LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky women's basketball team could not overcome a poor shooting day, as the Wildcats fell to Georgia 56-42 on Sunday, Jan. 7 at Memorial Coliseum. UK now has lost eight straight games. Kentucky (8-9, 0-3 SEC) was able to hit just 11 of 54 (20.4 percent) from the field. Georgia also struggled shooting, hitting just 15 of 54 (27.8 percent) of its field goals. The Bulldogs converted 22 of their 26 free throw attempts, while the Wildcats were 17 of 23 from the line. Senior Makenzie Cann led the Wildcats with 10 points. Junior Maci Morris (pictured), who didn't see much action in the second half due to a bruised knee, had nine points in the game, while Jaida Roper (pictured) had eight points before fouling out of the game.

On Morris’ injury, Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell said, "It was just a contusion. She fell on the floor after a loose ball in practice and was in some discomfort Thursday. Obviously played like a warrior on Thursday (night against Texas A&M), and we thought it was a bone bruise. It was really bothering her today and so we’ve just got to go back and see where she is and check that out. So, I don’t have a good answer for you there." The Wildcats held an 18-14 advantage in bench points in the game. Kentucky forced Georgia into 18 turnovers and turned those into 12 points. The game was tight early, with the lead changing hands five times in the first six minutes. Kentucky held a 10-8 lead with 4:01 left in the first quarter, but Georgia scored the final seven points of the period and led 15-10 after the first 10 minutes.

Kentucky started the second quarter with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 17 apiece. From there, the game would be tied four times before the end of the half. With 22 seconds remaining the half, Georgia's Mackenzie Engram scored on a layup to give the Bulldogs a 26-24 lead, an advantage that Georgia took to the locker room at the half. In the third quarter, Kentucky grabbed the lead as freshman KeKe McKinney nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key. But the lead lasted only 40 seconds, as Engram hit a three from the corner to give the Bulldogs a 29-27 lead. Both teams struggled from the field, as Georgia made two of its 18 shots in the period, while Kentucky made just one of 11. But the Bulldogs made four of six from the free throw line to take a 35-29 lead at the end of three periods. Georgia went on a 9-2 run to start the fourth quarter, establishing a 13-point lead in the process. The Bulldogs would lead by as many as 15 Kentucky returns to action on Thursday, as the Wildcats visit Florida. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network Plus (online).

UK Athletics Photos by Britney Howard