Georgia Women’s Basketball Holds Off No. 11 Kentucky 72 to 67 in SEC Showdown

Lexington, Kentucky — Georgia extended its SEC momentum with a 72-67 victory over No. 11 Kentucky on Saturday, building a near wire-to-wire lead behind strong performances from Dani Carnegie and Rylie Theuerkauf.

Carnegie and Theuerkauf each scored 19 points as Georgia (18-3, 4-3 SEC) controlled the pace early and resisted multiple Kentucky rallies. Mia Woolfolk added 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Trinity Turner contributed 14 points, providing key balance in scoring and interior play. The Lady Bulldogs made 18 of 20 free throws, a factor that helped preserve the win in the final minutes.

Kentucky briefly took its only lead at 42-39 with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter on a Kaelyn Carroll three-pointer, but Georgia answered with a seven-point run and maintained a 52-50 advantage entering the fourth quarter. The final frame saw both teams trade critical baskets, with Amelia Hassett’s three-pointer narrowing the gap to 70-67 with eight seconds remaining. Carnegie closed the contest at the line, securing the Lady Bulldogs’ victory.

The Wildcats (17-5, 4-4 SEC) were led by Hassett and Asia Boone, who combined to make nine of Kentucky’s 11 three-pointers and scored 15 points each. Tonie Morgan added 10 points and 12 assists, while Jordan Obi finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Despite hot shooting from beyond the arc, Kentucky could not overcome Georgia’s efficient scoring and defensive adjustments late in the game.

Georgia started aggressively, scoring the first nine points and holding a 21-12 advantage after the first quarter. Turner’s early three-pointer extended the lead to 24-12, but Kentucky rallied in the second quarter, cutting the halftime deficit to 34-26. Defensive intensity in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, including a scoreless stretch of three minutes, allowed Georgia to maintain control and manage the closing moments under pressure.

This game, originally scheduled for Sunday, was moved to Saturday due to a severe winter storm impacting much of the country from the southern plains to New England. The early adjustment did not disrupt Georgia’s execution, demonstrating the team’s preparation and adaptability under head coach Joni Taylor.

Looking ahead, Georgia hosts Alabama on Thursday in a critical SEC matchup, while Kentucky travels to Arkansas on Sunday. The result boosts Georgia’s positioning in the SEC standings and emphasizes the team’s resilience against top-tier conference competition.