Kentucky Rematches No. 1/1 South Carolina on Senior Day in Rupp Arena

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program will play host to No. 1/1 South Carolina on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. It will mark the program’s Senior Day, with graduate student Emma King and seniors Nyah Leveretter and Eniya Russell going through the celebration. 

Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early, as the recognitions begin at 2:42 p.m. ET.

The game will be broadcast on SEC Network, with Tiffany Greene and Brooke Weisbrod on the call. Big Blue Nation also can listen in to the play-by-play on UK Sports Network and / or 630 AM WLAP (locally), with the Voice of the Wildcats, Darren Headrick on the mic.

Kentucky is coming off back-to-back wins after defeating Florida, 81-77, at home last Sunday and Mississippi State, 78-68, on the road on Thursday. In each of those wins, UK produced four double-digit scorers, as the team averaged 79.5 points per game and 41.5 rebounds per game. 

The Wildcats overcame a third-quarter, eight-point deficit against the Gators and a fourth-quarter, 10-point deficit against the Bulldogs. In fact, the Cats have put together strong fourth quarters to close out those triumphs, scoring 25.5 points and holding their opponents to 11.0 points in that period.

In Kentucky’s win at Mississippi State, it got off to a hot start with 27 points in the first quarter, a season high, while it also closed out the game on a 19-0 run, tying a season high.

Saniah Tyler, a sophomore guard, largely contributed to UK’s hot start, going 4-of-4 from long range in the first quarter. She finished the game on a career-best, 6-of-8 from the arc, scoring a career-best tying 22 points.

Ajae Petty, a senior forward, added 20 points and 12 rebounds. It marked her third 20-10 game of the season, her third straight double-double, her 15th double-double of the season and her seventh 20-plus point game in 2023-24. She continues to lead the team in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (10.7) through 27 games. The Baltimore, Maryland, native is one of just three players in the league to have at least 15 double-doubles on the season thus far.

Also in the UK-MSU game, Maddie Scherr, a senior guard, stuffed the stat sheet, recording 11 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals.

Kentucky (11-16, 4-9 Southeastern Conference) trails the all-time meetings with South Carolina, 40-35, but leads the matchups in Lexington, 20-13. The two teams are permanent rivals and have played each other twice a year every year since 1995-96.

South Carolina boasts a perfect 26-0 record, including a 13-0 mark in the SEC. The undefeated squad just won a share of the SEC regular-season title after taking down Alabama, 72-44, at home on Thursday. Head coach Dawn Staley also earned her 600th career win in the process.

The Gamecocks lead the nation in blocks per game (8.5), field-goal percentage defense (31.0) and scoring margin (32.3), while it also leads the conference in numerous categories, including assists per game (18.7), field-goal percentage (50.0), scoring defense (54.0), three-point percentage (39.8) and three-point percentage defense (26.5).

Big Blue Nation is encouraged to stay up to date with the nonconference schedule promotions and game themes. For the Kentucky-South Carolina game, the promotions and game themes are as follows:

PROMOTIONAL(S) / GAME THEMES

• Senior Day: Kentucky will recognize graduate student Emma King and seniors Nyah Leveretter and Eniya Russell on Senior Day.
  • The Senior Day Ceremony will begin at 2:42 p.m. ET. 
• Fandemonium: Big Blue Nation is encouraged to enter to win prizes throughout the game including a TV, custom Beats headphones, an air fryer and more.
• Enjoy an entertaining performance by Umbrella Lina at halftime.

FAN PARKING

Big Blue Nation may park in the High Street lots beginning three hours prior to the tip time, with free parking provided to all fans attending the women’s basketball game.

For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.