Kentucky-USF Postgame Notes

Nov. 30, 2014

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery

Kentucky improves to 6-1, while South Florida falls to 5-2.
UK is in its 41st season of varsity women’s basketball.
Kentucky wins the Reef Division of the 2014 Paradise Jam.
Matthew Mitchell is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Wildcats. He already ranks first on UK’s all-time wins list with 176 and winning percentage (.716).
This was the second meeting between Kentucky and South Florida, the first since 1983. UK now leads 2-0.
UK is 62-37 all-time against teams currently aligning to make up the American Conference.
Kentucky improves to 718-487 (60.3) all-time and 115-38 all-time in November.
Next up: UK will play host to Northern Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. ET on the SEC Network+.

UK started with the lineup of Jennifer O’Neill, Janee Thompson, Kyvin Goodin-Rogers, Bria Goss and Azia Bishop.
- Kentucky is 6-1 with this lineup.
USF opened the game at 6-0 before Kentucky got on the board at the 16:53 mark.
UK trailed by as many as nine points (21-12) with 10:13 remaining in the half.
UK trailed 29-26 at the half.
- Kentucky is now 3-1 this season and 36-57 under Matthew Mitchell when trailing at the half.
Junior Janee Thompson led UK with 10 points, a rebound and an assist.
Senior Azia Bishop led with four rebounds.

UK began the second half with Makayla Epps and Alyssa Rice in place of Kyvin Goodin-Rogers and Azia Bishop joining Jen O’Neill, Bria Goss, and Janee Thompson.
USF led for 32:45 of the game before UK took the lead at 51-49 with 5:36 to play
- Kentucky went on a 17-7 run to take its first lead.
- UK did not relinquish the lead the final 5:29 of the game
O’Neill scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the second half, while Epps added 11 of her 12 points in the second stanza.
UK outscored USF 35-28 in the final 20 minutes.

UK had four players score in double figures.
UK limited USF to just 14 points in the paint, the least amount of point paints allowed this season.
Kentucky forced just seven turnovers, the lowest this season.
- It was the first time this season UK has not forced 20+ turnovers.
Kentucky is now 73-41 (.630) in games decided by 10 points or less under Matthew Mitchell, including 3-1 this season.
UK’s last four games have been decided by six points or less.
- This marks the first time under Matthew Mitchell the Cats have had four consecutive games decided by six points or less and the first time overall for the program since January 4, 6, 11, and 14 in 2007 vs. South Carolina, Ohio State, Alabama, and Ole Miss.
All nine players grabbed at least one rebound.

Sophomore Makayla Epps came off the bench to score 12 points in the game, including 11 in the decisive second half.
- Named the MVP of the 2014 Paradise Jam Tournament.
- Scored in double figures in all three games, averaging 20.3 per game.
Senior Jen O’Neill posted a team-high 17 points, including 13 in the second half.
- Passed Janet Timperman (1976-79, 1,080) at No. 23 on UK’s all-time scoring list with 1,096 career points.
- Named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team.
- Marked her 53rd-career double-digit scoring game and seventh straight.
Junior Janee Thompson scored a season-high tying 15 points, including a team-high 10 in the first half.
- Tied her career-high with seven free throws.
- Marks her fourth double-digit scoring game, including second straight.
Senior Azia Bishop had four points and 10 rebounds.
- Second double-figure rebounding game this season.
- 10 rebounds were one shy of her season high (vs. Morehead State).
Senior Bria Goss scored a season-high 10 points.
- Also had a season-high three offensive rebounds.
- Went 3-of-4 from the free throw line, including the clinching free throws down the stretch.
- Now has 1,104 career points and needs 30 more to move up to No. 22 on the all-time scoring list.

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