Kentucky-Tennessee Tech Postgame Notes

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY VS. TENNESSEE TECH
SUNDAY, DEC. 3, 2023
CLIVE M. BECK CENTER AT TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY – LEXINGTON, KY.
 

Kentucky 73, Tennessee Tech 67 – FINAL
 
Team Records and Series Notes 

• Kentucky is 4-5 in 2023-24, while Tennessee Tech is 2-5 this season.
• The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 50th season.
  • UK has an 898-593 (.602) all-time record, just two wins away from 900.
• Kyra Elzy is in her fourth season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 53-45 (.541) overall record.
• Kentucky remains the leader in the all-time series with Tennessee Tech, 10-6.
• Kentucky will host Minnesota on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena at the Central Bank Center.
  • The game will be televised on SEC Network+.

Team Notes

• Kentucky used the starting combination Brooklynn Miles, Cassidy Rowe, Saniah Tyler, Emma King and Ajae Petty for the first time this season.
  • • It marked Cassidy Rowe’s first career start.
  • Kentucky has used six different starting combinations through the last seven games this season.
    • UK is 1-0 when using that starting combination.
  • The Wildcats won the opening tip.
  • Emma King was the first player to score for Kentucky.
  • Eniya Russell was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky.
• The Wildcats are 3-0 at the Clive M. Beck Center.
  • The Cats are shooting 46.6 percent from the field and averaging 76.7 points per game at the arena.
• Kentucky shot 44.6 percent from the field (25-of-56).
  • The Wildcats were 42.9 percent from the arc (6-of-14), their second-best performance from long range this season.
• For the second straight game and for the fourth time through nine games this season, at least four players scored in double digits.
  • UK is 4-0 when at least four players score in double digits.
• UK set a season-high six blocks.
• The Wildcats’ 18 assists are second most this season, only behind their 19 assists in the most previous game against Boston College on Nov. 30.

How It Happened

• Kentucky led Tennessee Tech, 13-4, at the first media timeout (5:19).
  • Emma King scored first in the game for the second straight game on a nose dive to the basket, before Saniah Tyler connected on a 3-pointer then Eniya Russell checked in and scored on back-to-back 3-pointers and a layup.
    • Her layup just before the media timeout came on a steal and score.
  • Out of the media timeout, Tennessee Tech went straight to the basket, but Emma King was there to draw a charge.
  • On Kentucky’s very next possession, Ajae Petty scored on the other end to make it a 7-0 run.
    • Petty would go on to make the next three baskets for the Cats, turning a 7-0 run into 13-5 run, stretching their lead to 21-9 (2:14).
  • The Wildcats went cold for the final two minutes, allowing the Golden eagled to go on a 6-0 run down the stretch (an and-1, followed by going 3-of-4 from the line).
  • Kentucky led Tennessee Tech, 21-15, at the end of the first quarter, shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
• Scoring was back-and-forth through the first five minutes of the second quarter, as the Wildcats led the Golden Eagles, 32-25, by the next media timeout (4:51).
  • • Ajae Petty scored eight of the Cats’ 11 points in the second quarter to this point, going 3-of-4 from the field and knocking down a couple of free throws.
  • The Wildcats allowed the Golden Eagles to go on a 7-0 run after the media timeout, as they tied the game, 32-32, with minutes and 45 seconds remaining.
    • However, Kentucky rallied an 8-2 run over the final couple of minutes, including Saniah Tyler’s back-to-back 3-pointers, to regain its lead.
  • Scoring was all-squared, 19-19, in the second quarter, with Ajae Petty leading all scorers with 10 points on 4-of-6 from the field.
  • Kentucky led Tennessee Tech, 40-34, at halftime.
• Kentucky ran all of its offense through Ajae Petty to begin the second quarter, as the forward scored all six of its first points to begin the period. Meanwhile, the Wildcats stretched their lead over the Golden Eagles, 46-36.
  • Despite the Cats’ hot start to the period, the Eagles won the third quarter, 16-14, cutting their deficit to four points.
    • Tennessee Tech only made five of their 15 attempts from the field, but two of those were 3-pointers and it also went 4-of-4 from the line to trim the gap. On the other end, Kentucky turned the ball over six times.
  • Kentucky led Tennessee Tech, 54-50, at the end of the third quarter.
• It was still a four-point game through four minutes of the fourth quarter, as UK led Tech, 58-54, at the timeout (5:49).
  • From there on out, it was mostly a game of free throws, despite Tennessee Tech sinking three 3-pointers and fouling to try and make a run.
    • Kentucky went 13-of-16 from the line in the fourth quarter, while Tennessee Tech went 4-of-4.
  • Kentucky defeated Tennessee Tech, 73-67.

Player Notes

• Ajae Petty, a senior forward, had a career-high 33 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
  • The last Kentucky player post 30-or-more points was Rhyne Howard against LSU in the SEC Tournament on March 4, 2022 (32).
  • It marked the seventh game this season and the 16th game in her career she has scored at least 10 points.
    • It marked the fifth game this season and the seventh game in her career she has scored at least 15 points.
    • It marked the first game in her career she has scored at least 20 points.
  • It marked the eighth game this season and the 19th game in her career she has led Kentucky in rebounds.
  • She became the fourth player in school history to produce a 30-15 double-double (points / rebounds) game (joining Valerie Still, Bebe Croley and Victoria Dunlap).
    • It marked the fourth game this season and the sixth game of her career she has recorded a double-double.
  • She added a career-high tying three blocks, one assist and one steal.
• Emma King, a graduate student, had a career-high 14 points and a career-high tying seven rebounds.
  • It marked the first game this season and the second game of her career she has scored at least 10 points.
  • She added a career-high three blocks and two assists.
• Saniah Tyler, a sophomore guard, had 13 points, including a career-high four 3-pointers.
  • It marked the fourth game this season and of her career she has scored at least 10 points.
  • She added a career-high four rebounds and one assist.
• Eniya Russell, a senior guard, had 12 points.
  • It marked the fifth game this season and the ninth game in her career she has scored at least 10 points.
  • She added a career-high five assists, one steal and three rebounds.
• Cassidy Rowe, a sophomore guard, had a career-high six assists and just one turnover.