FINAL: Kentucky WBB narrowly escapes ETSU 74-66 in season opener

One thing about Transylvania’s Clive M. Beck Center? It gets LOUD. And specifically, the Big Blue Nation gets loud for the Wildcats.

After a slow start, Kentucky women’s basketball finally found the momentum they needed to start their 50th anniversary season with a 1-0 record. It was also head coach Kyra Elzy’s 50th career win. At the end of the third quarter, the game was even tied 50-50, but Kentucky won the fourth frame by eight to come out on top, winning 74-66 behind an energetic BBN fanbase.

Senior center Ajae Petty marked her first official double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds while junior point guard Brooklynn Miles added 10 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Sophomores Saniah Tyler and Amiya Jenkins had a night of their own, as well. The backcourt duo had an outstanding season debut: Tyler scored 14 points, with nine of those in a crucial point of the second half. Jenkins added 12 points and a rebound. As a team, the ‘Cats only committed seven turnovers, five under Elzy’s goal of 12.

The Lady ‘Cats leave Transy with a W. It was a game of highs and lows, but Kyra Elzy and her team are 1-0.

UK 74 | ETSU 66 | Final

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) November 8, 2023

ETSU’s Kendall Folley led her team in scoring with 22 points, going 9-14 from the field. The guard added five rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers to her total. ETSU played an overall solid game on both ends of the court. The Buccaneers grabbed 37 rebounds and only recorded 11 turnovers as a team. ETSU had two players foul out: Breanne Beatty and Journee McDaniel. Beatty collected four points and two rebounds, while McDaniel went scoreless with four rebounds and a steal.

Kentucky came out in the first quarter aggressively, their zone defense holding ETSU to 6-18 shooting. ETSU’s Courtney Moore led her team with six points in the first quarter and finished the game with 17. Moore added two rebounds and two assists.

In the second quarter, ETSU outscored the ‘Cats 14-7. Guard Jaileyah Cotton led ETSU with seven. It wasn’t until seven minutes into the period that Brooklynn Miles scored the first points for the ‘Cats after a quick drive to the basket. However, ETSU didn’t score for the rest of the quarter. UK still trailed 30-28 at the break.

During the third, it seemed like the Wildcats were starting to run out of gas. All of that turned around after a layup by Saniah Tyler with 3:44 to go. “Go Big Blue” chants echoed through the gymnasium as ETSU ran the ball down the court hoping for a shot to end the quarter. An ETSU turnover concluded the third. Amiya Jenkins led the scoring with seven points, including a last-minute and-one that tied the game at 50-50.

In the fourth quarter, senior guard Maddie Scherr finally found her groove. Despite going 3-10 on the night, Scherr drained a jumper to take the lead from ETSU once and for all. That doesn’t mean that the Wildcats didn’t have to work for their win, though. The Buccaneers played aggressively on offense and defense, driving to the basket every chance they got. Scherr fouled out with 48 seconds to go in the game but still finished with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and only one turnover on the night.

Regardless of how it happened, a win is a win. Up next, the ‘Cats take on USC Upstate this Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:00 p.m. EST in Rupp Arena.