22
Mar
March Madness
Amoore ties scoring record, Wildcats advance
Australian Georgia Amoore #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates with Teonni Key #7 in the second half while playing the Liberty Lady Flames in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on March 21, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Georgia Amoore's Kentucky Wildcats advance to second round of NCAAW March Madness
- Georgia Amoore dominated in the Wildcats one-point March Madness first round win.
- Amoore dropped 34 points to tie NCAA women's tournament school record.
- Amoore's WNBA Draft stocks have skyrocketed in 2025.
Ballarat's Georgia Amoore produced one of the greatest performances by an Australian in NCAA March Madness to lead the Kentucky Wildcats into the second round of the women's national championship tournament on Friday, March 22, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Amoore, 23, tied four-seed Kentucky's all-time tournament single game scoring record, dropping 34 points in the Wildcats 79-78 win against the Liberty Flames.
"She is the complete package as a point guard," an ESPN analyst said in the post game recap.
The fifth-year senior went 12-from-24 from the field, including 6-from-10 from three, while adding two rebounds, eight assists, two steals, two blocks.
Amoore said in her post game interview: "I think we had them in a position where we could put them away early and it shouldn't have been that close at the end.
"I think we should be confident, we have our shots and we've got to knock them down, and I don't think this is the best story of our team but I think next game we're going to definitely have to come out hungrier and more confident and have a bit more energy."
She made three throws in the clutch to hold off the fast-finishing 13th ranked Liberty.
The Wildcats led by as many as 17 points. Australian teammate Amelia Hassett splashed a big three down the stretch off an Amoore assist to keep the Flames at bay.
Liberty banked a three with 2.6 seconds left to make it a one-point ball game but didn't foul Amoore as the clock expired on the inbound after a time-out.
Amoore has established herself as one of the premier playmakers and scorers in college basketball after transferring to Kentucky from Virginia Tech before the start of the 2024-25 NCAA women's season.
She averaged 19.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and an impressive 6.9 assists per game this season, while shooting at a solid 42.5% from the field, to lead the Wildcats to 22-7 record and fourth in the SEC, a conference that features Dawn Staley's powerhouse South Carolina.
"It’s been such a blessing to be able to play with a whole bunch of girls who are hungry, who came to the SEC wanting more," Amoore said before the tournament.
"It’s just be so fun and gratifying to be around," she said.
Amoore told ESPN her move from Virginia Tech to Kentucky in the SEC has propelled her game to the next level.
"It’s been very, very beneficial for me," she said.
"I think, first of all, starting out in the SEC … I went to the portal and it was like, ‘the SEC is this’ — and it is. It is. I'm so glad I came here. I'm so glad I went through the ringer. It was tough.
"It was a challenge. But it was exactly what I needed — the defense, the opposition. You look at the teams in the tournament, how many are from the SEC, right? And I heard it — the Vandy-Duke matchup, like it's tough.
"The SEC teams are tough to play against. So it’s been so beneficial for me because it was the perfect step into my future aspirations.”
An ESPN analyst said she had spoken to several WNBA general managers "who were high on Georgia" and "could see her running an offense in the WNBA with her high leadership" ability.
The WNBA Draft is April 14, 2025 and Amoore's stocks have risen considerably this season and is now a potential early round draft pick.
.avif)
