PREVIEW: Kentucky WBB looks to start win streak against Vanderbilt
After breaking a four-game losing streak on Tuesday night, Kentucky Women’s Basketball is hungry for more.
Tonight, the Wildcats (9-7) will take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (10-10) at 8 p.m. EST on the SEC Network+. This contest is Kentucky’s fourth game in just seven days. Moreover, this is Kentucky’s second game in a three-game road stretch.
To pile on, the ‘Cats are still facing roster issues. Kentucky’s leading rebounder Dre’Una Edwards hasn’t played due to disciplinary matters since Jan. 16 against Tennessee. UK senior Robyn Benton hasn’t taken the court since Jan. 23, when she suffered an ankle injury.
Head coach Kyra Elzy’s most recent update on the situation didn’t provide much clarity.
“Robyn is still day-to-day, and Dre, we’re still dealing with internal issues, and we’ll handle that accordingly.”
Nonetheless, the show must go on. Let’s look at the team standing in Kentucky’s way of starting a win streak.
Learning about the Commodores
Like UK, Vanderbilt hasn’t had an ideal start to conference play. After winning their first SEC game against Arkansas, the Commodores have lost five straight.
However, their most stunning loss was their last. On Monday night, South Carolina mopped the floor with Vanderbilt, defeating them 85-30. Kentucky will be Vanderbilt’s chance to redeem themselves.
Led by first-year head coach Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt scores 62.1 points per game while giving up 60.2. Additionally, the Commodores are shooting 39.4% from the field and 32.5% from beyond the arc.
Vanderbilt forward Brinae Alexander leads the charge for the Commodores. The 5-foot-10 forward averages 14.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season. Moreover, Brinae makes 35.2% of her 3-point attempts.
Brinae isn’t the only sharpshooting Commodore. Iyana Moore leads the team in 3-point percentage, hitting 38.8% of her attempts from deep. Further, Moore is the only other player who averages double-digit scoring, contributing 11.7 points per contest.
As talented as these two Commodores are, senior guard Jordyn Cambridge is Vanderbilt’s glue. The 5-foot-9 guard averages 8.9 points while leading the team in rebounds and assists.
Although Cambridge knows how to distribute, the same can’t be said for the rest of Vanderbilt. The team has a .73 assist-to-turnover ratio and chokes away 17 possessions a night. If Kentucky’s defense can capitalize on Vanderbilt’s poor passing, they should leave Nashville victorious.
Keys for Kentucky WBB
Unfortunately, the ‘Cats haven’t turned teams over recently like they did earlier this season. With only seven healthy players, Kentucky’s been forced to play with a slower tempo to avoid fatigue.
However, when playing a mistake-prone team like the Commodores, fatigue is an afterthought. Rhyne Howard, for one, isn’t worried about getting tired.
“We are in really good shape. It’s just about playing smarter, not harder,” Howard said.
Kentucky’s short-staffed roster has had led to some positives. Specifically, the team’s lack of stars has forced new players to step up and contribute. Jazmine Massengill and Emma King have made enormous leaps under the team’s harsh circumstances.
Massengill has scored double figures in three of Kentucky’s past four games, despite only averaging 6.2 points as a Wildcat. King’s case might be even more impressive.
In the last two games, the 6-foot guard went from barely touching the court for Kentucky to being a key player. Against Ole Miss, King recorded five points and was a major defensive asset. Following up the performance, King scored a career-high 10 points in UK’s win over Auburn.
Head coach Kyra Elzy was ecstatic about the players’ progress after the team’s win on Tuesday night.
“I’m so proud of Emma,” Elzy said during the postgame press conference. “She is the epitome of what I want a Kentucky Wildcat to be.“
Elzy also praised Massengill’s improvement.
“We’ve talked all year that we needed [Massengill] to step up offensively, so we weren’t playing five on four,” Elzy said. “Tonight was one of the biggest 3’s she’s hit in her career, and we needed it.”
Kentucky needs to carry their hot hands into tonight’s contest. In the fourth quarter against Auburn, the Wildcats went 4-6 from beyond the arc. The shooting clinic is a stark contrast to Kentucky’s recent offensive outings.
After a string of cold nights, Kentucky’s 3-point percentage is down to 31% on the season. Nevertheless, Howard believes the team’s final period against Auburn created a new mentality moving forward.
“We’re back to having a little fun with the game,” Howard said.
Looking toward the matchup
For the BBN’s sake, let’s hope Kentucky Women’s Basketball has fun again against Vanderbilt. History is certainly on the Wildcats’ side; Kentucky has won 14 of the two teams’ last 18 matchups. However, the ‘Cats haven’t squeaked out a victory at Vanderbilt since 2016.
If Kentucky can execute their game plan, they’ll break that losing streak tonight. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.
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