Kentucky-Tennessee Women's Basketball Postgame Notes

UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
NO. 12 KENTUCKY VS. NO. 5 TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024
BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA – GREENVILLE, S.C.
 

1. 12 KENTUCKY 62, NO. 5 TENNESSEE 76 – FINAL

   Team Records and Series Notes  

• Kentucky concluded the season 12-20 overall, while it went 4-12 in the Southeastern Conference in 2023-24.
  • Tennessee is 18-11 overall and went 10-6 in the conference this season.
• The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 50th season.
  • UK has a 906-608 (.598) all-time record.
• Kyra Elzy is in her fourth season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 61-60 (.504) overall record.
  • She has an 8-3 record in the SEC Tournament.
• Kentucky trails the all-time meetings with Tennessee, 61-16.
  • Kentucky trails Tennessee, 10-2, in neutral-site games.
• The Wildcats are 44-44 all-time in the Southeastern Conference.
  • The Cats are 6-1 in the second round.

Team Notes

• Kentucky used the starting combination Brooklynn Miles, Casidy Rowe, Amiya Jenkins, Emma King and Ajae Petty for the second time this season.
  • UK is 1-1 when using that starting combination.
  • It is UK’s 12th starting combination this season.
• The Wildcats won the opening tip.
• Emma King was the first player to score for Kentucky.
• Saniah Tyler was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky.

• The Wildcats limited their turnovers to a SEC-low nine turnovers.

How It Happened

• The Wildcats went on a 5-0 run to start the game before leading the Lady Volunteers into the first media timeout, 12-7, on four of nine shots from the field.
  • Tennessee went on a 7-2 run through the middle of the first quarter to tie the game, 14-14, with four of its points coming off the line.
  • Kentucky trailed Tennessee, 19-18, at the end of the first quarter, despite Brooklynn Miles drawing a charge under 10 seconds to gain defensive momentum.
• Both teams struggled to score from the field to start the second quarter, with the Cats making just one of six and the Vols connecting on two of 10, as Kentucky trailed Tennessee, 24-20, with four minutes and seven seconds remaining in the half.
  • The Wildcats went on a 4-0 run at the three-minute mark thanks to a pair of jumpers from Saniah Tyler and Eniya Russell to help tie the game, 26-26.
  • Tennessee responded with a line drive layup to go up two and remain there the remainder of the half.
  • Kentucky trailed Tennessee, 28-26, at the end of the first half.
    • The Wildcats shot 34.4 percent in the first half compared to the Lady Volunteers 25.8 percent. However, while UK only went 2-of-2 from the line, UT went 9-of-10.
  • The Wildcats tied the Lady Volunteers, 35-35, with six minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
    • UK thought it forced UT into a turnover after great ball pressure – hoping to build off its tie – but the possession was called the other way and UT scored a layup off a deflated UK defense.
    • Tennessee then used that momentum to go on a 10-run, including two three-point field goals, to take a 10-point lead, 45-35, with three minutes and 50 seconds remaining.
    • The Wildcats stayed in the game but so did the Lady Volunteers, as UK trailed UT, 53-44, at the end of the third quarter.
  • The Wildcats allowed the Lady Volunteers to go on 7-2 run through the first four-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter, creating a 14-point gap with just half a quarter remaining.
    • The two teams had balanced scoring the remainder of the period, as Kentucky fell to Tennessee, 76-62.

Player Notes

• Saniah Tyler, a sophomore guard, led Kentucky with 17 points.
  • She has scored 15+ points in six games this season and six games in her career.
    • She has scored 10+ points in 17 games this season and 17 games in her career.
  • She has made a 3-pointer in 27 of her 32 games this season.
  • She added two rebounds and an assist.
• Ajae Petty, a senior forward, had 12 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
  • She has recorded a double-double in 18 games this season and 20 games in her career.
    • Her 20 career double-doubles are tied for seventh in program hitory.
  • She has scored 10+ points in 25 games this season and 35 games in her career.
  • She had recorded 10+ rebounds in 19 games this season and 21 games in her career.
  • She added an assist and a career-high five steals.
• Eniya Russell, a senior guard, had 11 points.
  • She has scored 10+ points in 16 games this season and 20 games in her career.
  • She added six rebounds and a block.
• Emma King, a graduate guard, had eight points, including a career-high tying two 3-pointers.
  • She added two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
• Cassidy Rowe, a sophomore guard, had a career-tying seven points.
  • She went 3-of-5 from the field and 1-of-2 from the three-point line.
• Brooklynn Miles, a junior guard, had a team-high three assists.

She added three rebounds and a steal.