added 16 points, while Teonni Key contributed 12, and Dazia Lawrence finished with 10.
For Amoore and Lawrence, this marked their final regular-season collegiate game, adding extra significance to the tough loss.
The defending national champions came out strong, fueled by a boisterous home crowd celebrating Sania Feagin, Bree Hall, and Raven Johnson’s Senior Day. The atmosphere was electric, honoring a senior class that stands as the winningest four-year group in program history.
Turnovers Doom Wildcats in Crucial Moments
Despite the hostile environment, Kentucky remained within reach for most of the game. Amoore brought the Wildcats within a single point late in the contest, but South Carolina responded immediately, preventing any shift in momentum.
A 9-0 Gamecocks run in the closing stretch forced Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks to call a timeout, as the deficit widened. Four costly turnovers in the final minutes allowed South Carolina to capitalize and extend its lead to double digits. With just two minutes remaining, the Wildcats trailed by 11, and the roaring crowd made any hopes of a comeback nearly impossible.
SEC Tournament Awaits as Kentucky Looks to Bounce Back
Kentucky continued to rely on its consistent starting five of Amoore, Lawrence, Amelia Hassett, Key, and Strack for the 28th consecutive game. While the lineup has provided stability all season, the Wildcats struggled to close out the game under South Carolina’s relentless defensive pressure.
Despite shooting a respectable 42.9% from the field (27-of-63) and narrowly outrebounding the Gamecocks 34-33, Kentucky’s late-game mistakes proved too costly.
With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, the Wildcats shift their focus to the SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. Entering as the fourth seed, Kentucky earns a double-bye and will play its first game on Friday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
With the postseason looming, Kentucky will look to regroup and make a statement in the tournament, aiming to strengthen its case for a deep NCAA Tournament run.
