By Connor Link, UK AthleticsAfter being diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and missing the entire 2013-14 season, Kyvin Goodin-Rogers let go of more than just the basketball during the first official field-goal attempt of her career. As the ball sank through the net without ever touching the rim, all of the pressure coming from her yearlong comeback effort fell away with it.Goodin-Rogers began Kentucky’s 111-74 rout of Appalachian State with back-to-back 3-pointers. Then, after personally denying two Appalachian State jump shots on consecutive possessions (with a layup from teammate Bria Goss in between), Goodin-Rogers converted on both of her free-throw attempts the next time down the floor. Less than two minutes into her collegiate debut, Goodin-Rogers had scored eight of her team’s 10 points.”That was fun. I thought that was a fun way to start the game,” said head coach Matthew Mitchell. “Those first two 3s, they looked like they had a lot of tension in them right there. She just let it go, and nothing but net.”Thanks to Goodin-Rogers’ hot start, the Wildcats jumped to a 58-42 lead by halftime — ultimately ending in a 37-point margin of victory. Goodin-Rogers would go on to finish the game with 11 points, six rebounds, four blocks, and one assist. In 17 minutes of play, she was the only Kentucky starter not to commit a single turnover. However, when asked about Friday’s special performance, Goodin-Rogers quickly deflected credit to her UK teammates.”It was special,” Goodin-Rogers said. “I’m just glad to be back with my teammates. Last year, everybody supported me through everything. I knew I was going to be okay.”Mitchell is the first to attest to the triumph of the 6-foot-1 Marion County native’s comeback story, as well as Goodin-Rogers’ overall quality of character.”She is all about the team,” Mitchell said. “What a great kid. (Last year’s diagnosis) was a scary, scary situation. (It was) such a downer of a year for her freshman year–couldn’t be less ideal to start your career. She’s really blossomed.”With Goodin-Rogers anchoring the low block, Kentucky’s backcourt was steered by the three-headed attack of Jennifer O’Neill, Linnae Harper, and Makayla Epps. O’Neill, a senior, scored a team-high 20 points, complemented by eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Leading the spark off Kentucky’s guard-heavy bench were Harper (17 points, seven rebounds, four assists) and Epps (16 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals).With the season’s inaugural win, No. 11 Kentucky’s window for celebration won’t extend much past the weekend. The Wildcats are scheduled to face the No. 8 Baylor Lady Bears in a 7 p.m. nationally televised marquee matchup at Rupp Arena on Monday. Kentucky defeated Baylor 133-130 in a four-overtime thriller last season before falling to the Lady Bears in the NCAA Tournament.Goodin-Rogers wouldn’t mind starting it with a pair of 3s again.