More heroics from Howard, plus former top-ranked recruit gives UK women a boost
The newest weapon for the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team finally made her debut on Saturday, and it looks like the Wildcats might have added a potent element to the mix.
That’s in addition to UK’s deadliest weapon, who again played the hero.
Junior guard Chasity Patterson came off the bench and scored nine points and sophomore star Rhyne Howard nailed a late shot as the Wildcats held on for a 63-61 victory over California in Berkeley on Saturday.
With Kentucky leading by two, Cal tied the game 61-61 on a shot by CJ West with nine seconds to play. She missed a free throw that would have given the Bears the lead.
After UK Coach Matthew Mitchell called a timeout, Howard nailed a jumper at the elbow with three seconds left. California’s desperation three came up short at the buzzer and the Cats escaped to improve to 11-1 on the season.
Patterson, the top-rated point guard in the 2017 class according to ESPN.com, transferred from Texas in the middle of last season and sat out two semesters due to NCAA transfer rules. Against California (7-3) she subbed in with 5:51 to play in the first quarter and quickly made an impact.
She knocked down an NBA-range three-pointer to give UK a 9-4 lead. On back-to-back possessions in the second quarter she stole the ball and ran the floor for layups to put the Wildcats ahead 20-15.
When she was in the game, Patterson was clearly the floor general for the Cats, initiating the half-court offense. She helped navigate UK through a rough start by Howard, who missed her first four shots and ultimately went 1-for-9 from the field in the first half.
Patterson scored a team-high seven points before halftime. Cal ended the second quarter on a 6-0 run to tie the game 22-22 at the break.
Howard’s second three-pointer of the game gave UK a 32-26 advantage. After missing most of the third quarter with foul trouble, she returned at the beginning of the fourth and and converted an and-1 opportunity, then nailed a three-pointer to make it 50-41 Kentucky.
Howard finished with 29 points and on 10-for-24 shooting.
Next game
No. 14 Kentucky at South Carolina
7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2
