LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky’s No. 19 women’s basketball team hits the road for the second game in a row to face a top 20 opponent nationally classified as the Wildcats and Georgia’s No. 17 will topple at 7 pm Eastern time on Thursday at Stegeman Coliseum .
The game against Georgia will be broadcast on the SEC Network with Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck on the conference call. The action can be checked by WatchESPN on computers, smartphones or tablets. Darren Headrick will make the call on the UK Sports Network at 630AM WLAP in Lexington. Live statistics and free live audio will be available online at UKathletics.com.
Thursday’s game marks the third time in the last four games that the Wildcats have faced a top 20 opponent, starting with victory against No. 16, Tennessee. The Wildcats then traveled to Florida to win a victory before dropping to 2nd place in South Carolina in their last performance on Sunday in Columbia. The postponement of the LSU game last week changed Kentucky’s February schedule to basically become a big trip, as the Wildcats will play four of six on the road with 17 days separating their home games during the month.
Kentucky (15-6, 8-5 Southeastern Conference) is coming out of a disappointing 76-55 loss in the highly ranked South Carolina on Sunday. It was the first time this season that only one Wildcat scored double digits. The UK’s 55 points were the second lowest number this season. Rhyne Howard led Kentucky with 12 points and six rebounds, hitting two 3s. Chasity Patterson scored nine points while Jazmine Massengill has six points and five assists with two 3s made.
Howard is having the best national player of the year as the only player in the SEC to lead his team in scoring, rebounds and assists. The guard averages 19.3 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game and has 66 assists. She is the second of the team with 36 steals and the third with 14 blocks. Howard hit 40 points out of 3 points this season. Patterson averages 12.9 points per game and is among the top 10 in steals and steals per game. Earlier this week, Patterson was named a semifinalist for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Georgia comes into play with a 17-4 record, including a 9-4 mark in the league game. The Bulldogs are 9-2 at home this season, with the only defeats coming to LSU and Mississippi State. Jenna Staiti leads the team with 13.8 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game, while Gabby Connally averages 12.4 points per game with 62 assists and 33 steals. That Morrison is the last Bulldog with an average of double digits with 11.1 points per game and team records with 73 assists and 42 steals.
Thursday will be the 58th all-time meeting between Kentucky and Georgia in women’s basketball. The Bulldogs lead the series of all time by 37-20 overall, including a 17-7 mark in games played in Athens. The UK has won six of the last seven games in the series. Last season, the UK won 88-77 at the Memorial Coliseum. Rhyne Howard scored 25 points in the game, hitting four 3s. Staiti scored 22 points with eight rebounds and a block. The UK’s last defeat at the Stegeman Coliseum was 56-58 on January 20, 2014. Kentucky won three in a row in the building, two by double digits. On March 3, 2019, the UK won 58-53 at UGA.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
– GO CATS –
For more information contact us:
Evan Crane; [email protected]; (859) 257-8431
Cami Moore; [email protected]; (859) 257-8431
ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS IN THE UK
PRE-GEORGIA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS CONFERENCE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021
JOE CRAFT CENTER – LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
Kentucky Head Coach Kyra Elzy
In the presence of Georgia in the post, including Jenna Staiti …
“You are correct, the glove continues. (Jenna) Staiti is playing extremely well. She is a big column. She can score on both shoulders. We will have to work to not let her stay in a deep position. I thought we did a job better against (Aliyah) Boston, when it comes to bringing the double, playing with it. So, we’re going to have to do that again, and we’re going to have to make her a passer when she kicks out the double, and when the shot go up, make sure we’re taking out a box. “
About this being a great game in terms of spread …
“We are always concerned with propagation and positioning, and it’s something we’ve been talking about all year, not just for this game. But, players understand the importance of this game. First, because it is the next game on our schedule, but for propagation purposes. However, not just trying to focus on the outcome of the game, really now, trying to set our mindset on the things we need to do to play the game we need to play. “
If you expect Rhyne (Howard) to get more points in the postseason …
“Well, Rhyne (Howard) will have a big factor in the scoring. But, I keep saying that, when we’re out of our best, it’s because we have a balanced scoring attack. When we have a presence on the pole, when Dre’una Edwards or Olivia Owens or Tatyana Wyatt is marking in, KeKe McKinney continues to score well 3, Blair Green or Robyn Bentonguarding Jazmine Massengill aggressive, and then Chasity Patterson it’s been stable all year, but we have to have a balanced score to keep the defense honest. “
On the recovery in South Carolina and the attitude towards the Georgia game …
“Well, it was a tough night for us. Obviously, a disappointing performance. It’s not the result we wanted, obviously, but our approach to the team and the team is that we have to have a short memory now. You know, we had to go back, look at the South Carolina game, there were areas where we could improve, there were areas where we did some things better and that went from practice, so now you have to focus on Georgia. to rest. Learn from it, move on and our focus is now on Georgia. “
If you consider choosing a smaller lineup instead of depth …
“Well, that’s a great question. Well, whoever is acting, you have to leave them on the court. That’s the name of the game, you have to be able to produce. But, our depth has been a big factor for us all year round. So now we’re going to continue using our rotation, playing with our depth, and if we have to tighten the rotation, we’ll do it, but you just follow the flow of the game, and that’s a game time decision. ”
If you think Kentucky has an advantage at the NCAA Tournament with the way your team is structured and without home environments …
“Well, I’m glad you love looking to the future and have time to do it. I love it. Um, but for a coach, you’re right. I’m trying to keep my focus on Georgia right now. But as for when you get to the NCAA Tournament, if you have the opportunity to play, you know, at that moment, anything can happen. It’s all about match ups. There will not be a court at home advantage, but in March it is to survive and move forward. the best basketball and just hope your team is at the peak at the right time and you get the right matches. So, March is a mix of luck with a draw, of spying, playing well, so there are a lot of variables that go into that . “
On if the team is healthy …
“Things are looking good in that respect. Don’t be unlucky. Keep your fingers crossed and prayers up, but so far, so good.”