Senior Sara Potts scored a team-high 22 points and the Kentucky women?s basketball team won its seventh consecutive season opener, 82-44, Friday in front of an electrifying 5,218 fans in Memorial Coliseum.
Kentucky (1-0) shot 50.8 percent from the floor in the game while Butler hit 30.8 percent, including a dismal 14.3 mark from beyond the arc. UK held Butler to just 44 points, marking the Cats? best defensive performance since limiting Marshall to 42 points on Jan. 2, 2003 in Rupp Arena.
?This was a great way to open the season,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?I am really proud of how our players competed tonight. The intensity level was there and we kept it up for almost the whole game. I was really proud of our defensive effort.?
The athleticism and defensive intensity of the Wildcats were the difference-makers in the game as UK outscored the Bulldogs (0-1) in second-chance points 18-6 and fast-break points 12-0. Butler was led by freshman Cassie Freeman?s team-high 12 points and six rebounds.
Potts was one rebound shy of a double-double, grabbing nine rebounds to lead all rebounders. Junior Jennifer Humphrey added 11 points and seven boards despite playing much of the game in foul trouble. Freshman forward Eleia Roddy also notched seven rebounds to go along with nine points. Freshman Sarah Elliott brought down six rebounds and shot 75 percent from the field in the game for seven points. Floor general Angela Phillips dished out a team-high seven assists and Lexington native and Dayton transfer Nastassia Alcius earned her first collegiate start, impressing the coaches with her aggressive play.
?I thought Nastassia Alcius set the tone right out of the gates on the defensive end tonight,? DeMoss said. ?Her ball pressure was relentless, and other players fed off her ball pressure.?
The Wildcats hit five of their first seven shots to begin the game and raced out to a 22-6 advantage capped off by one of Potts? three treys with 12:14 remaining in the first half. Butler narrowed the UK advantage to 14, 31-17, at the 5:35 mark of the opening period on three consecutive points by Freeman. The Cats went on a 7-0 run to push their lead to 21 at 38-17 on back-to-back baskets by Elliott.
Kentucky?s tenacity allowed it to take a 45-18 halftime lead as the Wildcats outscored the Bulldogs 14-0 in second-chance points and 6-0 in fast-break points. UK shot 51.5 percent from the field in the first half and was led by Potts? 18 points. She connected on three three-pointers and hit five-of-six free-throws in the opening period.
The Wildcats raced came out in the second half on a 13-2 tear over the first 3:05 of the second stanza before a basket by Freeman stopped Butler?s scoring drought. The Bulldogs sparked a 5-0 run of their own over the next 2:55 to trim the UK lead to 31. A three-point play by Sam Mahoney allowed the Cats to push the advantage back to 37, 68-31 with 10:48 remaining in the game. UK pulled ahead by its largest margin 82-37 with two minutes to go.
Knoxville, Tenn., native Sade Buley also looked impressive, shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including a three-pointer, for nine points. She grabbed six rebounds and charted a block and a steal in just 15 minutes.
?Sade Buley played a little defense tonight,? DeMoss said. ?That was a pleasant surprise. She?s been working really hard on her defense and it was just a matter of her getting in that mindset every possession, knowing where the ball is and being aware of staggers. She has come the longest way in her defensive progression. I was pleased with her defense.?
Kentucky returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Florida A&M. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The game will be broadcast live on WLXG Sports Radio 1300-AM with Chris Cross. Live audio and stats will also be available on www.ukathletics.com.
Season tickets cost only $20. Single-game general admission tickets are available for $5 adults/$2 senior citizens and children ages 18 and under. UK students, faculty and staff are admitted free with valid identification. For ticket information, log on to ukathletics.com or call the UK ticket office at 859-257-1818 or 1-800-928-CATS (2287).
