Clara Strack scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but No. 16 Kentucky fell to third-ranked South Carolina 60-56 on Sunday inside Historic Memorial Coliseum.
Asia Boone had 11 points for the Cats, while Amelia Hassett had six points and six rebounds.
Kentucky (21-9, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) outrebounded South Carolina 40-34, but the Cats shot just 24 of 63 (38.1 percent) from the floor.
South Carolina scored first, but Teonni Key hit a baseline jumper to tie the game at 2-2. After the Gamecocks scored, Strack scored four in a row to give UK a 6-4 lead. South Carolina hit a three to lead but Hassett answered and the Cats led 9-7. However, the Gamecocks scored the next three to lead 10-9.
Tonie Morgan drove to the basket to give UK the lead, but the Gamecocks scored on the next possession to lead 12-11. After a South Carolina three, Strack hit a fadeaway to get the Cats within two, 15-13. But the Gamecocks scored the final four points of the period and led 19-13 after 10 minutes of play.
The Gamecocks started the second quarter on a 9-2 run to lead 28-15. A Jordan Obi basket stopped the run, but South Carolina scored on the other end to lead 30-17. A Strack basket cut the deficit to 11. The Gamecocks hit a three but Hassett answered and UK trailed 33-22.
A Strack leaner and a three from Boone cut the deficit to 33-27, which would be the halftime score. Strack led UK with 10 points in the first half.
Boone hit a three to open the third-quarter scoring, getting UK within three. After a South Carolina basket, Strack hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 35-32. South Carolina responded with a basket before Strack scored again to make it 37-34. A Boone three tied the game at 37 apiece, but South Carolina scored the next four.
Morgan drove to the basket and scored to cut the deficit in half, but South Carolina scored the next nine points to lead 50-39. Strack scored to get the Cats within nine, but the Gamecocks scored the final four points of the period and South Carolina led 54-41 after three quarters.
Kentucky scored the first four points of the fourth quarter on buckets by Boone and Strack, cutting the deficit to 54-45. After the Gamecocks scored, Strack hit a baseline jumper, then a layup, followed by two Key layups that cut the deficit to 56-53 and forced a South Carolina timeout. The Gamecocks scored out of the timeout to lead by five again.
Strack scored on a floater in the lane to get the Cats within three. Obi made one-of-two at the line with 59 seconds left to get UK within two. However, the Cats could get no closer.
Kentucky returns to action in the SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, this week. The day, time and opponent are still to be determined.
