UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY VS. VANDERBILT
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022
MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM – NASHVILLE, TENN.
 
Kentucky 57, Vanderbilt 65 – FINAL
 
Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 9-8, 2-5 in the SEC this season, while Vanderbilt is 11-10, 2-5 in the SEC. 
  • This was the 57th all-time meeting between Kentucky and Vanderbilt in women’s basketball.
  • Vanderbilt leads the all-time series in games played 31-26.
  • Vanderbilt leads the series in games played in Nashville, 17-8.
  • This was UK’s third straight loss in Memorial Gymnasium.  
• Kentucky is in its 48th season with a 872-564 (.607) all-time record.
• Kyra Elzy is in her second season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 27-16 overall record.
• Kentucky will be back in action Sunday, Jan. 30 at LSU inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The game will tip at 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network and the UK Sports Network.  
  • UK is in a stretch of four games in eight days with three of those on the road. The stretch started Sunday vs. Ole Miss, then Tuesday at Auburn. It continued tonight at Vandy and Sunday at No. 12/11 LSU.

 
Team Notes

• Kentucky used the starting combination of senior guards Jazmine Massengill and Rhyne Howard, redshirt junior center Olivia Owens, sophomore forward Nyah Leveretter and freshman guard Jada Walker.
  • This is the first time UK has used this starting combination this season.
  • Nyah Leveretter scored first for Kentucky in the game. It was the first time this season she has scored first.
  • Emma King was the first sub for Kentucky. It was the first time she has been the first Wildcat off the bench.
  • Vanderbilt won the opening tip. It was the ninth time that UK has lost the opening tip.
• Kentucky was turnover prone early with six of its first 11 possessions resulting in a turnover.
  • Vanderbilt turned those six turnovers into six points.
  • UK held a 7-2 lead before Vanderbilt went on a 8-0 run hitting four straight field goals to take a 10-7 lead. Jada Walker ended that run with a layup.
• UK ended the first quarter with nine turnovers on 19 possessions and allowed VU to score eight points off those miscues.
  • UK was 5-of-10 from the field in the first quarter, while Vandy was 7-of-18 from the field and 1-of-4 from 3.
  • UK was up 12-6 on the boards in the first quarter but Vandy led the paint points 10-8.
• Vanderbilt started the second quarter on a 5-0 run as UK started 0-of-2 from the field with two turnovers.
• UK answered and held a lead in the second quarter, but Vanderbilt ended the second on a 8-0 run hitting four of its last five shots to take a 35-28 lead into the break at halftime.
  • UK didn’t score the final 2:21 of the second quarter and it led 28-27 at that point.
  • Vandy was 7-of-19 from the field in the second quarter, including 4-of-7 from 3. All four 3s were hit by the same VU player.
  • Vandy had 15 points off 16 Kentucky turnovers in the first half.
• Vanderbilt won the fourth quarter 10-9 to clinch the win.
• Kentucky only scored two points in the final 5:16 of the game.
  • UK made just two of its last seven field goals in the game.
  • UK turned the ball over on 36% of its possession.

 
Player Notes

• Rhyne Howard scored 25 points in the game with 10 rebounds, going 4-of-8 from the field and 5-of-12 from long range.

  • For her career, Howard has scored 2,000 career points sitting third in UK history in points scored. She needs 16 more to tie A’dia Mathies for second.
  • In 100 career games, Howard has …
    • Hit at least one 3 in 86 career games, including 13 times this season.
    • Made three or more 3s in 41 career games, including four this season.
    • Made five or more 3s in 14 career games, including twice this season.
    • Scored 10+ points in 89 career game, including 15 times this season.
    • Scored 15+ points in 73 career games, including 14 times this season.
    • Scored 20+ points in 55 career games, including 11 times this season.
    • Scored 25+ points in 30 career games, including four times this season.
    • Scored 30+ points in 8 career games, including one this season.
    • Led UK in scoring in 65 career games, including 11 times this season.
    • Led UK in rebounding in 53 career games, including eight times this season.
    • Led UK in assists in 36 career games, including seven times this season.
    • Led UK in steals in 43 career games, including 12 times this season.
    • Led UK in blocks in 39 career games, including eight times this season.
    • Has 22 career double-doubles, including five this season.
    • Has 1 triple double.
• Nyah Leveretter recorded six blocks in the game, which was a career best.
  • She is the second UK player to recorded six or more blocks in a game this season. Dre’una Edwards did it for Kentucky against West Virginia earlier this season.