PREVIEW: Kentucky WBB tackles lone exhibition of preseason

On3 imageby:Grant Grubbs11/02/22

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The wait is over. Kentucky Women’s Basketball is back.

After 228 days of rest, the Wildcats will take the court Wednesday night against the Pikeville Bears at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum. The contest will be Kentucky’s lone exhibition before they begin their regular season.

The matchup will be an excellent opportunity to see what the new-look Wildcats are made of. While the Blue-White Game is fun, it’s not the same as taking on invading opponents. Let’s learn about the enemy.

Breaking down the Bears

The Bears are entering Lexington with an advantage: they’ve already played a game. Correction, they’ve already won a game. On Oct. 28, Pikeville kicked off its season with a 94-88 triumph over Olivet Nazarene University. Five Bears scored double figures in the shootout.

The impressive performance shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody familiar with the program. Entering his seventh year as head coach, Clifton Williams has history on his side. The veteran coach has the most NAIA National Tournament appearances in program history and experience at a top program.

Williams worked with Kentucky Men’s Basketball for three years, including the 2011-2012 championship season. Williams created analytical reports for the team to strengthen the scouting report and game plan. Now, he has his own talented players to run his game plans.

Pikeville returned its four leading scorers from last season. Mary Englert is leading this charge. The 5-foot-8 graduate student led the Bears in scoring last season with 14.5 points per game. Additionally, Englert led the team in assists and steals.

Following Englert’s lead, Morgan Stamper is a powerhouse in the paint for the Bears. The junior forward averaged a double-double last season while shooting 40% from beyond the arc. The tenacious rebounders snagged 15 boards in the team’s first game this season.

However, the star against Olivet Nazarene University was Sierra Feltner. The 5-foot-9 graduate student scored 24 points despite only averaging 10.7 points per outing last season. Bailey Frazier added 17 points and 11 rebounds to the team’s effort, as well.

As talented as the Bears are, they lack height. Pikeville only has one player taller than 6-foot and she’s a freshman. Kentucky should dominate the Bears on the boards. Nonetheless, the veteran squad will be a tough first test for the ‘Cats.

Keys for Kentucky WBB

As head coach Kyra Elzy enters her third season, expectations are high. The program won an SEC Championship last season and brought in fan-favorite players during the offseason. Remaining focused will be key for this team.

Thankfully, with veterans such as Blair Green and Robyn Benton behind the wheel, focus shouldn’t be an issue. Kentucky’s starting lineup is going to do its thing. Nonetheless, the bench remains a question mark.

At least two players off the pine need to step up for Kentucky in the exhibition. While the starters could potentially win this game alone, they won’t be able to pull off any heroic acts during the regular season, and they shouldn’t have to.

Players such as Eniya Russell and Ajae Petty need to assert their positions. If other freshmen put on a show, even better. No matter who is on the court, they must take care of the ball. The Blue and White teams combined for a nightmarish 43 turnovers in the Blue-White Game.

If Kentucky gives Pikeville the chance, they will pick their pockets all night long. The Bears caused 16 opponent turnovers in their first game and will be looking to replicate the performance against the ‘Cats.

In the end, Kentucky simply must use athleticism to its advantage. Starting point guard Maddie Scherr is taller than all but one player on the Pikeville roster. You do the math. As talented as the Bears may be, Kentucky needs to teach them the difference between an SEC school and a high-level NAIA squad.

See all the action at 7 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The game will not be broadcast on television, however, tune into the UK Sports Network on 630 WLAP to hear Darren Headrick on the call. Admission to the exhibition is free.

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2024-03-28