Box Score LEXINGTON, Ky. – The West Virginia University women's fell to No. 16/18 Kentucky, 83-60, on Wednesday evening, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, in the 2021 Big 12/SEC Challenge.
 
Junior guard KK Deans led WVU's scoring efforts in the game, with a team-high 20 points, to notch her first 20-point performance of the season. Junior forward Esmery Martinez also tallied 14 points and hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds to notch her second double-double of the season
 
After WVU handled the opening tip, Kentucky opened the scoring and led by five in the early going. The Mountaineers responded with five points of their own, including a 3-pointer from junior guard Jayla Hemingway, to tie the game. West Virginia managed to keep the game close over the next couple minutes, and just before the media timeout, Deans hit a 3 to give WVU the lead.
 
Following the break, both teams each ripped off a 5-0 run and traded the lead. Senior guard Jasmine Carson netted West Virginia's third 3-pointer of the game with 2:25 to go in the quarter to retake the lead. WVU and UK both scored down low in the final 30 seconds of the frame, as the Mountaineers took a 17-16 advantage into the second.
 
West Virginia and Kentucky scored back-and-forth through the opening minutes of the second quarter, as the game was tied until the 7:07 mark. Following a fast-break score from fifth-year senior forward Ari Gray, UK's Jada Walker made a 5-0 run on her own to give the Wildcats a 26-23 advantage. WVU scored going into the media break to make it a one-point game.
 
The Wildcats rattled off a 6-0 run coming out of the timeout, which forced the Mountaineers to call a timeout down by seven. WVU attempted to chip away at the lead, but a pair of 3-pointers helped Kentucky keep its advantage and hold a 40-31 lead at the half.
 
West Virginia trailed by double digits to begin the third quarter, as Kentucky added to its lead. The Mountaineers cut it back to single digits thanks to five points from Deans, including an and-1 conversion, that helped make it a 46-41 game with 6:43 to go in the third. The Wildcats tacked on four at the free-throw line before the media timeout, as the Mountaineers trailed by nine.
 
Kentucky once again came out hot following the break, and the Mountaineers trailed by 14 with 3:50 to play in the quarter after a 9-0 run. WVU did net two buckets during the final five minutes of the third frame, but UK led by 17 heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
 
UK kept its offense rolling to begin the fourth and stretched its lead to 26 points, before Martinez put a halt to the onslaught with a pair of free throws. Deans tacked on four more of her own to help WVU cut the deficit to 71-50 at the final media timeout.
 
Deans reached the 20-point plateau with 4:46 remaining in the game.
 
The Mountaineers continued to attack and netted 10 points down the stretch, but Kentucky always responded on its end of the court to keep a lead of 20-plus points. West Virginia battled but ultimately fell to the Wildcats by 23 in the end.
 
WVU finished the game shooting 23-of-62 from the floor and made four 3's. West Virginia forced 19 turnovers from Kentucky and tallied seven steals in the game.
 
UK guard Rhyne Howard was one of three Wildcats to finish with 10 or more points and netted a game-high 27 points.
 
Next up, West Virginia returns to Morgantown, on Tuesday, Dec. 7, as the Mountaineers play host to Charlotte. Tipoff from the WVU Coliseum is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.