UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
NO. 9 KENTUCKY at NO. 24 DEPAUL
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2020
WINTRUST ARENA – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
 
No. 9 Kentucky 82, No. 24 DePaul 86 – FINAL
 
Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 6-1 on the year, while DePaul is 3-2.    
  • This was the final non-conference road game of the season for Kentucky, who ends non-conference play 1-1 in true road contests.
  • Kentucky is now 17-9 all-time against teams that make up the Big East. DePaul is the only Big East team that UK is scheduled to play this season.  
• This was the fifth all-time meeting between Kentucky and DePaul in women’s basketball with UK owning a 4-1 record
  • This was the third all-time meeting in Chicago with UK owning a 2-1 lead in the series.
  • This was the first meeting between the two teams since Dec. 12, 2013 when UK earned a 96-85 win.
• Kyra Elzy is in her first season as interim head coach at Kentucky.
  • Elzy is now 6-1 as head coach of Kentucky. 
  • Elzy’s 6-0 start to the season was the second best every by a first-year UK head coach.
• UK is now 851-549 all-time in its 47th year of varsity women’s basketball.
• Kentucky is ranked No.9 in the latest AP Top 25 and USA Today/Coaches Top 25. This is Kentucky’s highest ranking since 2015-16.
  • UK is 18-7 all-time as the No. 9 team in the nation.  
• Kentucky will return to action Saturday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. ET vs. Wofford inside Memorial Coliseum. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.

 
Team Notes

• Kentucky used the starting combination of senior guard Chasity Patterson, senior forward KeKe McKinney, junior guards Blair Green and Rhyne Howard, and sophomore forward Dre’una Edwards.
  • This was the fourth time this season that UK has used this starting combination. UK is 3-1 with this starting combination.
  • Dre’una Edwards scored first for Kentucky in the game – the first time this season she has been the first Wildcat to score.
  • Robyn Benton was the first Wildcat sub in the game – the fourth time this season she has been the first Wildcat sub.
• Kentucky won the tip as Dre’una Edwards claimed it for the Wildcats. It was the fourth time this season that UK has won the tip – all by Edwards.
• The Wildcats jumped out to a 14-6 lead early in the game, but DePaul bounced back going on a 7-0 run and forcing five Kentucky turnovers in two minutes of play to cut the lead to 14-13.
  • UK answered with a 3-pointer by Chasity Patterson but trailed going into the break 22-21.
  • Kentucky had 11 turnovers in the first quarter, allowing 11 points off those miscues.
• Both teams slowed down offensively in the second quarter with UK winning the period 16-13 to take a 37-35 lead into the break at halftime.
  • The two teams combined for 25 turnovers in the first half with UK committing 13.
  • The Wildcats went just 16-of-40 from the field in the first half, while DePaul was 15-of-32.
  • UK outrebounded DePaul 28-16 in the first half and had a 15-2 edge in second-chance points.
• DePaul opened an seven-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 8-0 run after UK had taken a 41-40 lead.
  • UK scored five straight to get it to 48-46, but UK then gave up a backdoor layup, committed two straight turnovers, missed a layup and fouled giving DePaul two free throws and a 52-46 lead late in the third.
• DePaul was lights out in the fourth quarter, going 10-of-15 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3 to seal the win.
  • Conversely, UK went 10-of-16 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3 in the fourth quarter.
• UK committed a season-high 23 turnovers in the game, allowing DePaul 19 points off turnovers.
  • It was the most turnovers since UK had 23 at Virginia in November 2019.
• Entering the game, Kentucky had only been called for one charge all season with DePaul drawing six charges against the Wildcats on Wednesday.
• Kentucky won the rebounding margin 46-31 and had a 20-9 advantage in offensive rebounds.
• DePaul led UK 36-14 in fast-break points.
• The Wildcats are 359-25 since 1974 when scoring 80 points or more.
  • This was the first loss with UK scoring 80 or more points since at Arkansas on Feb. 9, 2020.

 
Player Notes

• Junior guard Rhyne Howard scored 18 points with two 3s, adding 12 rebounds and five steals.

  • Howard’s 12 rebounds were a season high.
  • This was the first double-double of the season for Howard and the 12th of her career.
  • Howard has made 169 career 3s, which ranks seventh most in school history.
  • Howard has 1,233 career points as a Wildcat, which ranks her 21st all-time in scoring at UK.
    • She needs 85 points to tie Bria Goss for 20th.
  • In 64 career games, Howard has …
    • Hit at least one 3 in 57 career games, including four times this season.
    • Scored 10+ points in 56 career games, including four times this season.
    • Scored 15+ points in 45 career games, including twice this season.
    • Led UK in rebounds in 34 career games, including twice this season.
• Sophomore forward Dre’una Edwards scored 18 points with 11 rebounds, adding five assists and four blocks.
  • Edwards has scored 10 or more points in six games this season.
  • This was the fourth double-double of the season for Edwards.
  • The four blocks were a career high.
  • The five assists tied a career high.
• Junior guard Robyn Benton scored 12 points with six rebounds.   
  • Benton has hit a 3 in every game but one this season.
  • This was the third double-figure scoring game for Benton in her UK career.
• Senior guard Chasity Patterson scored 22 points, adding three assists and eight steals.
  • Patterson has scored 10 or more points in six games this season.
  • Patterson has scored 15 or more in three games this season.
  • This was the second 20+ scoring game of the year for Patterson.
  • This is the fifth time that Patterson has led UK in steals this season and the 10th time in her career.
  • This is the second game this season that Patterson has recorded eight or more steals.