Kentucky-Lipscomb Postgame Quotes
Kentucky-Lipscomb Postgame Press Conference
Rupp Arena
Dec. 21, 2023
Head Coach Kyra Elzy
On the program reaching the 900-win milestone …
“It feels fantastic, one, to get a win, but 900 for our program. I’m so proud for all of the people who have paved the way. This is a victory for everyone that has ever touched Kentucky Women’s Basketball. So, thank you all for paving the way, investing, supporting, and continuing to support. It was a big day for Kentucky Women’s Basketball.”
On Amiya Jenkins’ 20-point performance in her return from injury …
“Well, that was a great welcome back and I will take it. 20 points, that’s what she did to spark the team. Also, her defensive intensity [was a spark]. She brings athleticism and size. Shoutout to [Strength and Conditioning] Coach [Lee] Taylor and [Athletic Trainer] Courtney [Jones] for getting her healthy. Even when she was out and could not play, Coach Taylor did an unbelievable job of keeping her in basketball shape, which is why she was able to play 27 minutes today. Big credit to her. She came with a lot of confidence in her game and it showed. 20 points, 4 rebounds.”
On the team’s chemistry contributing to the comeback win …
“Well, it is huge. Any time you can come back, I told them, I was proud of them. When things were not going our way—missing layups, blowing defensive assignments, missing free throws, things that were going for us—when I got to the huddle, they were still touching each other, still trying to talk and give each other positivity, and still believe that we were going to come back and win. One of the things we kept saying in the huddle was ‘one possession at a time’. They trust that. We have been doing that in practice and it is so good for them to have success and finish with a win.”
On Maddie Scherr’s buzzer-beater three before halftime and other momentum changing plays …
“That three was good. She was going for it. It looked good when it left her hand. We needed momentum changing plays. The thing about this is every day is not going to be a pretty win. I want some gutsy wins where we have to battle and fight. One of the biggest momentum changing plays was when Ajae Petty finally jumped out on a ball screen and trapped it. I thought that really charged our defense. I thought we made big plays from different people when we had to have them.”
On the rest of the team contributing even when Ajae Petty had an off night …
“When they are double-and-triple-teaming her, that is credit to what she has done thus far this season. It also leaves the perimeter exposed. It was good to see Maddie [Scherr] do what she does—she put the ball in the basket and she has been consistent. Back-to-back [games] for Saniah [Tyler] to step up and hit open shots. Along with Cassidy Rowe, I thought when we really needed a bucked, Cassidy hit one. Our perimeter players stepping up, that will open up the paint, and then they will have to play Ajae honest.”
On Saniah Tyler’s improvements …
“Well, she is another scorer that we have to have, but I call her a two-way. Her on-the-ball defense, she can bring the heat. But she can also score at three levels. I want to give her a big shoutout. She had 17 points in the last game and, every night I have been in the office late or early morning, she has been in [the gym] getting extra shots. [It’s good] to see her continue to work after success.
The biggest growth and victory—she’s probably going to kill me for telling you guys—I get after her often in practice. We will do rotations and sometimes I will make her stay on for a second rep. She was like ‘I was so tired.’ and I was like ‘You’re not tired, you’re just mentally tired.’ The last practice, she stayed on for three reps and I was waiting for her to be like ‘I’m so tired, Coach.’ Then, she goes ‘Coach, can I stay on for one more?’ and I literally sprinted from the baseline. I was like ‘Yes!’ So, it’s mental growth for her. As she comes along, her game will continue to do what it does.”
On in-game adjustments to guarding Lipscomb’s Molly Heard …
“We went star defense. She scorched us early and then we went no touch on her. Face guard. Any time she was in the ball screen, we started trapping her. I thought our players locked in after she scorched us for the sixteenth [point]. Then, we locked in and realized that she could score. Those were the adjustments that we made.
On coaching at the University of Kentucky…
“There is a lot of pressure, but that comes with it. To have the privilege and honor to coach at the University of Kentucky, a storybook program, it does come with a lot of pressure and responsibility that weighs heavy. But, if it were easy, everyone would do it. I’m just honored to have the opportunity to follow all of the great coaches that have paved the way.
Player Quotes
#2, Saniah Tyler, G, So.
On what they did differently in the second half to force turnovers…
“Oh, we just kind of tried to pressure more open and we just let them have too many easy passes. So once we got in her face and kind of deflected a few passes that made him turn the ball over more.”
On team chemistry…
“I think we have a bond so well off the court. And I think that’s what makes us play so well together on the court. We know each other’s personalities in other spots that they want to score and they were good this morning, so that’s what we try and work on.”
On Maddie’s refuse to lose attitude and if that rubs off on the team…
“The person who I would say kinda of matches it, is BK [Brooklynn Miles]. Cause they just, I don’t know, I think its BK.”
#20, Amiya Jenkins, G, So.
On her first game back…
“It felt pretty great to just play with my teammates again. It was really hard for me to sit on the sidelines and watch, so being out there tonight was really exciting and felt really smooth.”
On where the spark on offense came from…
“I feel like defense really created our offense and we just flourished off that.”
On the chemistry of the team …
“Being able to bond off the court really helps really helps it flow on the court. We know how to talk to each other, and we know how to communicate, and just get the job done.
