Dec. 29, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. – 

Kentucky women’s basketball freshman Alexis Jennings was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after leading the Wildcats to an 87-75 win over Tennessee State in their nonconference finale on Sunday.

Jennings, a 6-foot-2 forward/center, came off the bench and netted a career-high 27 points and career-high tying eight rebounds in UK’s only game after their holiday break. It marked the most points by a UK freshman sinceformer Wildcat A’dia Mathies had 32 vs. Liberty on March 20, 2010. The 27 points also marked her fourth straight game in double figures and first with 20 or more points.

In a career-high 29 minutes, Jennings hit all three of UK’s 3-pointers in the game, a career best, grabbed a career-high five offensive boards and netted a team-high 8-of-12 attempts from the free-throw line.

With TSU making a run and pulling within six points with 7:48 left on the clock, Jennings also took a critical charge to give UK the momentum back, her first drawn charge of the season.

Overall, the Madison, Ala., native is averaging 6.9 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game but in the last four games she has upped her average to 16.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

This is UK’s third SEC honor of the season and Jennings’ second of the month. Junior point guard Janee Thompson earned SEC Player of the Week accolades in early December.

No. 12/13 UK (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 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 Sports Radio Network with Neil Price.

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