The Kentucky women’s basketball team got back on track Sunday following a humbling 98-36 loss at No. 1 South Carolina.
The Wildcats (9-10, 2-3 SEC) broke a three-game losing streak with a 76-71 win over Missouri.
Eniya Russell came off the bench to lead UK with 20 points. Maddie Scherr added 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Ajae Petty chipped in 12 points and 10 boards.
Here are some postgame notes from the win:
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY VS. MISSOURI
SUNDAY, JAN. 21, 2023
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER – LEXINGTON, KY.
Kentucky 76, Missouri 71 – FINAL
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky is 9-10 overall and 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference in 2023-24, while Missouri is 11-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference this season.
The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program is in its 50th season.
UK has a 903-598 (.602) all-time record.
Kyra Elzy is in her fourth season as the head coach of the Wildcats, holding a 58-50 (.537) overall record.
She has a 21-31 overall record in the SEC.
Kentucky leads the all-time series with Missouri, 12-5, including 8-0 in Lexington.
UK has a two-game winning streak over UM.
Kentucky will play at Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. ET.
The game will be televised on the SEC Network+.
Arkansas is one of Kentucky’s three home-and-home opponents in 2023-24.
Team Notes
Kentucky used the starting combination Brooklynn Miles, Maddie Scherr, Saniah Tyler, Emma King and Ajae Petty for the second time this season.
UK is 2-1 when using that starting combination.
The Wildcats won the opening tip for the 16th time this season.
Emma King was the first player to score for Kentucky for a team-lead five times.
Eniya Russell was the first substitute off the bench for Kentucky for the sixth time this season.
Kentucky overcame a nine-point deficit to defeat Missouri, 76-71.
It is UK’s third comeback win of at least nine points this season.
UK moved to 2-1 in games decided by five points or less this season.
It marked UK’s fourth-best point total this season.
The Wildcats shot 41.7 percent (25-60) from the field and 30.4 percent from the arc (7-23).
The Cats are 2-1 in SEC action when they shoot above 40.0 percent.
UK shot a season-best 79.2 percent from the stripe (19-24).
It marked UK’s second-most free throws made this season.
Kentucky is 6-1 when at least four players score in double-digits.
UK led UM in bench points, 26-10.
UK is 4-2 when it scores at least 20 bench points in 2023-24.
The Wildcats have three players on their team who have scored 20+ points in multiple games this season: Ajae Petty (5), Maddie Scherr (4) and now Eniya Russell (2).
How It Happened
Emma King scored Kentucky’s first five points in the game on a make from beyond the arc and a jumper, then she made a steal, followed by an offensive rebound, to give Eniya Russell a jumper, as Kentucky trailed Missouri, 11-7, at the first media timeout (4:27).
The Wildcats ended the first quarter on a 9-4 scoring run, while they held the Tigers to just one field goal in the final three minutes of the period.
Kentucky trailed Missouri, 20-16, at the end of the first quarter.
Despite Missouri scoring on its first possession of the second quarter, Kentucky rallied 3-of-4 shooting to create a 7-0 run and take the lead, 23-22, as UM called a timeout (8:02).
Kentucky continued making smart shots and turned up its defensive intensity, turning its 7-0 run into a 12-1 run, as UK led, 30-23, forcing UM to its second timeout of the period.
The Tigers hit a 3-pointer out of their timeout to stop the Wildcats scoring run, as the Tigers narrowly outscored the Cats, 9-8, down the stretch.
Cassidy Rowe knocked down a 3-pointer with four seconds on the clock.
Kentucky led Missouri, 38-32, at halftime.
UK shot 40.5 percent (15-37) in the first half, including making three 3-pointers.
UK had nine assists on its 15 field goals in the first half.
UK maintained its lead over UM, 46-41, five minutes and four seconds into the third quarter, despite not making a field goal for the later four minutes and 39 seconds of that timeframe. Instead, UK drew fouls, going 6-of-8 from the stripe in that time.
It was back-and-forth scoring for the entirety of the third quarter, with neither team going on a run larger than two straight field goals or five points.
Ajae Petty drew a foul with one second left in the period, and she knocked down both shots before the break in action.
Kentucky led Missouri, 55-50, at the end of the third quarter.
Kentucky formed its largest lead of the game, 63-52, in the first two minutes and 28 seconds of the fourth quarter thanks to 2-of-2 from the arch and 2-of-2 from the stripe to start the period.
That 8-0 run forced UM to take its third timeout of the game (7:45).
It was back and forth scoring out of the timeout.
The Wildcats had a nine-point lead, 71-62, with two minutes and 48 seconds on the clock, before the Tigers had a 9-0 run in a minute-and-a-half to tie the game at 71-71.
Kentucky ended the game on a 5-0 run.
Kentucky defeated Missouri, 76-71.
Player Notes
Eniya Russell, a senior guard, led Kentucky with 20 points.
It marked the fifth game this season and the fifth game of her career she has led Kentucky in scoring.
It marked the second game this season and the second game of her career she has scored 20+ points.
It marked the ninth game this season and the 13th game of her career she has scored 10+ points.
She added seven rebounds and two steals.
It marked the third game this season she has grabbed at least seven rebounds.
It marked the third game this season and the fifth game of her career she has collected two or more steals.
Maddie Scherr, a senior guard, had 19 points, a season-high nine rebounds, a team-lead six assists, two steals and two blocks.
She has scored in double digits in 12 of her 15 games this season.
It marked the fifth game this season and the 15th game of her career she has scored 15+ points.
It marked the eighth game this season and the 48th game of her career she has collected two or more steals.
It marked the 11th game this season and the 56th game of her career she has collected 3+ assists.
It marked the ninth game this season and the 27th game of her career she has led Kentucky in assists.
Ajae Petty, a senior forward, had 12 points and a team-lead 10 rebounds.
It marked the 11th game this season and the 13th game of her career she has recorded a double-double.
She has scored in double digits in 15 of her 19 games this season.
It marked the 11th game this season and the 13th game of her career she has recorded 10+ rebounds.
It marked the 18th game this season and the 29th game of her career she has led Kentucky in rebounding.
She added two blocks.
Saniah Tyler, a sophomore guard, had 10 points, two assists, one rebound and one steal.
It marked the ninth game this season and the ninth game of her career she has scored 10+ points.
