Photo: UKAthletics.com
UK Hoops moves on to the Sweet 16 with a 84-70 win over Dayton to move on to the Sweet 16.
A’dia Mathies had a career night scoring 34 points.
This from UKAthletics.com:
Mathies matched her career high with 34 points and lead second-seeded Kentucky to an 84-70 win over seventh-seeded Dayton on Tuesday night in the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament.
The Wildcats (29-5) will face Delaware in the semifinals of the Bridgeport Regional on Saturday.
With Kentucky clinging to a 46-44 advantage early in the second half, Mathies scored 10 points during a 16-3 run to help the Wildcats take control of the game.
The two-time SEC player of the year hit two 3-pointers, including one to cap the burst and make it 62-47. She didn’t hit a field goal in the first round win over Navy. She made 13 of 17 against Dayton.
Andrea Hoover scored 22 points to lead the Flyers (28-3), who got no closer than eight the rest of the way to end the best season in school history.
One of the best seasons for Kentucky will continue in Bridgeport. The Wildcats have the most wins in school history and have reached the regional semifinals for the third time in the past four seasons.
Coach Matthew Mitchell is building a tradition at a school rich in men’s basketball history.
“We have the goal of becoming the best program in the country,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we are making a lot of progress.”
Here are the postgame notes:
UK Hoops Postgame Notes
Carnesecca Arena
Queens, N.Y.
NCAA Tournament – Second Round
March 26, 2013
Final Score: No. 7/7 Kentucky 84 – No. 18/15 Dayton 70
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky improves to 29-5, while Dayton ends its season at 28-3.
The 29 wins is a new school record for wins.
UK advances to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history, including third in the last four seasons.
Kentucky is in its 39th year of varsity play and owns an overall record of 685-476 (.590).
This is the Cats’ 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and now own a 13-9 (.591) record in postseason play.
The Wildcats are now 64-199 against ranked foes, including 23-32 under head coach Matthew Mitchell.
With the win, the Cats set the school record for wins over ranked opponents in a single season with seven.
UK is now 3-3 all-time in second-round NCAA Tournament games.
UK owns a 13-3 record all-time vs. Dayton, including two straight in the series.
Kentucky is now 25-13 all-time against the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Team/Game Notes
UK’s starting lineup featured A’dia Mathies, Kastine Evans, Jennifer O’Neill, Samarie Walker and DeNesha Stallworth. This lineup is 9-2.
With Dayton leading 14-12 at the 13:41 mark, the Wildcats went on a 12-0 run to take a 26-14 advantage with 8:33 remaining in the half.
UK led 40-31 at the half and is now 24-3 when leading at the break.
After Dayton cut Kentucky’s lead to 50-46 at the 14:26 mark in the second half, UK went on a 12-1 run to stretch its lead to 62-47 with 10:34 to play.
The Wildcats are now 50-2 under Mitchell when netting 80 or more points.
UK’s bench outscored Dayton’s 19-4. The Cats are now 23-1 when outscoring the opposing bench.
Kentucky won the points off turnovers battle 31-13.
The 23 forced turnovers, giving UK 816 on the year, which is the fourth-most in a single season in UK Hoops history.
The Cats have now forced double-digit miscues in 151 consecutive games. The Cats are 114-37 during that span.
With eight 3-pointers, the Cats added to their single-season record with 229.
· Kentucky recorded two blocks, upping its single-season record total to 174.
The Wildcats extended their streak of consecutive games with a triple to 326.
· UK had 12 steals, totaling 410 on the season, which ranks third on the single-season list.
Individual Notes
Senior A’dia Mathies tied her career-high with 34 points and set career best with 13 made field goals and six 3-pointers. She also scored 34 points against Tennessee last season (1/12/12).
Marks her third 30-point game of her career.
The 34 points and six made field goals are the most by a UK player in an NCAA Tournament game.
Has reached double-figures in 31-of-34 games.
Increased her career point total to 1,984 points, just 14 shy of 2,000.
Had three steals, increasing her school-record mark to 315.
Junior center DeNesha Stallworth scored 14 points, marking the 27th time she has reached double figures this season, including sixth straight.
Redshirt sophomore point guard Jennifer O’Neill scored 11 points and has now reached double-digit points in 17 games this season, including three in a row.
Dished out five assists, her sixth game of the season with five or more.
Sophomore Bria Goss came off the bench for 11 points, her highest point total since scoring 13 points vs. South Carolina on Feb. 14.
