UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONAND PUBLIC RELATIONS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES NO. 14 KENTUCKY VS. WINTHROP WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11, 2019 RUPP ARENA – LEXINGTON, KY.

No. 14 Kentucky 91, Winthrop 36 – FINAL

Team Records and Series Notes

  • Kentucky is 10-0, while Winthrop is 1-6.    
    • The Wildcats are now 8-0 at home this season.
    • UK is 177-40 at home under Matthew Mitchell, including 9-9 in Rupp Arena.
  • UK’s 10-0 start ties the second-best start for the Wildcats under Mitchell. UK has started 11-0 three times under Mitchell (2015-16, 2013-14, 2009-10).
  • Kentucky is 833-540 all-time, including 483-173 all-time at home.
  • The Wildcats are 28-18 all-time in Rupp Arena.
  • This was the second all-time meeting between Kentucky and Winthrop in women’s basketball.
    • The Wildcats lead the all-time series 2-0.
  • Matthew Mitchell is in his 13th season as the head coach of the Wildcats.
    • Mitchell is 321-154 overall in his career and 291-125 during his tenure at Kentucky.
    • UK is 56-22 all-time in the month of December under Matthew Mitchell. 
  • Kentucky is ranked 14 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and No. 11 in the latest USA Today/Coaches Top 25.

Team Notes

  • Kentucky used the starting combination of sophomore guard Rhyne Howard, senior guards Sabrina Haines and Amanda Paschal and junior forwards KeKe McKinney and Tatyana Wyatt. 
    • The Wildcats have used this starting combination in every game but one this season and are 9-0 with this starting five.
    • UK won the tip for the ninth time this season.
    • This was the sixth time Howard has won the tip for UK.
    • Howard also scored first for UK, hitting a 3. She has been the first Wildcat to score five times this season.
  • UK scored 32 points in the first quarter and led 32-12 at the end of the first stanza.
    • The 32 points were UK’s most in any quarter this season.
    • The scoring output was just three points shy of UK’s all-time record for most points in the first quarter which was 35 vs. Evansville (12/5/18).
  • Kentucky scored 22 points in the second quarter to take a 54-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.
    • The 54 first-half points were the most for Kentucky this season and the first time UK has scored 50 or more points in the since scoring 56 against Western Carolina on Dec. 18, 2018. 
    • The 34-point halftime lead was Kentucky’s biggest of the season.
    • UK has scored 40 points of more in the first half of each of the last six games.
  • The Wildcats went 13-of-23 from the 3-point line, marking the third straight games and the fifth time this season UK has hit 10 or more 3s in a game. 
    • Kentucky had 11 makes in the first half, which tied a program record for makes in a half from long range. UK also hit 11 in the first half vs. Detroit on Dec. 1, 1993. 
    • The 13 makes are one off a program record for Kentucky, which is 14.
    • Last season, UK had seven games where it hit 10 or more 3s.
    • UK’s 13 makes were a season high and are the most 3s made in a game for Kentucky in Rupp Arena. The previous high was nine twice.
  • In its last 24 quarters of play, UK has scored 20 or more points in 15 quarters.
  • Kentucky forced a season-high 35 turnovers from Winthrop.
  • UK also scored a season-high 46 points off turnovers in the game.
  • UK had 19 assists in the game and has recorded 18 assists or more in each of its last six games.
  • The Wildcats shot 52.4 percent from the field in the game, marking the second straight game that UK has shot 50 percent or better form the field. 
    • This was the first time UK has shot 50 percent or better in consecutive games since December of last year vs. Middle Tennessee, Western Carolina and Murray State. 
  • Kentucky scored a season high 91 points in the game, while its 55-point margin was its largest of the season.
    • This is the time UK has defeated a team by 50 points or more since it took down Western Carolina by 60 points last season.
    • UK’s 55 points margin of victory tied its most ever in a game in Rupp Arena. UK also won by 55 points vs. Nicholls State on Dec. 21, 2004.
    • UK’s 91 points was its most in a game in Rupp Arena since scoring a program-best 106 in the venue vs. Nicholls State in 2004-05.
  • The Wildcats continued its stretch of holding every opponent this season to 54 points or less.
    • Winthrop’s 36 points is the second fewest point total UK has allowed this season.
  • Kentucky had five players score 10 or more points in the game.
    • This was the second time this season UK has had five or more players with 10 or more points.
  • UK is now 355-23 all-time when it scored 80 or more points, including 4-0 this season.

Player Notes

  • Sophomore guard Rhyne Howard scored 12 points in the game, going 4-of-4 from long range with two assists. 
    • Howard has hit at least one 3-pointer in 37 of her 42 career games.
    • Howard has scored 10 or more points in 35 of her 42 career games.
    • Howard has scored 20 or more points in 15 of her 42 career games.
    • Howard has led UK in scoring in 23 of her 42 career games.
    • Howard has made three or more 3s in 16 of her 42 career games.
  • Senior guard Sabrina Haines score 11 points, going 2-of-5 from long range. 
    • Haines has hit a 3-pointer in every game this season.
    • Haines has scored 10 or more points in seven games this season.
    • Haines had four rebounds and three assists in the game.
  • Senior guard Jaida Roper scored a career high and game-best 30 points in the game.
    • Finished 12-of-13 from the field, which is the third best field-goal percentage by a player in a single game in program history.
    • Roper is the first UK player to hit over 90 percent from the field in a game since Jennifer Humphrey vs. Mississippi State on Jan. 25, 2007.
    • Roper is the second UK player this season to score 30 or more points in a game, joining Rhyne Howard.
    • Roper has scored 10 or more points in four of her last five games.
    • Roper also had four assists and two steals in the game.
    • Roper is the first UK player to hit 12 or more field goals in a game since Maci Morris hit 12 last season against Morehead State.
  • Junior forward Tatyana Wyatt scored 10 points with six rebounds in the game. 
    • Wyatt was 4-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from long range.
    • This was the third double-digit scoring performance of the season for Wyatt.
  • Sophomore guard Blair Green tied a career high with 13 points, adding four rebounds and two steals.
    • Green has scored 10 or more points three times this season, while her 13 points is a season high.
    • Green has hit a three in five games this season.