LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky is undefeated no more.
The fifth-ranked Wildcats had tied a record with 11 consecutive victories to open the season, but their streak ended with a 69-61 loss to No. 2 Duke on Sunday.
Kentucky made history and broke a school attendance record with 23,706 in its lone game of the season at Rupp Arena. But its nonconference winning streak was halted at 44 games.
Wildcats coach Matthew Mitchell was pleased with the crowd, but obviously disappointed with the outcome.
“It was remarkable,” he said about the crowd that got loud as the Wildcats mounted a second-half rally that got them to 59-55 with 6:07 remaining and 67-61 with 54 seconds left.
“If you’ve been around here as long as I have and been in the league as long as I have, you’ve got some good perspective on what today meant. I don’t want to beat ourselves up too much, because we lost to a good team. They’re an excellent basketball team, but gosh, I sure wanted to reward that great crowd with a victory.”
Tricia Liston scored a season-high 28 points for the Blue Devils (12-1), who frequently flexed their size advantage against the Wildcats. The 6-foot-1 Liston thrived on mismatches to shoot 10 of 19 from the field, including two 3-pointers, falling a point short of her career best.
Duke’s 6-3 center, Elizabeth Williams, was 6 of 10 to chip in 17 points and had eight rebounds.
The Blue Devils stifled Kentucky around the basket, limiting the Wildcats to 25-of-75 shooting (33 percent) and 3 of 15 from long range. Poor free throw shooting also doomed Kentucky, which made just 8 of 19 from the line.
“They outworked us today and I think that’s what happens in games with two really good teams going at it,” Mitchell said. “They were just a team that worked harder. Not that our team didn’t work hard, I just think Duke worked harder. You give them credit. They did a nice job.”
Janee Thompson’s 12 points led Kentucky, which played its third game without injured 6-3 forward DeNesha Stallworth, out three to four weeks after having knee surgery.
NO. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA 70, SOUTH CAROLINA ST. 26
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Freshman Alaina Coates scored a season-high 23 points on perfect shooting to lead South Carolina to its 21st consecutive victory over South Carolina State.
The 6-foot-4 Coates made all seven of her field goal attempts and was 9 of 9 at the free throw line for the Gamecocks (11-1). Mykala Jones led the Lady Bulldogs (1-8) with seven points.
Sports, Pages 20 on 12/23/2013