
Kentucky’s DeNesha Stallworth, left, celebrates with teammate Azia Bishop in the final seconds of their NCAA college basketball game against Georgia in the Southeastern Conference tournament on Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. Kentucky won 60-38. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) – Jennifer O’Neill sank 3-pointers on each end of a 15-0 run early in the second half that gave Kentucky the lead, and the Wildcats rolled past Georgia 60-38 on Saturday night to earn a spot in the SEC tournament championship game.
DeNesh Stallworth had 18 points for No. 7 Kentucky (27-4), which will face No. 19 Texas A&M in Sunday night’s final. The Wildcats, who lost to Tennessee in the 2010 and 2011 championship games, will play for their first championship since 1982.
Jasmine Hassell led No. 12 Georgia (25-6) with 17 points. Georgia, which made only 22.2 percent of its shots (14 of 63), led 24-19 at halftime and stretched the lead to seven points before Kentucky took control with its 15-0 run.
The Wildcats closed with a 13-0 run as Georgia didn’t score in the final 6 minutes.
A’dia Mathies had 11 points as Kentucky’s second scorer in double figures. O’Neill had nine points.
The Lady Bulldogs struggled against Kentucky’s defense, which led the SEC in steals and blocked shots. Anne Marie Armstrong made only one of 13 shots, Tiaria Griffin was 1 of 10 and Jasmine James was 4 of 14 for nine points.
Each team had shooting problems in the first half. Georgia shot only 8 of 34 shots (23.5 percent) from the field. Kentucky was 7 of 27 (25.9 percent) as it had difficulty passing to Stallworth and Samarie Walker inside.
Hassell, who had 13 points in the first half, had the first points of the second half to stretch the Lady Bulldogs’ lead to seven points. Georgia didn’t score again for almost 6 minutes.
O’Neill had 3-pointers on each end of the 15-0 run that gave the Wildcats a 34-26 lead. Jasmine James’ shot off the glass for Georgia ended the long run.
Georgia coach Andy Landers called two timeouts during the run, but the Wildcats continued to add to their lead. Back-to-back baskets by Stallworth pushed the advantage to double figures for the first time at 41-29.
A layup by Stallworth pushed the lead to 20 points at 58-38.
No. 7 KENTUCKY 60, No. 12 GEORGIA 38
GEORGIA (25-6): Armstrong 1-13 0-0 2, Hassell 6-10 5-6 17, James 4-14 1-3 9, Griffin 1-10 0-0 2, Barbee 0-1 1-2 1, Miller 1-6 0-0 3, Hempe 0-3 0-0 0, Donald 1-1 0-0 2, Willis 0-0 0-1 0, Butler 0-0 2-2 2, Ford 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 14-63 9-14 38.
KENTUCKY (27-4): Walker 1-3 0-0 2, Stallworth 9-16 0-0 18, O’Neill 3-8 1-2 9, Mathies 5-11 0-1 11, Evans 2-4 0-0 6, Thompson 1-3 1-2 4, Pinkett 0-1 0-0 0, Sidney 0-0 0-0 0, Goss 1-4 5-5 7, Drake 0-0 0-0 0, Henderson 0-1 0-0 0, Bishop 1-5 1-2 3. Totals 23-56 8-12 60.
Halftime_Georgia 24-19. 3-Point Goals_Georgia 1-18 (Miller 1-4, James 0-2, Armstrong 0-6, Griffin 0-6), Kentucky 6-13 (Evans 2-3, O’Neill 2-3, Mathies 1-2, Thompson 1-2, Goss 0-1, Bishop 0-1, Pinkett 0-1). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Georgia 48 (Hassell 9), Kentucky 38 (Bishop 6). Assists_Georgia 2 (Armstrong, James 1), Kentucky 12 (O’Neill 4). Total Fouls_Georgia 14, Kentucky 15. A_6,630.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.



Good game and a tough one tomorrow! Go Big Blue!!!
Way to go girls! Bring home an SEC tourney championship! I hope the men follow suit in their SEC tournament.
Watched that game on ESPNU. Those girls play D like a Pack of Wolves chasing wounded game. They are 10 deep and a joy to watch. GREAT job ladies.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
With their depth and style of play, I fully expect the UK Hoops team to bring home their first SEC tournament championship since the Valerie Still/Lea Wise days. The key is Jennifer O’Neill ad how well she runs the point, IMO. Go UK Hoops!