Georgia Amoore ties record, Kentucky edges Liberty 79-78 in NCAA Tournament

In a thrilling first-round matchup of the NCAA Tournament, the fourth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats narrowly defeated the 13th-seeded Liberty Flames 79-78, thanks in large part to Georgia Amoore's standout performance. Amoore scored 34 points, tying the school record for points in a tournament game, while also contributing eight assists and demonstrating clutch free-throw shooting in the closing moments. Despite holding a 17-point lead entering the fourth quarter, Kentucky faced a fierce comeback from Liberty, who cut the deficit to just one point late in the game. The Wildcats ultimately secured their first tournament win since 2021, and will advance to face either Kansas State or Fairfield in the next round. Dazia Lawrence and Clara Strack also played pivotal roles, scoring 16 and 15 points respectively, with Strack adding a double-double of 10 rebounds. Kentucky's defense was key, with 12 blocks and aggressive play limiting Liberty's scoring opportunities throughout most of the game.