UK POSTGAME NOTES: Wildcats Drop to Virginia Tech 82-74 in the Bahamas
- KySportsStyle.com
- Nov 21, 2022
- 5 min read
Compiled by UK Athletics
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES KENTUCKY VS. NO. 14/14 VIRGINIA TECH MONDAY, NOV. 21, 2022 BAHA MAR GRAND BALLROOM – NASSAU, BAHAMAS Kentucky 74, No. 14/14 Virginia Tech 82 – FINAL Team Records and Series Notes
The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 49th season with an 886-570 (.609) all-time record.
The Wildcats are now 4-1 on the season, sustaining their first loss of the year. This was UK’s first game away from Memorial Coliseum, sitting 4-0 at home.
Virginia Tech is now 4-0 on the season, improving to 128-69 under seventh-year head coach Kenny Brooks.
Kyra Elzy is in her third season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 41-22 overall record.
This was the third all-time meeting between Kentucky and Virginia Tech in women’s basketball with the Hookies now holding a 2-1 series lead.
It marked the first meeting between the two teams in 33 years.
This was the first meeting between the two teams in a neutral-site game as both previous meetings were in Lexington, Ky.
VT was the first ranked opponent that UK has faced this season.
Kentucky will face Dayton in its final game of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship in the Bahamas on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The game will be available on the UK Sports Network and online through subscription on FloHoops.com.
Team Notes
Kentucky used the starting combination Jada Walker, Maddie Scherr, Robyn Benton, Blair Green and Adebola Adeyeye for the first time this season.
Virginia Tech won the opening tip, marking the first time this season that UK has lost the opening tip.
Jada Walker was the first Kentucky player to score in the game.
It was the first time this season that she has been the first Wildcat to score in a game.
Ajae Petty was the first sub off the bench for Kentucky.
This was the first time this season that Petty was the first UK sub to enter the game. She entered for Green, who picked up two early fouls.
After being outscored 29-8 in the first quarter, Kentucky outscored the Hookies 66-53 the remainder of the way.
In the second half, UK scored 51 points, shooting 55.9 percent from the field and going 2-of-5 from long range.
UK had 30 points in the paint in the second half and 21points off turnovers in the second half.
In comparison, UK 18 paint points and eight points off turnovers in the first half.
Virginia Tech won the rebounding battle against Kentucky, 43-23, including a 13-11 edge in offensive rebounds and had 19 second-chance points.
UK had a 48-40 edge in paint points in the game and a 29-14 edge in points off turnovers.
UK is now 3-1 this season when it wins the battle in paint points.
This was the first time this season that UK has trailed at halftime.
Virginia Tech’s 82 points were the most UK has allowed in a game this season.
This was the first time Kentucky has been outrebounded this season.
UK committed fewer turnovers than VT in the game and has recorded fewer turnovers in every game they have played this season.
UK has forced 20 or more turnovers in four of its five games this season.
Nine of UK’s 10 players that played in the game scored for the Wildcats.
Virginia Tech opened the game with a 3-pointer.
Jada Walker responded with a layup as the two teams went back-and-forth, as the Hokies led the Wildcats, 5-4, at 7:54.
The Hokies then went on an 8-0 run midway through the quarter.
Robyn Benton capped their scoring streak with a jumper at 3:34.
The Hokies went on another 9-0 run.
Eniya Russell capped their scoring streak with a layup under the minute mark.
The Hokies capped the first quarter with a 7-0 run.
Virginia Tech led Kentucky, 29-8, at the end of the first quarter.
The Hokies scored first to start the second quarter.
Blair Green followed up with a jumper at 9:15.
Tech had a couple layups, before Maddie Scherr went on a 4-0 run for herself, as Kentucky began to chip away at Tech’s lead, 35-14.
The Hokies responded with a 7-0 run under the five-minute mark.
The Wildcats capped the second quarter on a 9-2 run.
Tech led Kentucky, 44-23, at halftime.
Kentucky won the third quarter 26-23, shooting 64.7 percent from the field.
The Wildcats went 11-of-17 overall in the quarter and did not attempt a 3-pointer.
Eighteen of Kentucky’s 26 third-quarter points were in the paint and the scoring was balanced with six players scoring.
Petty scored eight points in the third quarter on 4-of-4 shooting, while Walker had five and Benton and Green had four each.
VT shot 57.1 percent in the third quarter, going 8-of-14.
The Hookies still controlled the rebounding margin in the third quarter 9-6 with eight second-chance points.
The Wildcats dominated the fourth quarter 25-15 to cut the deficit to single digits, however, UK could never get closer than six points, falling 82-74.
UK had 13 points off turnovers in the fourth quarter, forcing nine VT miscues in the final 10 minutes alone.
Walker was the leading scorer for UK in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points.
UK was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
UK won the rebounding battle 10-8 in the fourth quarter.
In the quarter, UK had a 17-2 run to get the lead to single digits.
Virginia Tech shot 30.8 percent from the field in the fourth quarter.
UK hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, its only 3s of the game.
Player Notes
Jada Walker led Kentucky in scoring for the third time this season, scoring 17 points with four assists and five steals.
The five steals ties a season high.
This was the third time this season and 20th time in her career that she has scored 10 or more points in a game.
This was the third time this season and 10th time in her career that she has scored 15 or more points in a game.
Robyn Benton scored 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting, adding two assists.
This was the fourth time this season she has scored 10 or more points in a game and the 43rd time double-figure scoring game of her career.
Ajae Petty scored 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four rebounds.
This was a season high in scoring for Petty.
Maddie Scherr led Kentucky in rebounding for the first time in her career, grabbing seven boards.
Adebola Adeyeye recorded her first career start for the Wildcats in the game.
She scored two points with five rebounds and a steal.
Amiya Jenkins came off the bench to give UK a boost with seven points, going 3-of-5 from the free-throw line with four rebounds and two steals.
The four rebounds was a career high, while the two steals ties a career high.
Blair Green scored nine points with a 3-pointer in the game.
Green has hit at least one 3 in three of her last four games.
Comments