SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 2023
MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.
Tennessee 83, Kentucky 63 – FINAL
Team Records and Series Notes
- The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 49th season with an 892-586 (.603) all-time record.
- The Wildcats are now 10-18 overall, and they concluded the SEC season 2-14.
- The Lady Volunteers are now21-10 overall, and they concluded the SEC season 13-3.
- Kyra Elzy is in her third season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 47-39 overall record.
- She has a 19-28 overall record in the SEC.
- Kentucky trails the all-time series with Tennessee, 58-16, in a series that began in 1976.
- Kentucky trails Tennessee in games played in Lexington, 23-10.
- Kentucky will be the No. 14 seed in the 2023 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament.
- It will play the No. 11 seed (undecided opponent) in Game Two on Wednesday, March 1 (roughly 1:30 p.m. ET).
- The tournament returns to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
- The game will air on SEC Network.
Team Notes
- Prior to the game, graduate forward Adebola Adeyeye and graduate guards Robyn Benton and Blair Green were recognized in Senior Day ceremonies.
- Kentucky used the starting combination sophomore guard Jada Walker, junior guard Maddie Scherr, graduate guard Robyn Benton, graduate guard Blair Green and graduate forward Adebola Adeyeye for the sixth time this season.
- UK is 3-3 this season when using this starting combination.
- Tennessee won the opening tip, marking the 20th time this season that the Wildcats have lost the opening tip.
- Maddie Scherr was the first wildcat to score, hitting a layup to snap a 13-0 Tennessee run to start the game.
- Ajae Petty was the first sub off the bench for Kentucky
- Tennessee got off to a 7-0 start in the first three minutes and 23 seconds of the game, which prompted Kentucky to burn a timeout early (6:37).
- Tennessee stretched its lead to 13-0 out of the timeout.
- Maddie Scherr made Kentucky’s first basket of the game on a layup in the paint at 5:31.
- Tennessee responded on back-to-back layups, then Robyn Benton answered with a make from long range.
- Tennessee went on a 6-0 run, then Kentucky used the final two-and-a-half minutes of the first quarter to go on a 10-2 run to get within 10 points.
- The Lady Volunteers led the Wildcats, 25-15, at the end of the first quarter.
- Kentucky and Tennessee traded baskets over the first five minutes of the second quarter, as the two teams went 10-10 in that time.
- Tennessee used the final bucket of that back-and-forth scoring series to go on a 12-4 run to cap the second quarter.
- The Lady Volunteers led the Wildcats, 45-28, at halftime.
- The Vols shot over 58 percent from the field, while the Cats shot over 34 percent from the floors, in the first half.
- Jada Walker scored first in the second half on a jumper in the paint, before Tennessee went on an 8-0 run.
- Scherr snapped the scoring streak with a jumper at 6:08, with Kentucky narrowly outscoring Tennessee, 7-6, over the next three minutes.
- Scherr score on a layup and drew a foul at the end of that scoring series, knocking down her extra point. Scherr’s layup (3:19) was Kentucky’s last field goal of the third quarter, while UK did go 5-of-5 from the line during those remaining minutes.
- Tennessee led Kentucky, 68-41, at the end of the third quarter.
- Scherr snapped the scoring streak with a jumper at 6:08, with Kentucky narrowly outscoring Tennessee, 7-6, over the next three minutes.
- Tennessee scored first in the fourth quarter on a fastbreak layup, then Kentucky went on a 17-4 run over the next five minutes.
- Kentucky extended that run, 19-7, with Scherr responsible for 14 of those 19 points, as the Cats trailed the Vols, 60-76, at the end of that series with three minutes remaining in the game.
- That scoring series held the Cats cut the Vols lead by almost half.
- Tennessee immediately responded to that 19-7 run with a layup in the paint, then Benton rallied a 1-of-2 free throws aftershooting foul.
- On their next possession, the Lady Volunteers made a second-chance jumper the made 1-of-2 free throws after Benton’s fifth foul of the game.
- Walker made a pullup jumper in the paint on Kentucky’s next possession.
- Tennessee concluded the game with a second-chance jumper at the buzzer.
- UK outscored UT, 22-16, in the fourth quarter.
- Tennessee defeated Kentucky, 83-63.
- Kentucky extended that run, 19-7, with Scherr responsible for 14 of those 19 points, as the Cats trailed the Vols, 60-76, at the end of that series with three minutes remaining in the game.
- Kentucky forced Tennessee to commit 21 turnovers, while it committed just 14 themselves.
- UK outscored UT in points off turnovers, 23-15.
- UK has forced 14 of its 28 opponents into at least 20 turnovers this season.
Player Notes
- Junior guard Maddie Scherr led Kentucky with a career-high 27 points, while 14 of those points came in the fourth quarter.
- Scherr has led Kentucky in scoring four times this season.
- She added four rebounds, one assist and one steal.
- Graduate guard Robyn Benton had 17 points on 5-11 from the floor, including 1-3 from long range, and 6-8 from the line.
- Benton has scored 10 or more points in 25 games this season, including 64 games in her career.
- Benton has scored 15 or more points in 17games this season, including 25 games in her career.
- She added two rebounds, an assist and a block.
- Sophomore guard Jada Walker had 10 points on 5-11 from the floor.
- She added three rebounds and a team-high four assists and a team-high four steals.
- She has led Kentucky in assists nine times this season.
- She has led Kentucky in steals 13 times this season.
- Walker, who has led the SEC all season in steals and steals per game, has made at least four steals in two of her last three games.
- Three of her four steals came during the 19-7 run in the fourth quarter.
- She added three rebounds and a team-high four assists and a team-high four steals.
- Graduate forward Adebola Adeyeye led Kentucky with eight rebounds.
- She has led Kentucky in rebounds seven times this season.
- She has made at least eight rebounds in three of the last four games and in six games this season.
- She added five points and a steal.
UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
Kentucky Head Coach Kyra Elzy
On adjustments made in response to Tennessee’s early run …
“We really talked about attacking the paint, playing off two feet, get there and if you do not have the shot, make the defense sub and pass out for an open shot or go up on balance. We tried to mix up our defense, we went man and zone and then we talked about attacking out of the ball screen. I think we got some great looks when we went downhill off the ball screen.”
On defensive takeaways entering the SEC tournament …
“We forced them into 21 turnovers so continuing to sellout defensively and continuing to talk. When we were talking and flying around good things happenedfor us. We have to finish consistently with box outs but we have enough to play how we need to play to generate some stops.”
On emotions for senior day and focus on the game …
“Well, it’s hard not to get caught up in senior day and not be emotional, you try to keep your emotions in check. I always tease them saying ‘senior day is not where you’re going to see the tears it’s when that final buzzer goes off, that makes it different.’ I think when you look around as a coach and you know it’s coming to an end you have a different appreciation for them. I was watching Blair in game day Practice today and she was just shooting and singing and I was like I remember when she committed to Kentucky and in the blink of an eye it’s over. So just trying to cherish them, enjoy them and soak it all in right now.”
On the SEC Tournament…
“You’ve played these teams, now it’s just a matter of going in, watching the game again, making adjustments from the first time you played them.”
On using their run from the SEC Tournament last year as motivation…
“You talk to them about the resiliency that team had. Obviously, that was a magical run and I don’t want to put that type of pressure on them, but our goal right now is 1-0. We’re focusing on the one game in front of us and that’s all we can do. One game at a time.”
On the Tennessee team and the way they play as they transition towards March…
“They are extremely athletic and versatile. They can score in transition and in multiple ways. Their transition offense is very good and also their ability to rebound the ball. I think that is what makes them who they are.”
On the team’s mindset going into post season…
“We’re not quitting. That’s not a part of our DNA, that’s not what this program is made of. It is a rough time in Kentucky women’s basketball, there is no mistake about it, but this program is built to last. We are going to continue to fight and prepare and sell out on the floor until it’s over. It’s not over yet, so until then we will continue to fight and continue to work. I’ve been through tough times at Kentucky. This will not be the first, this will not be the last, but we will find a way from here. We’ve always been resilient, and this will be no different.”
Kentucky Player Quotes
#1 Robyn Benton, G
On what Senior Day meant to them…
“Um, I went out the way I wanted to go out – in the black uniforms, my Jordan socks, my Kobe shoes, my hair slicked back. I went out guns blazing, and I’ll have some memories in Memorial that I’ll never forget. I’m just thankful and grateful that I had this moment.
On the last play she made before making her exit from the game…
“It wasn’t a foul. I’m telling you, I’m telling you – I don’t know what it is with these referees. But like we’re down by 20 and they’re still giving them calls. I’m like “what?”, but um yeah, I wanted to go out with abang and I felt like I did.”
On her mindset heading to Greenville for the SEC Tournament…
“Yeah, we’re just gonna take it – you know, one game at a time. Um, whoever we play, we’re gonna do our best and just try to survive and advance. That’s all, that’s what March is about.
On her favorite memories in Memorial Coliseum…
“If I had to rank my best – I have two. In the beginning of the year, when I hit like 4 threes in a row versus Ohio. And then, when I first got here my junior year, we played Indiana. We were down, we were coming back, and I hit a big three to take the lead versus Indiana. And then, I think I got fouled, and I literally did like this to the camera [hand gesture] – like, hey, it’s that time. And made the three throws and we ended up beating Indiana, and they were top 10 I think.”
#5 Blair Green, G
On their last game and memories in Memorial…
“I mean, this is the last game in Memorial. I think just looking back over the years it’s just like all the memories that’s been made in here, all the victories and all the highs and lows. Just it’s kind of funny because me and Nene one of the coaches, she would take me up to the very top and we would just like, look back on some of the things that have happened over the years, just the highs and lows and just like how much this place actually means to us and just this building and the core of it. So, I think that was some very special moments just over the last couple of weeks. And just like reflecting on that stuff, but yeah, there’s some amazing memories made in here and it just means everything to me.”
On their mindset going into the WBB SEC Tournament…
“Yeah, just our mindset is zero to zero. Everyone’s zero to zero. I mean, we didn’t really have the SEC season that we wanted. But at this point, how are we going to change it? How do we want this to look? I mean, at this point, we’re all playing for a championship. And no one’s record matters at this point. It’s just whoever wants it more. So, I think that’s definitely our mindset.” … (spoken later) “And also, I just think looking back there’s a lot of teams that we there’s a lot of games that we look back on and we’re like, man, we really owe this team like we should have beat them and won a couple of these games and stuff. So, I think we’re like really ready just to get these games back and prove that we should have won those games.”
On her favorite memory in memorial…
“Yeah, definitely when we hit the game winner against Arkansas. Vanderbilt when I had to play point guard and we pulled that one out. Yeah, there’s a lot of memories that go back. Yeah, that’s just a few but Texas A&M We beat me they were like top five.”
On when it hit that it was their last game in memorial…
“Definitely I think when they subbed us out at that moment, it just hit that it was the end for Memorial. But, at the same time just keeping our mindset it might be the last game in Memorial but it’s not our last game with the Kentucky jersey on. We’ll definitely carry it on.” … (spoken later) “Yeah, I think it’s just been a good week of just reflecting not only like this game but just like reflecting of all the good memories that have happened on that court.”
On going down as one of the most popular players in Kentucky WBB history and thanking the BBN…
“They’ve built me to who I am today and that I just want to continue just to give back and just be a role model for the kids around that area. Never give up, continue to chase your dreams. You can be here to or whatever you do, whether that’s basketball, softball or any other hobby that you have, as long as you work at it, you can get to wherever you are. So, I just want to continue to give back.”
#25 Adebola Adeyeye, F
On their last game and memories in Memorial…
“Last game in Memorial Coliseum as it is. Honestly, just being able to play in that type of gym and the environment with the fans who don’t give up on us, who keep coming, who keep cheering, they just keep giving us energy. It’s honestly has been a blessing and just being able to be in this type of environment. It just feels so surreal as a kid from Canada who like nobody really believed in. The staff believed in me, the team believed in me, the fans believed in me and they just kept on pouring out, so I’m eternally grateful to the Big Blue Nation, my coaching staff and just to the University of Kentucky and it’s been amazing.”
On their mindset going into the WBB SEC Tournament…
“It’s how Blair said it who wants it more? Clearly amnesia. Zero zero. We don’t care about them. We’re just going to go play whoever’s in front of us. Want to know that’s all we’re thinking. 00 go in there and fight.”
On when it hit that it was their last game in memorial…
“I don’t know if it’s hit me yet. See, when my family came it hit me. Playing with my teammates and all, but I don’t know. It’s just a surreal.” Yeah, I think it’s just been a good week. Of just reflecting of just not only like this game but just like reflecting of all the good memories that’s been on that court.
| Camiran “Cami” MooreAssistant Director of UK Athletics Communications & Public RelationsWomen’s Basketball, Women’s Golf, Football | |
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