Kentucky women’s basketball set a school record with 18 three-pointers in their 93-78 victory over No. 25 NC State at the Ally Tipoff in Charlotte. Ajsa Sivka led the charge, hitting eight triples herself, breaking the individual record and ending the team’s early shooting struggles.
The Wildcats opened the game with an 8-for-8 shooting streak, including five quick three-pointers. Sivka, along with Strack and O’Neal, all contributed from deep in the opening minutes. Kentucky’s perimeter shooting carried them to 56 first-half points, with 13 three-pointers made before halftime.
Sivka finished 11-of-17 from the floor, adding five rebounds and three assists. Her performance was electric, driving the offensive surge that helped Kentucky overcome a tough opponent.
Despite Kentucky’s offensive success, their defence showed cracks. NC State’s Khamil Pierre dominated inside, scoring 34 points with 19 in the first half. The Wildcats struggled to contain her, rotating different defenders without success.
Wolfpack point guard Zoe Brooks also troubled Kentucky’s defence, frequently driving into the lane. Although she converted just one of five field-goal attempts, Brooks made 11 of 13 free throws before leaving the game early after a leg injury in the third quarter. She had scored 13 points at that stage.
Kentucky’s rotation raised questions, especially regarding freshman Maddyn Greenway. Despite foul trouble for Diana Collins and Asia Boone in the third quarter, Greenway played just two minutes, turning the ball over twice. Kentucky scored only 16 points in the third quarter, and the limited minutes for Greenway drew notice given her potential.
Coach Brooks favours a tight rotation, generally using six or seven players, but Kentucky has more depth this season. Greenway’s minimal court time in Charlotte, particularly when the backcourt faced foul problems and scoring difficulties, made her look like an outlier in the lineup.
The third quarter saw a drop in shooting efficiency for both teams, combining for only 30 points, 13 of which came from free throws. Kentucky also committed four turnovers in that period but regained control in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Kentucky’s 93-78 victory over a ranked opponent tested their early-season progress. The Wildcats will return to action on Wednesday night against Evansville at 6:30.
According to Yahoo Sports.
