The final score on Thursday, Nov. 6 was 104-46 in what was an overwhelming display of defense and offense from Kentucky.

From the very start, the Wildcats were not giving up anything easy to their opponents, tallying three blocks and three steals in the first quarter alone.

The communication issues that Kenny Brooks mentioned after last the game seemed to have been addressed, translating to a newfound communication on the court.

“Tonight I thought we were much better,” Brooks said “ We were able to take them out of some of the things they wanted to do, contest some shots, block some shots, rebound and get it out and get some opportunities.”

The now fixed issues led to the Hawks committing 15 turnovers. Kentucky also forced Monmouth to take tough shots and did not allow them room in the post either.

Monmouth made just five shots in the first half and only made one field goal in the first quarter. For the game, Monmouth shot 27% from the field, going 17-61 in the loss.

In total, the Wildcats recorded eight blocks and seven steals, mostly due in part to Clara Strack’s contribution.

You Need Buckets Too

Alongside their defense, the Wildcats scoring was consistent and often. They started the scoring early, going on a 19-point run in the first quarter.

It was in the second and third quarters where Kentucky started to create real space from Monmouth. Sophomore Lexi Blue went 6-7 from the three and did not miss in that two-quarter frame, resulting in a career-high 18 points.

The crowd was well aware of the historic game and by the fourth quarter, all were holding up three fingers and yelling “THREE!!!” every time Kentucky shot from deep.

“When my numbers called, just to be ready, that’s what I focus on each and every day,” Blue said. “There’s been times where it’s been hard but it’s nice to have a night like tonight.”

With the help of Blue’s 18 points and Amelia Hassett’s 17 points, the Wildcats scored 104 points; the first 100-point game of the Kenny Brooks era and the first time Kentucky has broke that margin since 2017.

Between the communication on defense, the outburst of scoring on offense and the improved shooting percentages from last game, Kentucky improved on nearly every category it was lacking versus Morehead on Monday.

Now, the Cats are 2-0, with a game up next for them going on the road. They’ll travel to Buffalo, New York, where they will face Buffalo in the UB Alumni Arena on Sunday, Nov. 9. The tip is set for 2:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Thursday, Nov. 6 will mark the first ever meeting between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Monmouth Hawks. The Cats will have a clear vertical advantage as Monmouth doesn’t feature a single player listed above 6-foot-1 on its roster, while Kentucky’s starting lineup against Morehead had 4 players alone listed at six foot or above.

Both teams have one win to their name and are looking to add one more, but the Wildcats are in pursuit of more than just their second win.

Much Needed Improvements

Although Kentucky won their last matchup versus Morehead State, head coach Kenny Brooks was not shy after the game about how his team needs to be better despite the 16-point win.

“We need to get better at understanding how to make adjustments in game in order for us to be successful,” said Brooks.

The Cats did grab 21 more rebounds than their opponents, however, that was one of their few bright spots. They only shot 16.7% from three-point territory and turned the ball over 13 times, exceeding the average from last season.

Defensively, the Wildcats recorded 12 blocks, but that did not stop Morehead from penetrating the paint and using back-door cuts to get by Kentucky multiple times.

“I thought it was a lack of communication,” Brooks said. “I think we relied too much on contesting shots as they went to the hole, we did have 12 blocks but we can’t rely on that. We got to be able to move our feet and I thought our defense could have been a lot better.”

It seems that the biggest positive from the Cats’ first game is that the coaching staff now knows what areas need improvement. After two days of practicing and watching film, it’s time to implement those improvements in the second game of the season.

On, Thursday Nov. 6, inside Historic Memorial Coliseum, Kentucky women’s basketball will look to take down Monmouth. The tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on SEC Network+.

It was Halloween night, and in the 81st minute, Kentucky’s Isaiah Chisolm hit a left footer inside the box to give Kentucky a 1-0 lead that would be written in history.

The No. 18 Wildcats (10-2-3, 7-1-0 SBC) took on the Georgia State Panthers (4-6-6, 2-3-3 SBC) in a game that would mark history for the Wildcats and potentially hold the keys to a successful tournament run.

Conference Title Advantages

After the win, it was officially official that the Cats only lost one conference game, giving them the Sun Belt Conference regular season title.

The record will give Kentucky a spot as a host site for the 2025 SBC conference tournament, with games scheduled for next week on Nov. 9. The eight-team bracket will be released just a few days before on Nov. 4.

Because of UK’s play during the season, they can expect a smooth path to start the tournament, likely facing James Madison, who does not have a win in the SBC this season.

Another advantage for Kentucky is that history is on the Cats’ side. The last time Kentucky took the regular season title, they would go on to dominate the tournament and take home the tournament title in 2022. This was the first and only time the Wildcats had either.

How It Happened

The first 45 minutes of the game was relatively stagnant. Only one shot on goal was recorded for both teams. It was Chisolm that sent the shot, but Panthers keeper Loan Marin would be the one between the ball and the back of the net.

Then, in the 80th minute, Kentucky found themselves in the box but not in a position to score.

It was only when Kentucky’s Max Miller and Kevin Larsson, both chasing after the runaway ball, deflected it towards the right of the box.

Thankfully for the Wildcats, midfielder Alex Ruiz ended up with the ball. His pass would split three Panthers defenders and that’s where Chisolm took over.

Chisolm, with his left foot, placed the ball in the far left side of the net and because of his close positioning, Georgia States keeper had no time to react.

The Wildcats will end their regular season on Tuesday Nov. 4 in an away game against Old Dominion. That game can be found on ESPN+ and will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. ET.