Missouri Women Stop Kentucky 74-71
Compiled by UK Athletics
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES KENTUCKY AT MISSOURI THURSDAY, DEC. 29, 2022 MIZZOU ARENA - COLUMBIA, MO.
Missouri 74, Kentucky 71 - FINAL Team Records and Series Notes
· The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 49th season with an 890-574 (.608) all-time record.
o The Wildcats are now 8-5 overall and 0-1 in the league.
o The Tigers are now 12-2 overall and 1-0 in the league.
· UK is 18-23 in Southeastern Conference openers.
· Kyra Elzy is in her third season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 45-26 overall record.
o She has a 17-15 overall record in the SEC.
· Kentucky remains the leader in the all-time series with Missouri, 10-5.
· Kentucky will host No. 24/23 Arkansas on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 for its Kick Off the New Year game.
o It will mark UK’s home conference opener.
o Fans are encouraged to wear their best pair of “kicks,” and also enter to win a free pair of True Blue Custom kicks.
Team Notes
· Kentucky used the starting combination Jada Walker, Maddie Scherr, Robyn Benton, Blair Green and Nyah Leveretter for the eighth game this season. UK is 5-3 using that starting combination.
o Missouri won the opening tip.
o Jada Walker was the first player to score for Kentucky.
o Adebola Adeyeye was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky.
· Kentucky got off to a 12-4 lead going into the first media timeout (4:24).
o Missouri scored first, then Jada Walker scored Kentucky’s next four points in the game on a layup and then a couple of makes at the line. Blair Green stretched that momentum into a 7-0 run after one from the arc.
o The Tigers responded with a layup, before the Wildcats went on another 8-0 run.
§ Kentucky led Missouri, 15-4, with three minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
o Kentucky stretched that into a 10-2 run after Green scored on a layup.
o Missouri then had a couple of makes at the line and a layup to get in double digits by the one-minute mark.
o Emma King concluded scoring in the first quarter with a mid-range jumper.
o Kentucky led Missouri, 19-10, at the end of the first quarter/
· The Tigers began the second quarter on a 5-0 run thanks to a layup and make from long range.
o The Wildcats responded with a 4-0 run on a couple makes at the line from Benton and an offensive rebound and put-back layup from Nyah Leveretter.
o Missouri then scored on four straight makes at the line, two of which because of technical foul called on Benton.
§ That produced a 12-2 run, as the Tigers took their first lead since the first minute of the game.
o Benton knocked down a couple of free throws to tie the game with Missouri, 27-27, with three minutes and six seconds remaining in the second quarter.
o The Tigers concluded the period on a 12-2 run.
o Missouri outscored Kentucky, 29-10, in the second quarter, leading 39-30 at halftime.
· Kentucky began the third quarter on a 9-2 run thanks to three makes from long range, including one by Maddie Scherr and two more by Benton.
o It was back and forth scoring until the media timeout (3:52), with neither team going on a run more than four points.
o Missouri snapped that streak with a 7-0 run, thanks to a 3-pointer, a layup and a jumper, with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third quarter.
o Benton answered with a layup, then the Tigers had a layup and Scherr capped the third quarter with a jumper.
o Kentucky outscored Missouri, 22-19, in the third quarter, as the Tigers led the Wildcats, 58-52.
· Benton tightened the gap with a layup off a turnover to begin the fourth quarter.
o Missouri responded with a layup on its next possession to keep it a six-point game.
o Benton scored two more on a couple makes at the line, then the Tigers came right back with a layup on the other end.
o Missouri connected on an old-fashion three-point play, before Kentucky went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 66-66 with three minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the game.
o Missouri outscored Kentucky, 8-5, down the stretch, including knocking down six free throws to conclude the game.
o Kentucky lost to Missouri, 74-71.
· Kentucky outscored Missouri in the first, third and fourth quarters, as the Wildcats made 40.0 of their shots from the floor (24-of-60).
o Missouri shot 45.3 percent from the field on 24-of-53 shooting.
· The Wildcats knocked down 10 shots from long range, tying their season high.
o It marked the second time this season the Cats have knocked down at least 10 3-pointers, owning a 1-1 record in those contests.
o It marked the fifth time this season the Cats have knocked down at least six 3-pointers, owning a 3-2 record in those contests.
· Kentucky won the turnover battle for the 11th game this season.
o UK forced UM to commit 25 turnovers, scoring 36 points off those miscues. Meanwhile, the Wildcats had 14 turnovers, as the Tigers scored 22 from those errors.
Player Notes
· Kentucky had four players score in double digits,
o It marked the third time this season at least four players posted double-digit scoring, as UK owns a 2-1 record in those contests.
· Graduate guard Robyn Benton led the team in scoring with a season-high tying 22 points.
o It marked the fifth straight game she has led the team in scoring.
o She has scored in double digits in all 13 games this season.
o She made at least one 3-pointer for the eighth straight game.
o She also went 10-of-11 from the line.
o She added six steals, two blocks and a rebound.
· Sophomore guard Jada Walker had 15 points.
o She knocked down three from long range and went 2-of-2 from the line.
o She has scored in double digits in three straight games and in 10 games this season.
o She added six assists and three rebounds.
· Graduate guard Blair Green had 13 points.
o She scored on 5-fo-10 from the field and 3-of-6 from long range.
o It marked her sixth game this season she has scored in double digits.
o She added three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
· Junior guard Maddie Scherr had 11 points.
o She scored on 4-of-8 from the floor and 2-of-5 from long range.
o She added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
