UK Hoops Postgame Notes
The Arena at Gwinnet Center
Duluth, Ga.
March 8, 2014
Final Score: No. 12/13 Kentucky – 68, No. 5/7 South Carolina – 58
Team Records and Series Notes
UK improved to 24-7 overall this season and has now won five straight.
Kentucky’s all-time record is 710-484 (.595) in 40 seasons of varsity basketball.
The Wildcats are 29-35 all-time in the SEC Tournament.
Mitchell is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Wildcats and owns a record of 168-69 at UK. Overall, Mitchell is 198-98 in nine seasons.
He already ranks first on UK’s all-time wins list with 168 and winning percentage (.709).
Mitchell is now 10-6 in the SEC Tournament.
UK is 32-21 all-time vs. South Carolina, including a 2-0 mark vs. the Gamecocks in the SEC Tournament. UK fell to the Gamecocks in both regular-season matchups.
The Wildcats have advanced to the SEC Tournament Championship game for the fourth time in the last five seasons and second straight.
The win marks the first in school history over a No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament. UK was 0-6 entering today’s game.
UK is looking for its first SEC Tournament Championship since 1982.
Kentucky is 6-3 vs. ranked opponents this season, including 4-3 vs. teams ranked in the top 10.
Marked UK’s largest margin of victory over a higher ranked team since defeating No. 8 Tennessee last season in Lexington, 78-65.
Next up: The Wildcats will face the winner of Tennessee and Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament Championship game on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Team/Game Notes
UK started with the lineup of Janee Thompson, Kastine Evans, Bria Goss, DeNesha Stallworth and Samarie Walker.
Kentucky is 17-4 this season when using this starting lineup.
UK led at the half, 37-29, and is now 20-2 this season when leading at the half.
UK has hit a 3-pointer in 359 consecutive games.
The Wildcats have forced double-digit turnovers in 183 consecutive games.
Kentucky only committed five turnovers in the game, marking the lowest this season and the lowest in the Matthew Mitchell era.
The Cats are 67-40 overall in close games (games decided by 10 points or less), including an 11-6 mark this season. UK’s last five games have been decided by 10 or less.
UK’s freshmen, Makayla Epps and Linnae Harper, came off the bench and combined for 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Individual Notes
Junior Bria Goss finished with a team-high 14 points, marking her 16th game of the season and fourth straight game with 10 or more points.
Senior DeNesha Stallworth finished with 12 points.
Scored 10 or more points in 17 games this season, including eight of her last nine games.
Freshman Linnae Harper scored 12 points off the bench.
Marks her 11th game of the season in double digits.
Freshman Makayla Epps tallied 10 points off the bench for her fifth double-figure scoring game of the season.
Junior Azia Bishop came off the bench and recorded a season-high three steals.
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