Dec. 13, 2009

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Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky improves to 9-0 with the win, while Florida A&M slips to 5-3.
• With the victory, Kentucky ties the school record for wins to start a season with nine. The Wildcats match the feat accomplished by the 1980-81 squad.
• Today’s attendance of 4,608 was a season high.
• Kentucky has won 15 of its last 16 games against non-conference opponents.
• Coach Matthew Mitchell’s career mark improves to 72-61, including a 42-32 record at Kentucky. Mitchell is 1-0 all-time against Florida A&M.
• Kentucky improves to 2-0 in the Florida A&M series, with both victories coming at Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats are 6-0 all-time against teams from the Mid-eastern Athletic Conference.
• UK owns a 584-447 all-time record in 36 years of varsity women’s basketball, including a 316-138 mark at storied Memorial Coliseum.
• Up next: UK Hoops plays host to intrastate rival Louisville Dec. 20, at 1 p.m. EST. The game is UK’s annual “Pack the House” game and it will be televised live on the Big Blue Sports Network and FSN South.

Team Game Notes

• Key Run: Kentucky used a 17-3 run during a six-minute span in the first half to pull away from the Rattlers for good. The Wildcats led 22-19 before posting a three-pointer from Rebecca Gray along with baskets from A’dia Mathies and Amani Franklin and a pair of free throws from Keyla Snowden to lead 31-19. Kentucky’s lead never slipped below double figures the rest of the game.
• The 52-point win was the second-largest margin of victory this season. UK, which came into the game ranked eighth nationally in scoring margin, has defeated all nine opponents by double digits, including three opponents by 30 or more.
• UK held FAMU to a season-low 39 points, including just 10 in the second half. The 10 points marked the lowest point total in a half since UK held Charleston Southern to nine points in the first half on Dec. 10, 2004.
• The Wildcats have held eight of their nine opponents to under 60 points, including seven in a row.
• Kentucky shot 50.0 percent from the field (30-of-60) against the Rattlers and has shot 40 percent or better in eight of nine games this season. Sunday’s effort marked the third time in four games UK has shot 50 percent or better from the field.
• Kentucky forced 28 turnovers and has now forced 20 or more turnovers in seven of nine games this season. The Cats have forced 25 or more miscues in five consecutive games.
• UK held FAMU to season-low 24.2 percent (15-of-62) from the floor, including just 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from beyond the arc. The Wildcats have held three of their last four opponents to under 30 percent shooting from the floor. Kentucky has not allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent this season.
• Kentucky tied a season high with 15 steals and has now recorded double-digit steals in six games this season, including five in a row. The Wildcats entered the game ranked second in the SEC with 10.9 steals per game.
• UK dished out 20 assists on 30 made field goals.
• UK has scored at least 65 points in every game this season.
• The Wildcats are 256-19 since 1974 when scoring 80 points or more. UK is 10-1 under Coach Mitchell when scoring 80 points or more.
• UK reserves scored a season-high 41 points against the Rattlers’ two points.
• Kentucky hit nine three-pointers and has now hit a three-pointer in 193 consecutive games, dating back to 2003-04.
• UK’s 47 points at intermission marked the second-most first-half points scored by the Wildcats this season. Kentucky scored 57 in the first stanza against Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 1.
• For the first time in nine games, Coach Mitchell began the game with a different starting five: Amber Smith, Lydia Watkins, Amani Franklin, Carly Morrow, A’dia Mathies.
• All-SEC forward Victoria Dunlap did not play due to a concussion suffered during practice on Friday. It marked the first time in 74 games that Dunlap was not in the starting lineup.
• Watkins started in place of Dunlap, marking her first appearance in the starting line since the Western Kentucky contest last season (12/4/08).

Individual Game Notes

• Four Wildcats scored in double figures led by reserve guard Rebecca Gray’s career-high19 points. The sophomore was perfect on the day, hitting 6-of-6 from the floor, including 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc. She also was 4-of-4 from the foul line. Her six made field goals were a career-high, while her three three-pointers tied a career mark. She also added three rebounds, two assists and zero turnovers in 26 minutes of play.
• Sophomore reserve guard Keyla Snowden netted a UK career-high 15 points, including a pair of three-pointers and 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line.
• Junior guard Carly Morrow scored 14 points and is averaging 13.6 points during the last three games. She has made a three-pointer in seven consecutive games.
• Freshman guard A’dia Mathies reached double-figures for the seventh time this season with 11 points. She swiped a season-high six steals against the Rattlers and is averaging 4.3 steals over the last three games. She also dished out a game-high five assists.
• Senior Lydia Watkins swiped a career-high four steals.
• Freshman forward Brittany Henderson came off the bench and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
• Today’s game marked Amani Franklin’s 100th game played as a Wildcat.