Nov. 9, 2013
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Fresh off a hard-fought victory over Marist in the season opener, the No. 7/8 Kentucky women’s basketball team remains on the road when it travels to Staten Island, N.Y., to face first-time opponent Wagner on Sunday, Nov. 10. Game time is 1 p.m. ET and all the action will be carried live on the UK IMG Sports Radio Network with Neil Price, and in Lexington on WWRW 105.5 AM. A live video stream will be available free of charge on www.WagnerAthletics.com and fans can follow Twitter updates on @UKHoopCats.
Kentucky at Wagner Sun., Nov. 10 – 1:00 p.m. ET Staten Island, N.Y. Game Notes: UK | WC |
Coverage |
---|
Radio: UK IMG Live Audio Free Live Video via Wagner Live Stats Text Updates |
Four Wildcats scored in double figures in Friday’s win over the Red Foxes paced by veteran guard Kastine Evans. The senior from Salem, Conn., led with 15 points, while grabbing eight rebounds, one assist and one steal. Sophomore point guard Janee Thompson (Chicago) followed with 13 points in her first career start and junior point guard Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.) had 11 points off the bench. Junior guard Bria Goss (Indianapolis) netted 10 points and senior forward Samarie Walker (West Carrollton, Ohio) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and charted three steals, her 20th consecutive game with at least one steal.
Ten letterwinners and four starters return from last season’s NCAA Elite Eight squad who won a school record 30 games. UK (1-0) will look to continue leaning on veteran leadership this season as nine of the 13 players on the roster are upperclassmen, including five seniors. New faces to the roster are McDonald’s All-Americans Linnae Harper (Chicago) and Makayla Epps (Lebanon, Ky.). Freshman forward Kyvin Goodin-Rogers (Lebanon, Ky.) will not see action this season after being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. Epps, who missed Friday’s game due to a stomach virus, is expected to return for Sunday’s matchup.
Senior DeNesha Stallworth, who posted nine points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals against Marist, was selected to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference First Team by the coaches and media. She is listed on every major national award watch list, including the preseason “Wade Watch”, the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 list and the Senior CLASS Award Top 30. Walker and O’Neill were both named to the All-SEC Second Team by the league’s coaches.
Wagner College is a member of the Northeast Conference. The Seahawks enter their second season under head coach Lisa Cermignano after going 3-26 overall last year, 2-16 in NEC play.
Cermignano is familiar with the SEC after serving as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt from 2006-09. She played collegiately at George Washington University where she was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
Wagner returns five letterwinners and two starters off last season’s squad. Junior forward Stephanie Blais is the leading returning scorer and rebounder after recording 10.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 2012-13. Sophomore guard Jordyn Peck, who was a key player off the bench last season, will look to be an integral piece in 2013-14 as well. Peck averaged 10.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign which earned her NEC All-Rookie Team honors.
Sunday marks the season opener for Wagner.
Kentucky has won 11 consecutive regular-season games vs. nonconference opponents, including four straight on the road. The last loss came vs. No. 1 Baylor last season in Waco, Texas (85-51).