Kentucky rallies past Gators for season’s first SEC win

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Robyn Benton scored 17 of her 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Kentucky women’s basketball team earned its first Southeastern Conference win of the season, topping Florida 81-75 on Saturday at Exactech Arena.

Benton tied a career high with 29 points, which came on nine of 19 shooting, including one of four from behind the arc, and a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line.

Kentucky (9-9, 1-5 SEC) got 19 points from Jada Walker, who also scored 10 in the fourth quarter. Maddie Scherr had 18 points, six rebounds, four steals, three blocked shots and three assists for the Cats.

The Cats used pressure defense throughout the game, forcing the Gators into 24 turnovers, including 17 steals. Kentucky had 28 points from turnovers, compared to only 13 for Florida. UK also made 23 of 28 (82.1 percent) from the free throw line in the game.

Florida (12-6, 1-4) took a 6-2 lead early in the game and would take an 8-4 lead before Kentucky got back-to-back baskets from Scherr and Adebola Adeyeye to tie the game at 8-8. However, the Gators would score the next seven points and would lead 18-10 after one period of play.

The Gators started strong in the second period behind KK Deans, who made four three-pointers in the first two minutes of the period, helping Florida extend its lead to 30-14. However, Kentucky responded by scoring seven in a row, using a pressure defense to keep the Gators off the board for nearly four minutes. After Florida got the basket, the Cats scored six straight points to cut the deficit to 32-27.

Kentucky would take Florida’s lead during the third period. The Gators would lead 46-40 before Kentucky went on an 11-3 run, capped by five points from Walker, to take their first lead, 51-49. Florida would tie the game at 51-51 but Scherr scored as the horn sounded and the Cats took a 53-51 lead into the final quarter.

Florida tied the game to start the fourth quarter but that’s when Benton took over. The senior had a pair of basket-and-ones, accounting for six points in an 8-0 run that gave the Cats a 61-53 lead with 8:52 to play.

The Gators would make one more run on the Cats, getting within two, 70-68, with 2:42 to play. But Benton and Walker held on, keeping Florida at bay and securing the win.

Kentucky returns to action next Saturday, visiting Mississippi State in SEC play. Tipoff is set for 1 pm ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.