Kentucky-LSU Postgame Notes

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY VS. NO. 7/6 LSU
SUNDAY, JAN. 8, 2023
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER – LEXINGTON, KY.
  

No. 7/6 LSU 67, Kentucky 48 – FINAL
 
Team Records and Series Notes   

• The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 49th season with an 890-577 (.607) all-time record.    
  • The Wildcats are now 8-8 overall and 0-4 in the league.  
  • The Tigers are now 16-0 overall and 4-0 in the league. 
• Kyra Elzy is in her third season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 45-29 overall record.   
  • She has a 17-18 overall record in the SEC. 
• LSU remains the leader in the series with Kentucky, 36-18. 
• Kentucky will remain home this week to play host No. 1/1 South Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. 

Team Notes   

• Kentucky used the starting combination Jada Walker, Maddie Scherr, Robyn Benton, Blair Green and Nyah Leveretter for the 10th game this season. UK is 5-5 using that starting combination.   
  • LSU won the opening tip.  
  • Jada Walker was the first player to score for Kentucky.  
  • Adebola Adeyeye was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky.  
• LSU got off to a hot start, making five of its first six shots from the floor. 
  • LSU led Kentucky, 13-5, prompting UK to call a timeout at 6:05.  
  • Out of the timeout, the Wildcats went on a 7-4 run.  
    • Kentucky held LSU scoreless from the field for the remaining six minutes and seven seconds of the first quarter. The Tigers scored four points in that time on 4-of-4 from the line. 
  • LSU led Kentucky, 17-12, at the end of the first quarter.  
• Robyn Benton broke the ice in the second quarter, scoring on a jumper at 8:00 to help Kentucky get within one possession of LSU, 14-17. 
  • The Tigers answered with a layup, before Maddie Scherr fired back a 3-pointer to get within two points. 
  • LSU then went on a 12-0 run over the next five minutes down to the half. 
  • The Tigers led the Wildcats, 31-17, at halftime.  
• Robyn Benton scored on the first possession out of halftime, which launched a back-and-forth ball game over the next four minutes, with neither team going on a run more than four points. 
  • LSU stalled that series with an 8-0 run on a couple free throws and then back-to-back 3-pointers beginning at 4:58.  
    • That run allowed the Tigers to improve to a then game-high, 21-point lead, which prompted the Wildcats to call a timeout at 2:51. 
  • The Tigers’ 8-0 run stretch into a 15-1 run over the last four minutes and 58 seconds of the third quarter. 
  • LSU led Kentucky, 55-27, at the end of the third quarter. 
• Kentucky and LSU went an even 6-6 in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. 
  • The Wildcats then went on a 9-2 run, including a 7-0 run down to the minute and 45 second mark. 
  • The two teams closed out scoring with another matching 6-6 run. 
  • LSU defeated Kentucky, 67-48. 
    • UK held LSU to 67 points in the game, the second-fewest LSU has scored all season and just the third time it has scored in the 60s this season. 
• Kentucky shot 34.5 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from long range, knocking down six 3-pointers.  
  • UK is 3-4 this season when it has made at least six shots from the arc.  
  • Meanwhile, LSU shot 40.0 percent from the field and 28.6 from long range, making just two from behind the arc. 
• The Tigers went to the line 31 times, making 25 of those shots, while the Wildcats went to the line just nine times, making four of those attempts.  
• LSU outrebounded Kentucky, 45-23, but only outscored the Cats, 14-12, in second-chance points.  
• The two teams both committed 25 turnovers, with LSU outscoring Kentucky, 29-22, in points off turnovers.  
  • The Cats have forced 15 of their 16 opponents into at least 17 turnovers. 
  • The Cats have forced 11 of their 16 opponents into at least 20 turnovers. 
  • The Cats have forced six of their 16 opponents into at least 25 turnovers. 

Player Notes   

• Junior guard Maddie Scherr led Kentucky in scoring with a career-high 22 points on a career-high eight field goals, including a career-high tying four makes from long range. 
  • For the first time this season, she has scored in double digits in back-to-back games.  
  • It marked the second game this season she has led the team in scoring. 
  • It marked the fifth game this season, and the ninth game in her career, she has scored at least 10 points.  
    • It marked the first time in her career she has scored at least 20 points.  
  • She also went 2-of-2 from the line.  
  • She added four rebounds, three assists and two steals.  
    • She leads Kentucky with an active streak of seven straight games recording at least one steal. 
    • She has dished out at least three assists in 14 games this season.  
• Graduate guard Robyn Benton had 11 points.  
  • She has scored in double digits in all 15 games she has played in this season. 
  • She made at least one 3-pointer for the 10th straight game. 
  • She added one rebound, one assist and one steal. 
• Junior forward Nyah Leveretter led Kentucky with five rebounds.  
  • She added three points and a steal.