*Photo by Regina Rickert
UK Hoops Postgame Notes
Memorial Coliseum
Lexington, Ky.
Nov. 17, 2013
Final Score: No. 7/8 Kentucky – 96, Central Michigan – 74
Team Records and Series Notes
UK improved to 4-0 on the season, giving the Wildcats their first 4-0 start since 2011-12 and fourth time in the Matthew Mitchell era.
Kentucky’s all-time record is 690-477 (.591) in 40 seasons of varsity basketball.
The win makes UK 374-141 all-time in Memorial Coliseum, including an 84-13 mark under Mitchell.
The Cats are 66-3 at home over the last five seasons (including two games at Rupp Arena).
Mitchell is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Wildcats and owns a record of 148-62 at UK. Overall, Mitchell is 178-91 in nine seasons.
He already ranks first on UK’s all-time wins list with 148 and winning percentage (.705).
UK leads the all-time series 1-0 vs. Central Michigan and 31-4 vs. opponents from the Metro Atlantic Conference.
Kentucky has won 40 straight regular season games vs. non-conference opponents at home.
The Wildcats have now won 14 straight regular season non-conference games.
Today’s attendance was 4,813.
Next up: UK wraps up its three-game homestand at Memorial Coliseum vs. Lipscomb on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be carried on the UK IMG Sports Radio Network with Neil Price.
First Half Notes
UK started with the lineup of Janee Thompson, Bria Goss, Kastine Evans, DeNesha Stallworth and Samarie Walker.
The Wildcats are 4-0 this season when using this starting lineup.
DeNesha Stallworth scored the first points of the game for UK with a left-handed layup.
Jennifer O’Neill and Bernisha Pinkett were the first UK players off the bench at the 16:23 mark in the first half.
UK went on a 12-0 run after CMU tied the game 2-2 early in the first half.
UK was 15-for-34 (44.1%) from the floor led by Stallworth who led all Wildcats with 10 points.
Central Michigan was held to 33.3 percent (12-of-36) shooting from the field.
Kentucky shot 5-of-11 (.455) from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats forced 11 Central Michigan turnovers.
Azia Bishop had five blocks in the first half, which set a new career high.
As a team, UK registered six blocked shots, which was a season high.
Four players scored at least six points in the first half.
Second Half Notes
UK began the second half with the same starting five who started the game.
The Wildcats led by as many as 22 points in the second half.
UK recorded 12 steals in the second half, while forcing 17 turnovers.
Janee Thompson scored 11 of her 17 points in the second half.
Team/Game Notes
Kentucky improved to 23-0 in the Mitchell era when scoring 90 or more points.
UK has scored 90+ points in three straight games.
It marks the first time since the 1990-91 season UK has netted 90 or more points in three straight games when the Cats opened the season with wins over Kent State (114-83), Duquesne (101-56), Northern Kentucky (97-79) and Ohio State (107-73).
The Wildcats shot 32-of-76 (42.1%) from the field.
UK converted on 8-of-22 (36.4%) from beyond the arc, while holding the Chippewas to just 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from 3-point range.
All 12 Wildcats in uniform saw action.
Six UK players scored in double figures, marking back-to-back games that the Wildcats have finished with six players in double-figures.
Five Wildcats had at least two steals.
Kentucky forced 28 Central Michigan turnovers with 16 of them steals.
The Wildcats turned the ball over a season-high 25 times.
Kentucky dished out 21 assists, marking the third straight game UK has finished with 20 or more assists.
It is the first time in the Mitchell era in which the Wildcats have had three consecutive games with 20 or more helpers.
The Wildcats outrebounded Central Michigan 55-36. The 55 rebounds are a season high, while the +19 rebounding margin is also a season best.
It’s the most rebounds since UK grabbed 57 last season at Ole Miss (2/278/13).
Individual Notes
Senior DeNesha Stallworth scored a season-high 21 points, marking her 30th double-figure scoring game in a Wildcat uniform.
Stallworth has recorded double-digit scoring outputs in three consecutive games.
Stallworth also finished with career highs in free throws made (9) and attempted (10).
Sophomore Janee Thompson registered career highs in minutes played (28), points (17), field goals attempted (12) and steals (6), while tying her career high in rebounds (4).
Bernisha Pinkett was the last UK player to record six steals when she did it vs. Auburn on Jan. 20, 2013.
Senior Samarie Walker notched her first double-double of the season and 12th of her career with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Walker extended her streak of consecutive games with at least one steal to 23.
Junior Jennifer O’Neill scored 11 points off the bench.
Senior Kastine Evans finished with 13 points and a season-high tying three assists.
Evans has reached double figures in three of four games this season and 15 times in her career.
Junior Azia Bishop finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.
Bishop’s career-high five blocks are tied for sixth all-time for blocks in a single game.
She has led UK in blocked shots 19 times during her career.
Bishop has scored 10 points in consecutive games.
Junior Bria Goss tied a career high with four assists.
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