A night after escaping an upset scare from Middle Tennessee State, the Kentucky women’s basketball team dodged a devastating blow against UT Martin when the Cats learned that reigning Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Victoria Dunlap did not suffer a serious knee injury, as was initially perceived.

Dunlap went down midway through the second half in a nasty collision with sophomore guard Crystal Riley. Both players, who were trying to pick off a cross-court pass, collided at full speed running in opposite directions.

Riley laid on the ground for several seconds with an apparent head injury while Dunlap continued to lay on the floor holding her left knee.

“My knee was hurting pretty bad,” Dunlap said.

 Dunlap was eventually helped to her feet and carried off the floor. By the end of the game she was walking behind the bench.

“We are optimistic there,” head coach Matthew Mitchell said. “I don’t know if it was Crystal’s head that hit it or if it was knee to knee. We don’t think it was a twist but she is getting examined right now. We are surely hopefully that it is not anything serious. (She is) just really sore and she is up and walking around, which is a good sign.”

Dunlap later walked into the media room under how own power. Though she looked a little stiff, she said it was just a bruised knee and acted as if she would be good to go for Kentucky’s marquee showdown at Duke on Jan. 4.

“I’ll be alright,” Dunlap said. “Right now, I haven’t really tried to do anything, so we will see what happens.”

UK defeated UT Martin 68-47 for its 11th win of the season.