Seniors Provided Stability, Depth for UK Women
When the Kentucky women’s basketball team was dealing with player departures two seasons ago, head coach Matthew Mitchell needed someone to provide stability. One of the players who embraced the challenge was Alyssa Rice, and Mitchell certainly has not forgotten Rice’s dedication during those trying times.
“The support and loyalty that she showed in that difficult end to the 2016 season, those folks and those kids, and she’s one of them, that will stick in my mind and my heart forever because that was a really difficult time,” Mitchell said.
For Rice, it was not a difficult decision.
“For me it was a very personal decision,” Rice said. “I didn’t think it was a hard decision for me because I knew Kentucky was where I wanted to be. I knew this was a place that I had faith in. I had faith in the coaches and the program and the University. The group that stayed, we were really tight knit and decided together that this was something we wanted to carry out and continue on in the Kentucky program. It was just a place that I felt was the best fit for me. I couldn’t see myself any place else.”
What Mitchell also needed during that time was players. Little did he know that he would find a contributor playing in the campus intramural league. Hardin was that player, and she was able to help the Wildcats not only in practice, but on the floor.
“Jessica Hardin is really special to us,” Mitchell said. “If it had not been for some really unusual circumstances our paths would not have crossed and I sure am happy that our paths did end up crossing because she has been an outstanding person that we will now count as an alum to the program. Her contribution has been outstanding in so many ways.”
A native Kentuckian, Hardin will relish her time playing for UK.
“It has been a great opportunity,” Hardin said. “I am just blessed that this opportunity arose for me. I am going to look back and have great times and remember all the memories I have made here at Kentucky. I am going to remember all these wonderful girls that I have met here. The experience is everything that I had hoped it would be. It has just been great.”
On Sunday, Rice and Hardin will play their final regular season home game as the Wildcats take on second-ranked and unbeaten Mississippi State. Both players will be honored during Senior Day ceremonies prior to tipoff.
“Some really special people we are honoring on Senior Day,” Mitchell said. “They have been incredible support to our team. So some special folks that have given a lot to the program.”
Rice has had the best season of her UK career as a senior. She’s averaging career highs in points (6.8 ppg) and rebounds (6.0 rpg) this season.
Mitchell has seen Rice’s improvement from the time she arrived in Lexington.
“She has had a great career and gotten better as a basketball player from the day she walked in until the day she departed,” Mitchell said “She has given so much to us on the court and is always there to sacrifice for whatever we needed. She became a really tough rebounder and she is just always there to help others.”
Hardin has battled injuries during her senior season, playing in just 12 games. She has averaged 1.1 points and has hit four shots from behind the arc. Last season, she hit 12 three-pointers in 16 games and provided invaluable depth.
“I am just so proud of her perseverance this year,” Mitchell said of Hardin. “She has been through a lot of physical ailments and difficulties but just hung there and continues to hang in there and will be able to run out there on Senior Day, that is exciting for her.”
The stability that Rice and Hardin brought to the program during its time of troubles might be the lasting legacy for these two Wildcats.
