No. 15 Kentucky 79, Samford 49 – FINAL
Team Records and Series Notes
- Kentucky is 9-0, while Samford 3-8.
- The Wildcats are now 7-0 at home this season.
- UK is 176-40 at home under Matthew Mitchell, including 168-31 in Memorial Coliseum.
- Kentucky is 832-540 all-time, including 482-173 all-time at home.
- The Wildcats have had great success in Memorial Coliseum, sitting 455-157 all-time in the historic building.
- This was the third all-time meeting between Kentucky and Samford in women’s basketball.
- The Wildcats lead the all-time series 3-0.
- Matthew Mitchell is in his 13th season as the head coach of the Wildcats.
- Mitchell is 320-154 overall in his career and 290-125 during his tenure at Kentucky.
- UK is 55-22 all-time in the month of December under Matthew Mitchell.
- Kentucky is ranked 15th in the latest Associated Press 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 8-0 with this starting five.
- UK won the tip for the eighth time this season.
- This was the fifth time Howard has won the tip for UK.
- Howard also scored first for UK, hitting a 3 in the early seconds of the game. She has been the first Wildcat to score four times this season.
- It was a game of runs in the first quarter. Kentucky started with a 9-0 run hitting three straight 3s to start the game (two by Howard and one by Haines) but Samford followed with a 12-2 run to a 12-11 lead. UK ended the quarter on a 11-2 run to take a 22-14 lead after the first stanza.
- UK was 6-of-9 from 3 in the first quarter, while Samford was 4-of-8.
- Kentucky took control of the game by outscoring Samford 19-6 in the second quarter.
- The six points by Samford were the fewest points it has scored in a quarter this season.
- UK recorded a season-best 23 assists in the game and have recorded 20 or more assists in two of its last three games.
- UK has posted 18 or more assists in five straight games.
- Kentucky went 11-of-23 from the 3-point line, tying a season high in 3s made.
- UK has hit 10 or more 3s in four games this season, including two straight games.
- The Wildcats have scored 79 points or more in each of the last five games.
- UK shot 52.6 percent from the field in the game and has shot 50 percent or better in two of its last three games.
- Kentucky scored 21 points off 18 Samford turnovers.
- UK has scored 20 or more points off turnovers in every game but one this season.
- This was the first game this year that UK did not force 20 turnovers.
- The Wildcats committed just 10 turnovers in the game.
- UK has committed 10 turnovers or less in three games this season, including back-to-back games.
- Samford’s 49 points were the second fewest the Bulldogs have scored this season.
- Kentucky went on two scoring runs of 10 or more in the game and have 10 runs this season of 10 or more.
Player Notes
- Sophomore guard Rhyne Howard scored a career high 30 points in the game, adding six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- Howard went 11-of-19 from the field and 5-of-8 from 3.
- This was the second time this season and seventh time in her career that Howard has hit five or more 3s in a game.
- Howard has hit at least one 3-pointer in 36 of her 41 career games.
- Howard has scored 10 or more points in 34 of her 41 career games.
- Howard has scored 20 or more points in 15 of her 41 career games.
- Howard has led UK in scoring in 23 of her 41 career games.
- Howard has made three or more 3s in 15 of her 41 career games.
- Howard has led UK in scoring seven times this season.
- First UK player to score 30 points in a game since Maci Morris scored 31 against Morehead State last November.
- This was the fifth 20+ scoring game for Howard this season and the second straight game of 20 points or more. Howard has recorded 20 or more in four of her last five games.
- Her six rebounds tied a team high, marking the fourth time this season she has led UK in rebounds.
- Senior guard Sabrina Haines scored 12 points with four rebounds.
- Haines went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the game.
- Haines has hit a 3 in every game this season.
- Haines has scored 10 or more points six games this season, including three straight games.
- Senior guard Jaida Roper led the team with seven assists and has led UK in assists three times this season and 22 times in her career.
- Senior guard Amanda Paschal had five assists and nine points.
- Paschal has posted five or more assists three times this season.