‘Find a way.’ Kentucky gets big win it needs. See where Cats stand now in SEC race.
After a heartbreaking home loss to Florida last Sunday in which it squandered a 10-point halftime lead, the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team was in a precarious position in terms of the Southeastern Conference race.
The loss dropped the Wildcats into a three-way tie for fourth place in the standings. A second straight setback could have proven devastating to their hopes of earning a top-four seed and the double-bye that comes with it in the league tournament. But thanks to a huge bounce-back effort led by Sabrina Haines, UK is now in strong position to clinch one of those coveted spots.
With sophomore star Rhyne Howard out for a third straight game, Haines scored a team-high 14 points and came up with a clutch play late as the 15th-ranked Wildcats knocked off Alabama, 66-62, in Memorial Coliseum on Thursday. UK is now 2-1 without Howard.
With less than two minutes to play and Kentucky leading by five, Haines swiped a steal and made a fast-break layup to make it 61-54 Wildcats.
“That was a huge play for her. You know, a lot of her big moments have been some three-pointers,” said UK Coach Matthew Mitchell. “But that was a huge defensive play at a crucial point in the game … It was definitely in the balance and any kind of little edge you can get coming down the stretch is important and that was a great, great play.”
Mitchell emphasized how crucial it was for the Wildcats to get back on track against the Crimson Tide after the Florida loss.
“With your back against the wall after a really lackluster performance Sunday, it’s so easy for doubt to creep in on you,” he said. “I think it’s an amazing effort for us to bounce back from that terrible disappointment and find a way.”
The Wildcats entered the game tied in the SEC standings with Texas A&M, Arkansas and LSU. They’re now tied with Tennessee for third place after the Volunteers lost to Mississippi State and the 25th-ranked Razorbacks lost to No. 1 South Carolina on Thursday.
The Aggies and Tigers were off on Thursday. With just six games remaining in the regular season, the Cats have a big opportunity to gain some separation on Sunday when they travel to Arkansas.
“They’re a very explosive team. They just can put up points and put a team out there that can score at all five positions,” Mitchell said of the Razorbacks. “It’ll be a big challenge.”
There’s a huge disparity between the two halves of the SEC. The bottom seven teams in the standings all have sub-.500 records. Kentucky plays three of those teams in its final six games: Mississippi, Georgia, and Vanderbilt.
Haines stepped up big all night against Alabama. She hit a three from the corner at the third-quarter buzzer, then rattled home another trey for UK’s first bucket of the fourth. She went 4-for-7 from the perimeter and added six rebounds and four assists.
Haines got help from several teammates. Chasity Patterson had 11 points and four assists off the bench. The Wildcats missed 10 straight shots in the first quarter before Patterson entered and hit a pull-up jumper on a fast break to give them their first lead at 6-5. Haines hit back-to-back three-pointers down the stretch as UK built a 14-10 lead heading into the second quarter.
Kentucky (18-4 overall, 7-3 SEC) led 31-27 at halftime, despite shooting just 35 percent from the field while Alabama (13-10, 3-7) shot 55 percent.
KeKe McKinney spearheaded a big effort from UK’s defense in the second half. She had five blocks, one of which came under the basket in the closing moments as the Crimson Tide threatened to close within one possession. McKinney chipped in nine points on 4-for-8 shooting and had six rebounds. Kentucky forced 17 turnovers and turned them into 21 points, while Alabama scored just two points off six Wildcats miscues.
After taking a shot to the nose that sent her to the floor for a moment, Jaida Roper made a three-pointer from the corner to put the Cats up 57-49 with less than four minutes to play. She hit a pair of free throws to put the Wildcats up 66-62 with 21 seconds to go.
Roper finished with 10 points, four rebounds and five assists. Ogechi Anyagaligbo started for the third time this year and had one of her best games of the season, pitching in seven points, six rebounds and two steals.
Imminent return of Rhyne?
Rhyne Howard appears on pace to meet or exceed the mid-February timetable predicted for her return from a fractured finger. On Thursday her elbow-length cast had been replaced by a splint and medical tape. She loosely participated in pregame warm-ups with the team, knocking down several three-pointers.
“We’re on track, we think, for the mid-February return,” Mitchell said. “Very positive update, and no setbacks … I can tell you this, she wanted to play tonight. She’s motivated to get back.”
Next game
No. 15 Kentucky at No. 25 Arkansas
4 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2)
This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 8:36 AM.
