Nov. 27, 2011

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Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky improves to 7-0 overall, while Mississippi Valley State falls to 1-4.
  • This is Kentucky’s best start to a season since the 2009-10 season when Kentucky started 11-0.
• Kentucky is now 3-0 against Mississippi Valley State all-time, with all three wins coming at Memorial Coliseum.
  • UK head coach Matthew Mitchell is now 2-0 against the Delta Devilettes.
• Coach Matthew Mitchell is now 123-78 overall and 93-49 at UK.
• UK has won 27 consecutive nonconference games at home dating back to the 2008-09 season.
  • UK is 36-2 at Memorial Coliseum over the past three seasons.
  • UK is 56-12 at Memorial Coliseum under the direction of Mitchell.
• Kentucky is now 635-464 in 38 years of varsity play.
• Kentucky plays again next Sunday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. ET against intrastate rival Louisville at Memorial Coliseum. The game is UK’s annual Pack the House day, one of two this season, and will be televised by the UK IMG Sports Network and the Fox Sports Network.

First Half Notes

• Kentucky used the starting lineup of Amber Smith, A’dia Mathies, Bria Goss, Kastine Evans and Samantha Drake for the third straight game.
  • Kentucky is 3-0 with this lineup.
  • UK has started a freshman in 110-of-142 games in the Matthew Mitchell era, including 77 straight.
• Kentucky had one of its best starts to a game this season, forcing five turnovers on Mississippi Valley State’s first five possessions, jumping out to a 10-0 run and not allowing the Delta Devilettes a shot attempt until the 16:55 mark.
• Senior guard Amber Smith took a charge and played a role in six of Kentucky’s first eight points.
• Kentucky forced 25 first-half turnovers, the third most turnovers forced in a half this season.
• Kentucky’s 51 first-half points are a season high, and the most since the Wildcats scored 52 vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Dec. 21, 2010.
• Kentucky went on two separate runs of 10-0 or better.
• UK took a 12-point lead at the 12:17 mark and held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
• Kentucky led 51-23 heading into the locker room.

Second Half Notes

• The Wildcats opened the second half on a 24-3 run.
  • Kentucky led by at least 30 points for the final 19:09 of the game.
• The Wildcats held the Delta Devilettes to one made field goal for the half’s opening 11:22.
  • Extending over from the first half, Kentucky held Mississippi Valley State to one made field goal for 14:26.

Team/Game Notes

• Seven Wildcats reached double figures in scoring.
  • It is the first time Kentucky has had six or more players reach double figures in scoring since Dec. 1, 2009 when Victoria Dunlap, Amber Smith, Amani Franklin, Carly Morrow, Rebecca Gray and A’dia Mathies reached double figures against Miami (Ohio).
• Kentucky forced Mississippi Valley State into 36 turnovers and has forced double-digit miscues in 89 consecutive games. The Cats are 64-25 during that span.
  • Kentucky is 31-1 when forcing 25-plus miscues.
  • Kentucky has forced 250 turnovers this season (35.7 per game).
  • Kentucky has forced at least 10 turnovers in every half this season.
• UK outscored Mississippi Valley State 50-24 in points off turnovers.
  • The Wildcats’ 50 points off turnovers ties a season high.
• UK outrebounded Mississippi Valley State 46-29, and 20-9 on the offensive glass. The Cats have won the rebounding battle in all seven games this season.
• UK really took advantage on second-chance opportunities, outscoring the Delta Devilettes 25-2.
• With eight made 3-pointers, UK extended its streak of consecutive games with a triple to 264.
• Attendance was 4,118.

Individual Notes

• Sophomore center Samantha Drake had her second-consecutive game with a double-double, scoring a season-high tying 11 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
  • It is the third double-double of Drake’s career.
  • Drake is the first UK player to record back-to-back double-doubles since Victoria Dunlap did it last season against Alabama and Auburn on Jan. 30, 2011 and Feb. 3, 2011.
  • Drake is averaging 10.3 points and 11.0 rebounds over the last three games.
• Freshman guard Bria Goss had a balanced effort on the offensive and defensive end, tying career highs in points, rebounds and steals with 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Goss also had three assists.
  • Goss has reached double figures in scoring in six straight games.
• Junior guard A’dia Mathies scored a team-high tying 13 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
  • Mathies’ 13 points move her up to No. 25 on the UK all-time scoring list (1,034). Mathies is 23 points away from Kim Denkins (1994-98) at No. 24.
  • Mathies (195) is now six steals shy of Valerie Still (1979-83) at No. 9 on the UK all-time steals list.
• Senior guard Keyla Snowden was a perfect 4-4 from 3-point range, finishing with 12 points.
  • It was the 14th game in Snowden’s UK career that she has hit at least four 3-pointers, and the second straight game she has hit four 3s.
  • By going 4-4 from behind the arc, Snowden takes over sole possession of No. 2 on the UK 3-point field goal percentage list (.384; 134-349)
  • Snowden is 8-13 (.615) from behind the 3-point arc over the last two games.
• Senior guard Amber Smith scored 11 points and dished out five assists.
  • Smith is averaging 4.4 assists per game.
  • Smith is now three assists away from tying Tracye Davis (1987-1991) at No. 7 on the all-time assists list.
  • Smith has passed out at least four assists in every game this season.
• Freshman forward Bra’Shey Ali had the best game of her young career, scoring a career-high seven points on 3-3 shooting. Ali also had career-highs in rebounds (4), blocks (3) and minutes (15).
• Sophomore guard Bernisha Pinkett scored a team-high tying 13 points to go along with eight rebounds, including a career-high tying six rebounds.
• Sophomore guard Kastine Evans reached double figures in scoring for the fourth time this season, scoring 10 points to go with four rebounds and three steals.