UK Hoops Postgame Notes
McGrath-Phillips Arena
Chicago
Dec. 12, 2013
Final Score: No. 5/6 Kentucky – 96, DePaul – 85
Team Records and Series Notes
UK improved to 10-0 on the season, giving the Wildcats their first 10-0 start since 2011-12.
It marks the third 10-0 start in school history and in the Matthew Mitchell era.
Kentucky finished the non-conference season undefeated on the road.
The Wildcats’ extended their winning streak to 10 games, tying the fourth-longest in school history.
Kentucky’s all-time record is 696-477 (.593) in 40 seasons of varsity basketball.
Mitchell is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Wildcats and owns a record of 154-62 at UK. Overall, Mitchell is 184-91 in nine seasons.
He already ranks first on UK’s all-time wins list with 154 and winning percentage (.713).
UK is 4-0 all-time vs. DePaul and 17-8 vs. opponents from the newly-aligned BIG EAST conference.
The Wildcats have won eight consecutive vs. non-conference opponents on the road.
The Wildcats have now won 20 straight regular season non-conference games.
Tonight’s attendance was 2,577.
Next up: UK returns to Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 15 when the Wildcats play host to East Tennessee State at 2 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on the IMG Sports TV Network.
First Half Notes
With DeNesha Stallworth missing tonight’s game with a knee injury, UK started with the lineup of Janee Thompson, Bria Goss, Kastine Evans, Azia Bishop and Samarie Walker.
The Wildcats are 1-0 this season when using this starting lineup.
Bishop made her first start of the season and second of her career.
Bria Goss scored the first points of the game for UK with a 3-pointer from the corner.
Jelleah Sidney was the first UK player off the bench at the 16:15 mark in the first half.
Kentucky entered the locker room tied (44-44) for the second straight game.
UK was 17-for-33 (51.5 percent) from the field, while DePaul shot 56.7 percent (17-of-30).
Kentucky was just 3-of-8 (37.5 percent) from beyond the arc, while DePaul was 5-of-11 (45.5 percent).
The Wildcats outrebounded the Blue Demons, 22-12.
Bria Goss led all Wildcats with eight first half points. Seven of the 10 players in uniform scored at least four points.
Second Half Notes
UK began the second half with the same starting five who started the game.
The Wildcats led by as many as 13 points in the second half.
Linnae Harper scored 12 of her career-best 18 points in the second half.
Team/Game Notes
UK scored 90-plus points for the seventh time this season and improved to 27-0 in the Mitchell era when scoring 90 or more points.
Kentucky trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, tying the sixth-largest comeback in the Mitchell era.
The Wildcats shot a season-high 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the field, while the Blue Demons shot 50 percent (31-of-62).
Kentucky was 27-of-35 (.771 percent) from the free-throw line.
UK was 3-of-10 from beyond the arc, which were both season lows.
All 10 Wildcats in uniform saw action and scored in the game.
Five Wildcats finished in double figures.
Of the 28 turnovers, nine of them were steals.
The Wildcats outrebounded the Blue Demons, 44-23. The Wildcats have outrebounded all but two opponent this season.
Five Wildcats grabbed five or more boards in the contest.
UK outscored DePaul 45-6 in bench scoring.
Individual Notes
Freshman Linnae Harper recorded a career highs in points (18), minutes played (18), defensive rebounds (4), field goals (7), free-throws made (4) and free-throws attempted (5).
Freshman Makayla Epps scored a career-best 10 points, while pulling down a career-high six rebounds.
Tied career highs in field goals (4) and 3-point field goals (2).
Senior Kastine Evans recorded her eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season with 14 points.
Evans was 4-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
Senior Samarie Walker scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
She has reached double-figures in six games this season.
Junior Jennifer O’Neill finished with 12 points and a team-high five assists off the bench.
O’Neill has registered 10-plus points in nine of the 10 games this season.
O’Neill finished a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.
· Junior Azia Bishop made season-best four field goals (4-of-7).
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