Dazia Lawrence Leads Kentucky Women's Basketball to a Dominant Win

Lawrence's Career Night Powers Kentucky to Victory

Kentucky women's basketball notched a commanding 82-58 victory over visiting Mississippi State on Thursday night at Memorial Coliseum.

Sophomore guard Dazia Lawrence exploded for a career-high 25 points, including six three-pointers, to lead the Wildcats' offensive charge.

Kentucky (12-5, 2-2 SEC) never trailed in the contest, building a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter and extending it to as many as 26 points in the second half. The Wildcats shot 45.5% from the field and held Mississippi State (10-7, 1-3 SEC) to just 34.4% shooting.

Lawrence's Stellar Performance

Lawrence's offensive outburst was a major factor in Kentucky's victory. The Bowling Green, Kentucky, native hit six of her 11 three-point attempts and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

She also contributed four rebounds and three assists in an all-around impressive performance.

Balanced Scoring Effort

In addition to Lawrence's heroics, Kentucky received balanced scoring from several other players.

Junior forward Rhyne Howard added 18 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season, while senior forward KeKe McKinney chipped in 15 points.

Freshman guard Jada Walker contributed 10 points off the bench for the Wildcats.

Defensive Dominance

Kentucky's defense was equally impressive, holding Mississippi State to its lowest point total of the season.

The Wildcats forced 16 turnovers and blocked five shots, including three by sophomore forward Olivia Owens.

Kentucky also held Mississippi State's leading scorer, Jessika Carter, to just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting.