No. 21 Kentucky Travels to No. 1 South Carolina Sunday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 21 University of Kentucky women’s basketball team looks to keep its momentum going Sunday as it travels for a stiff road test at No. 1 South Carolina. The game will tip at 1 p.m. ET inside Colonial Life Arena.
Sunday’s game will be broadcast live on ESPN with Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli on the call. Darren Headrick will have the call on the UK Sports Network (630AM in Lexington). Live stats and free live audio will be available online at UKathletics.com.
Kentucky is coming off its best victory of the season Thursday, earning a 84-76 win against No. 15 Georgia inside Memorial Coliseum. UK had a limited roster in practice leading up to the game due to injuries and COVID protocols, but a full roster available for the game. The win was Kentucky’s first over a ranked team this season and the 100th in program history. It was the fifth win for head coach Kyra Elzy over a ranked team, including her third vs. a top-15 team.
It was the UK offense that powered the Wildcats to the win. Kentucky shot 52.2 percent from the field, including 59 percent from the field in the fourth quarter. Kentucky outscored Georgia 26-19 in the fourth quarter to secure the win, including a 7-0 run to end the game. UK hit four of its last five field goals in the game, while Georgia missing its last four shots and did not score the final 2:06 of the game. Kentucky’s 84 points scored in the game were the most UGA has allowed an opponent this season. The previous high was 80 by NC State in overtime. UK’s 48 paint points were the most UGA has allowed an opponent this season.
Rhyne Howard put Kentucky on her back and powered the Wildcats to the much-needed top-15 win. Howard scored 30 points in the game, including 22 in the second half. She scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. On top of scoring UK’s last 10 points in the game, she scored 13 of UK’s last 17 points overall. With Kentucky up three points with just over a minute to go, Howard finished strongly at the rim and drew a foul, completing an and-one to all but clinch the UK win. Kentucky is 6-1 this season when Howard scores 20 or more points. In the game, Howard moved into the third all-time at UK in scoring with 1,872 points.
Howard and redshirt junior forward Dre’una Edwards are leading UK this season with Howard averaging 19.7 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. Edwards is earning 17.4 points per game with 8.7 rebounds per game. Senior guard Robyn Benton and freshman guard Jada Walker are each averaging double figures. Benton is earning 12.4 per game with Walker at 11.8. UK ranks 10th nationally in assist-turnover ratio and first in the Southeastern Conference at 1.36. UK is fifth nationally and first in the SEC in FG percentage and 16th nationally and first in the SEC in scoring offense at 79.9 points per game.
Sunday will be the 70th all-time meeting between Kentucky and South Carolina in women’s basketball. The Gamecocks have won 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series. The Gamecocks lead the overall series 35-34. UK has lost four straight games to the Gamecocks. The Wildcats last win against SC was a 65-57 win in Columbia on Feb. 21, 2019. The Gamecocks lead the series 20-11 in games played in Columbia. Last season, the teams met twice with South Carolina winning in Lexington, 75-70, and in Columbia, 76-55.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
