Aussie Georgia Amoore Shines with 34 Points as Kentucky Marches On in March Madness

Georgia Amoore, a native of Ballarat, delivered an impressive 34-point performance for fourth-seeded Kentucky, hitting three crucial free throws in the last ten seconds to secure a narrow 79-78 triumph over 13th-seeded Liberty in the opening round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats nearly squandered a commanding 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, but managed to hold on for the win.

The NCAA Tournament, often dubbed “March Madness,” is the annual championship series for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s and women’s basketball, commencing every March in the United States.

Featuring 68 of the finest teams from across the country, the tournament has drawn considerable attention, especially for Amoore, who announced her intention to enter the WNBA Draft earlier this week.

As a second-team All-America guard, Amoore made 6 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc, contributing eight assists, two steals, and two blocks. She was particularly impactful in the first half, scoring 23 points as the Wildcats (23-7) led 67-50 at the start of the fourth quarter.

However, Kentucky’s momentum faltered, experiencing nearly five minutes without a score and missing eight consecutive shots during that stretch.

Liberty (26-7) narrowed the gap to 74-73 after Avery Mills hit a 3-pointer — her only field goal of the match — with 1:14 left on the clock.

Jordan Hodges, who contributed 13 points for Liberty, reflected on the team’s resilience: “It’s tough being in that position, but we motivated each other to stay positive and keep fighting.”

Amoore then answered back with a driving layup, marking her first points since late in the third quarter.

“We may have been the favoured team, but Liberty was playing with nothing to lose,” said Amoore. “They were keen to win and came out with a lot of energy.”

Liberty’s Emma Hess sank a 3-pointer for the final score of the game, but Amoore cleverly avoided being fouled in the dying seconds, ensuring Kentucky’s first tournament victory in four years.

The Wildcats are set to take on either Kansas State or Fairfield in the second round on Monday AEDT.

“Thank goodness for Georgia’s exceptional performance,” stated Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks. “Her and Dazia (Lawrence) really anchored us mentally, and we’re going to need more players to step up if we aim to advance further.”

The Victorian has consistently excelled throughout her four years in collegiate basketball, achieving double-digit scoring averages each season.

Amoore first rose to prominence with the Virginia Tech Hokies in her earlier three years before making a significant move to the powerhouse Kentucky Wildcats for 2025.

This week, Amoore confirmed her intent to declare for the WNBA Draft on April 14, with many analysts predicting she could be a top ten pick.