Dec. 29, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 12/13 Kentucky women’s basketball team has not only been excelling on the court this season but in the classroom as well. The Wildcats earned a 3.335 grade-point average in the 2014 fall semester, the highest mark in the Matthew Mitchell era and the third straight semester with a 3.0 GPA or better.
Overall, 10 of UK’s 12 players had a 3.0 GPA or better, including two Wildcats, freshman Alyssa Rice (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) and senior Jelleah Sidney (Queens Village, N.Y.), with a perfect 4.0.
“I am extremely proud of our team for working hard during the fall semester,” Mitchell said. “This is a credit to our players and their commitment to uncommon work ethic. I also am deeply grateful to our academic advisor, Tiffany Hayden, and our coach in charge of academic progress, Tamika Williams. Both work tirelessly to promote an atmosphere of academic achievement and our players benefit greatly because of their dedication. We look forward to working hard again in the spring.”
In eight seasons under Mitchell, 16 Wildcats have been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and 100 percent of his players in their final season of eligibility have received their degree. Four more players, Azia Bishop (Toledo, Ohio), Bria Goss (Indianapolis), Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.) and Sidney, are set to graduate in May.
UK’s scholarship student-athletes across all 22 varsity sports had a cumulative GPA of 3.112 for the fall semester of 2014.
UK Hoops (11-2) begins SEC play Friday, Jan. 2 at Alabama (10-4). The Wildcats are looking to capture their fourth straight SEC-opening win. The game will be shown live on the SEC Network+ with Mick Gillispie and former Alabama women’s basketball head coach Rick Moody calling the action. SEC Network+ is exclusively available on SECNetwork.com and on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets. The game also can be heard live on the UK Radio Network with Neil Price.
Follow UK Hoops on Twitter and Instagram at @UKHoopCats and on Facebook by liking University of Kentucky Women’s Basketball.
