Kentucky-Missouri Postgame Notes

UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY VS. MISSOURI
SUNDAY, JAN. 21, 2023
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER – LEXINGTON, KY.
 

Kentucky 76, Missouri 71 – FINAL
 
Team Records and Series Notes 

• Kentucky is 9-10 overall and 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference in 2023-24, while Missouri is 11-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference this season.
• The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 50th season.
  • UK has a 903-598 (.602) all-time record.
• Kyra Elzy is in her fourth season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 58-50 (.537) overall record.
  • She has a 21-31 overall record in the SEC.
• Kentucky leads the all-time series with Missouri, 12-5, including 8-0 in Lexington.
  • UK has a two-game winning streak over UM.
• Kentucky will play at Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. ET.
  • The game will be televised on the SEC Network+.
  • Arkansas is one of Kentucky’s three home-and-home opponents in 2023-24.

Team Notes

• Kentucky used the starting combination Brooklynn Miles, Maddie Scherr, Saniah Tyler, Emma King and Ajae Petty for the second time this season.
  • • UK is 2-1 when using that starting combination.
  • The Wildcats won the opening tip for the 16th time this season.
  • Emma King was the first player to score for Kentucky for a team-lead five times.
  • Eniya Russell was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky for the sixth time this season.
• Kentucky overcame a nine-point deficit to defeat Missouri, 76-71.
  • It is UK’s third comeback win of at least nine points this season.
  • UK moved to 2-1 in games decided by five points or less this season.
  • It marked UK’s fourth-best point total this season.
• The Wildcats shot 41.7 percent (25-60) from the field and 30.4 percent from the arc (7-23).
  • The Cats are 2-1 in SEC action when they shoot above 40.0 percent.
• UK shot a season-best 79.2 percent from the stripe (19-24).
  • It marked UK’s second-most free throws made this season.
• Kentucky is 6-1 when at least four players score in double-digits.
• UK led UM in bench points, 26-10.
  • UK is 4-2 when it scores at least 20 bench points in 2023-24.
• The Wildcats have three players on their team who have scored 20+ points in multiple games this season: Ajae Petty (5), Maddie Scherr (4) and now Eniya Russell (2).

How It Happened

• Emma King scored Kentucky’s first five points in the game on a make from beyond the arc and a jumper, then she made a steal, followed by an offensive rebound, to give Eniya Russell a jumper, as Kentucky trailed Missouri, 11-7, at the first media timeout (4:27).
  • The Wildcats ended the first quarter on a 9-4 scoring run, while they held the Tigers to just one field goal in the final three minutes of the period.
  • Kentucky trailed Missouri, 20-16, at the end of the first quarter.
• Despite Missouri scoring on its first possession of the second quarter, Kentucky rallied 3-of-4 shooting to create a 7-0 run and take the lead, 23-22, as UM called a timeout (8:02).
  • Kentucky continued making smart shots and turned up its defensive intensity, turning its 7-0 run into a 12-1 run, as UK led, 30-23, forcing UM to its second timeout of the period.
  • The Tigers hit a 3-pointer out of their timeout to stop the Wildcats scoring run, as the Tigers narrowly outscored the Cats, 9-8, down the stretch.
    • Cassidy Rowe knocked down a 3-pointer with four seconds on the clock.
  • Kentucky led Missouri, 38-32, at halftime.
    • UK shot 40.5 percent (15-37) in the first half, including making three 3-pointers.
    • UK had nine assists on its 15 field goals in the first half.
• UK maintained its lead over UM, 46-41, five minutes and four seconds into the third quarter, despite not making a field goal for the later four minutes and 39 seconds of that timeframe. Instead, UK drew fouls, going 6-of-8 from the stripe in that time.
  • It was back-and-forth scoring for the entirety of the third quarter, with neither team going on a run larger than two straight field goals or five points.
  • Ajae Petty drew a foul with one second left in the period, and she knocked down both shots before the break in action.
  • Kentucky led Missouri, 55-50, at the end of the third quarter.
• Kentucky formed its largest lead of the game, 63-52, in the first two minutes and 28 seconds of the fourth quarter thanks to 2-of-2 from the arch and 2-of-2 from the stripe to start the period.
  • That 8-0 run forced UM to take its third timeout of the game (7:45).
  • It was back and forth scoring out of the timeout.
  • The Wildcats had a nine-point lead, 71-62, with two minutes and 48 seconds on the clock, before the Tigers had a 9-0 run in a minute-and-a-half to tie the game at 71-71.
  • Kentucky ended the game on a 5-0 run.
  • Kentucky defeated Missouri, 76-71.

Player Notes

• Eniya Russell, a senior guard, led Kentucky with 20 points.
  • It marked the fifth game this season and the fifth game of her career she has led Kentucky in scoring.
    • It marked the second game this season and the second game of her career she has scored 20+ points.
    • It marked the ninth game this season and the 13th game of her career she has scored 10+ points.
  • She added seven rebounds and two steals.
    • It marked the third game this season she has grabbed at least seven rebounds.
    • It marked the third game this season and the fifth game of her career she has collected two or more steals.
• Maddie Scherr, a senior guard, had 19 points, a season-high nine rebounds, a team-lead six assists, two steals and two blocks.
  • She has scored in double digits in 12 of her 15 games this season.
    • It marked the fifth game this season and the 15th game of her career she has scored 15+ points.
  • It marked the eighth game this season and the 48th game of her career she has collected two or more steals.
  • It marked the 11th game this season and the 56th game of her career she has collected 3+ assists.
    • It marked the ninth game this season and the 27th game of her career she has led Kentucky in assists.
• Ajae Petty, a senior forward, had 12 points and a team-lead 10 rebounds.
  • It marked the 11th game this season and the 13th game of her career she has recorded a double-double.
  • She has scored in double digits in 15 of her 19 games this season.
  • It marked the 11th game this season and the 13th game of her career she has recorded 10+ rebounds.
    • It marked the 18th game this season and the 29th game of her career she has led Kentucky in rebounding.
  • She added two blocks.
• Saniah Tyler, a sophomore guard, had 10 points, two assists, one rebound and one steal.
  • It marked the ninth game this season and the ninth game of her career she has scored 10+ points.