No. 14 Kentucky 81, Alabama 71 – FINAL
Team Records and Series Notes
- Kentucky is 13-2 (2-1 SEC), while Alabama is 10-6 (0-3 SEC)
- Kentucky is 836-542 all-time, including 235-271 in road games.
- UK is 80-65 all-time on the road under Matthew Mitchell, including 4-1 this season.
- This was the 49th all-time meeting between Kentucky and Alabama in women’s basketball.
- The Wildcats lead the all-time series in games played against the Crimson Tide, 32-17, including a 13-10 mark in games played in Tuscaloosa.
- UK has won eight straight games in the series, including six straight in Tuscaloosa.
- During that stretch, only one of the games has been decided by single digits.
- Matthew Mitchell is in his 13th season as the head coach of the Wildcats.
- Mitchell is 324-156 overall in his career and 294-127 during his tenure at Kentucky.
- Kentucky is ranked 13 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and No. 13 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 Jaida Roper, junior forward Tatyana Wyatt and sophomore guard Blair Green.
- This was the first time this season that UK has used this starting combination.
- UK lost the tip for the sixth time this season.
- Rhyne Howard scored first in the game for the seventh time this season, which is a team-high.
- UK scored nine points in the first quarter, which was its second fewest points scored in the first quarter this season. The low is eight points at Middle Tennessee.
- UK went just 3-of-17 from the field in the first quarter for 22 percent. In five road games this season, UK is shooting 19-of-77 this season on the road in the first quarter for 25 percent.
- Kentucky responded in a big way in the second quarter, ending the quarter on a 9-0 run as part of a 16-2 run to take a 37-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
- UK went 11-of-17 from the field in the second quarter and 5-of-9 from 3.
- Rhyne Howard had 12 points in the second quarter, while Amanda Paschal had 10.
- UK’s 28 points in the second quarter was its most points in the second quarter this season.
- Alabama started the second half on a 6-0 run after the Wildcats missed each of their first three shots with a turnover in the first four possessions.
- The Tide outscored UK 25-24 in the third quarter but with a 3 by Haines as time expired in the stanza to give the Wildcats a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter.
- Alabama outscored the Wildcats 47-44 in the second half.
- The Wildcats hit 16 3s in the game, which is the most 3s hit in a game in program history for UK.
- UK has hit 10 or more 3s in eight games this season. The Wildcats are 7-1 in those games.
- Six UK players hit a 3 in the game, led by 7 from Rhyne Howard.
- Kentucky has made at least 13 three-point field goals in consecutive games for the first time in school history.
- Prior to this season, Kentucky made at least 13 three-point field goals in a single game three times in school history. Kentucky has now made at least 13 three-point field goals in a single game three times in their last six games.
- UK scored 20 points off Alabama turnovers, marking the 12th time this season UK has scored 20 or more points off opponent turnovers.
Player Notes
- Sophomore guard Rhyne Howard scored a school-record tying 43 points in the game.
- Howard added six rebounds and went 7-of-11 from 3 in the game and 14-of-21 from the field.
- Howard’s 43 points ties the school record for points scored in the game, while it is the program record for points scored in a regulation game. Jennifer O’Neill scored 43 points in UK’s famous four overtime against Baylor in 2013.
- Howard’s 14 field-goals made were the most for a UK player since Makayla Epps hit 18 field goals against Mississippi State in 2015.
- Howard is the second UK ever to record a 40+ scoring game and 35+ scoring game in the same season joining Valerie Still.
- Howard is the first UK player to score 40 or more points in a game since Makayla Epps scored 42 against Mississippi State in 2015.
- Howard is only the fourth UK player ever to record 40 or more points a game.
- Howard is the only player in school history to have multiple games with seven or more 3s and the first to do it in consecutive games.
- Howard is the first player in school history to score at least 37 points in consecutive games
- Howard has scored 25 or more points in five straight games becoming the first player in program history to accomplish that feat. Valerie Still did it in four straight games in 1980-81.
- Howard has hit at least one 3-pointer in 42 of her 47 career games.
- Howard has scored 10 or more points in 40 of her 47 career games.
- Howard has scored 20 or more points in 21 of her 47 career games.
- Howard has led UK in scoring in 28 of her 47 career games.
- Howard has led UK in rebounding in 26 of her 47 games.
- Howard has scored 25 or more points 13 times in her career, including eight times this season.
- Howard has scored 884 points and needs 116 more to join the 1,000 point club.
- This was Howard’s third 30+ scoring game this season.
- Howard now has the first and second most points scored in a game by an SEC player this season.
- At the start of tonight’s action, Howard’s 43 points ranks the third most scored by a player in a game this season.
- Senior guard Sabrina Haines scored 11 points and hit three 3s in the game.
- Haines has scored 10 or more points in 10 games this season.
- Haines three 3s hit in the game marks the sixth time this season she has hit three or more 3s in a game.
- Senior guard Amanda Paschal scored 10 points in the game with all 10 points coming in the second quarter.
- Paschal went 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from long range.