Kentucky WBB looks to end 4-game skid with matchup against Alabama
For the second time this season, Kentucky Women’s Basketball is on a four-game losing streak.
The ‘Cats (9-11) will have a chance to get back on track against the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-10) on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST down in Tuscaloosa. Kentucky has had three days to rest after falling 59-50 to No. 1 South Carolina on Thursday. While Kentucky lost the contest against the Gamecocks, they showed promise.
Perhaps the most exciting sign for Kentucky was their improving health. For the first time since Jan. 16 against Tennessee, the ‘Cats had nine healthy players, including Robyn Benton who had missed five games due to an ankle injury.
Kentucky isn’t in the clear, yet. Rhyne Howard suffered a sprained thumb against the Gamecocks in the first quarter, but played through the injury. After the game, Assoc. Director of Athletics Communications and Public Relations Evan Crane assured the media Howard was OK.
“She has a thumb strain. She’s fine.”
Sunday’s contest will be a chance for the ‘Cats to remind fans what they’re capable of when healthy. Nonetheless, Alabama won’t make things easy.
Let’s talk about the Crimson Tide
With a 3-8 conference record, Alabama is ranked 11th in the SEC standings. Nonetheless, the Crimson Tide are heading into Sunday fresh off a win over Vanderbilt. For reference, UK fell to the Commodores 65-57 on Jan. 27.
Led by head coach Kristy Curry, the Crimson Tide is scoring 71 points per night while holding their opponents to 64.1 points per outing. The Tide aren’t known for their efficiency, converting on just 41.2% of their attempts from the field and 32.5% from beyond the arc.
Although Alabama’s team statistics don’t jump off the page, senior Brittany Davis’ figures surely do. The 5-foot-9 guard is averaging 16.2 points and seven rebounds per contest. Additionally, Davis has the second-most steals on the team.
Megan Abrams is Davis’ partner-in-crime. The senior guard contributes 12.4 points and 3.1 boards per game. Fellow guard JaMya Mingo-Young puts up similar numbers. The 5-foot-8 junior adds 11.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.
As vital as these players are, Kentucky has to keep its eye on Hannah Barber. Though the 5-foot-6 senior averages the fourth-most points on the team with 8.4 points per outing — she is dangerous. Barber is the team’s best 3-pointer shooting, connecting on 42% of her attempts from range. Moreover, Barber leads the Tide in assists.
Alabama has solid pieces but is yet to figure out how they fit together. The team has a .77 assist-to-turnover ratio. In addition, the Tide lacks height. Alabama has only one player taller than 6-foot who contributes more than 15 minutes per game.
The Tide has plenty of weaknesses. Kentucky must expose them.
Keys for Kentucky WBB
More specifically, Kentucky will need more than one player to expose Alabama’s weakness. Fans have no doubt Howard will capitalize on the opponent’s mistakes. However, the same can’t be said for the rest of the ‘Cats.
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In Kentucky’s loss on Thursday, Howard was the only player to score double figures, leading the team with 21 points. To make matters worse, this isn’t new. As the ‘Cats have dealt with injuries, they have become more dependent on Howard. With everybody healthy again, it’s time to break this hurtful habit.
Head coach Kyra Elzy thought the team took a step in the right direction against South Carolina.
“Dre’una (Edwards) made some plays, Olivia Owens made some plays, and that’s what we need. We have to take advantage of how they are guarding Rhyne and we’ve worked on it the last couple of days and will continue to do so.”
Before UK can pave new roads to success, they must get their old avenues of scoring up to speed. Before Dre’Una Edwards’ suspension, the redshirt junior was averaging 15.9 points per game. In the three games since she’s returned, Edwards has contributed 8.7 points per outing.
Benton’s situation might be even worse. Before suffering an injury ankle against Florida, Benton was contributing 11.3 points per contest. In her first game back on Thursday, Benton didn’t score a single point.
Howard understands this rust is part of the process. In reality, Howard is just happy to have her team back.
“It was better to have all nine players back. We get more subs going and we could be fresher. It was great just to have everybody back and just to be whole again,” Howard said during the press conference after losing to South Carolina. “We can start having some more fun with everybody being back.”
Looking toward the matchup
If Howard thought Thursday was fun, Sunday has plenty of potential. Alabama will be a nice change of pace for the ‘Cats, who have played two imposing opponents back-to-back. Nevertheless, as the ‘Cats sit at 13th place in the SEC standings, many teams are likely thinking the same about them.
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. EST in Coleman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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