UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY VS. PRINCETON
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022
ASSEMBLY HALL – BLOOMINGTON, IND.
 
No. 15 Kentucky 62, No. 25 Princeton 69 – FINAL
 
Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky has a 19-12 overall record this season, while Princeton is 25-4 overall.   
  • This was the second all-time meeting between Kentucky and Princeton in women’s basketball.
  • Both meetings have come in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with UK a six seed and Princeton a 11 seed.
  • The series is now tied 1-1.
• This is Kentucky’s 17th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, holding a 22-17 record.
  • UK is 13-4 all-time in the first round games and today’s loss snapped a streak of 12 straight wins in the first round.  
  • This is the third time that Kentucky has earned a six seed in the event, sitting 2-3 all-time as a six seed.
  • Kyra Elzy is 1-2 as the UK head coach in the NCAA Tournament.
  • This is Kentucky’s first NCAA Tournament action in Bloomington, Indiana.
• The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for Kentucky.
  • The winning streak was one of the best in program history, helping Kentucky to the SEC Tournament Championship for the first time since 1982.
• Kentucky is in its 48th season with a 883-569 (.608) all-time record.
• Kyra Elzy is in her second season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 37-21 overall record.
  • Elzy is the only coach in program history to lead her team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament in her first two years at the helm of the program.
• Today’s loss ends Kentucky’s 2021-22 season with Princeton advancing to the second round of the event to play No. 3-seed Indiana.

 
Team Notes

• Kentucky used the starting combination of senior guards Rhyne Howard and Jazmine Massengill, sophomore forward Treasure Hunt and Nyah Leveretter, and freshman guard Jada Walker.
  • This is the 10th time that UK has used this starting combination this season. UK is 9-1 with this combination.
  • Jada Walker scored first for Kentucky in the game. It was the 10th time this season she has scored first.
  • Dre’una Edwards was the first sub for Kentucky. It was the 12th time she has been the first Wildcat off the bench.
  • Kentucky won the opening tip. It was the 12th time UK has won the tip and the fourth win for Leveretter.
• Princeton led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter after both teams turned the ball over a large amount.
  • UK had five turnovers while Princeton had seven in the first quarter.
  • UK was 5-of-16 from the field and 1-of-4 from 3 in the first quarter.
  • Princeton was 6-of-12 and 0-of-2 from 3 in the first quarter.
• Princeton started the second quarter hitting four of its first five shots to take a 21-13 lead in the game and force a UK timeout.
  • It should be noted that Kentucky All-American Rhyne Howard was being evaluated for a hip injury the first four minutes of the second quarter.
• Princeton shot 60 percent from the field in the first half, going 15-of-25 overall and 1-of-4 from 3. The Tigers led at the break 32-26.
  • UK was 11-of-30 from the field for 36.7 percent in the first half.
  • Princeton led in paint points in the first half 20-16.
  • Princeton held a 18-13 edge in the rebounding battle in the first half.
  • Kentucky did hit five of its last seven field goals to end the first half.
  • Rhyne Howard played just 13 minutes in the first half as she battled an injury, scoring just three points.
    • Her 3 points was the second lowest for the guard in the first half of a game this season. The lowest was when she scored two points in the first half at South Carolina back in January.
  • UK’s second-leading scorer Dre’una Edwards played just 11 minutes and scored four points as she also battled injury.
• Neither team shot well in the third quarter with UK at 41.7 percent and Princeton at 35.7 percent.
  • UK outscored the Tigers 18-16 to cut the halftime lead to 48-44 entering the fourth quarter.
  • UK won the paint points in the third quarter 10-4.
• Kentucky had hit six or more 3s in eight of its last nine games prior to today, but went just 4-of-15 today.

 
Player Notes

• Rhyne Howard scored 17 points with eight rebounds in the game, going 4-of-13 from the field overall and 2-of-5 from 3.  

  • Howard ends her career as one of the best players to ever wear the Kentucky uniform.
  • She is 17th place on the SEC women’s basketball career scoring list (2,290 points).
  • For her career, Howard has scored 2,290 career points sitting second in UK history in points scored. She is second all-time in Kentucky history – men’s and women’s – in points scored.   
  • Howard ranks second in school history in career scoring average at 20.1, while she is second in field-goals made with 790, first in career 3s made with 284 and fourth in career 3-point field-goal percentage at 38.2. She is also fourth in UK history in steals per game at 2.29.
  • In 114 career games, Howard has …
    • Hit at least one 3 in 99 career games, including 26 times this season.
    • Made three or more 3s in 47 career games, including 10 this season.
    • Made five or more 3s in 17 career games, including five times this season.
    • Scored 10+ points in 102 career game, including 28 times this season.
    • Scored 15+ points in 85 career games, including 26 times this season.
    • Scored 20+ points in 61 career games, including 17 times this season.
    • Scored 25+ points in 33 career games, including seven times this season.
    • Scored 30+ points in 10 career games, including three this season.
    • Led UK in scoring in 73 career games, including 19 times this season.
    • Led UK in rebounding in 60 career games, including 15 times this season.
    • Led UK in assists in 40 career games, including 11 times this season.
    • Led UK in steals in 50 career games, including 19 times this season.
    • Led UK in blocks in 45 career games, including 14 times this season.
    • Has 27 career double-doubles, including 10 this season.
    • Has 1 triple double.
• Dre’una Edwards joined Kentucky’s exclusive 1,000 points club with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the game.  
  • Edwards is the 36th player in program history to score 1,000 career points.
  • Edwards scored 301 points at Utah as a freshman and now has 701 points at Kentucky.
  • This was her 11th double-double of the season and the 22nd double-double of her career.

    Jada Walker scored 11 points with three assists in the game.