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Kentucky WBB needs more minutes from several key pieces

Grant Grubbsby:Grant Grubbs12/24/22

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Photo by Eddie Justice | UK Athletics

Kentucky Women’s Basketball finally found time to win again, but they’re still not maximizing their minutes.

On Wednesday, the Wildcats broke a three-game losing streak with a victory over Ohio University. Nonetheless, Kentucky failed to maximize its minutes. This issue isn’t new.

Amiya Jenkins is missing in action

The ‘Cats figured out a lot of problems in 40 minutes against Ohio, but they’re yet to solve the team’s rotations. Once again, freshman Amiya Jenkins didn’t touch the court on Wednesday, her third-straight game being restricted to the bench.

Jenkins has been Kentucky’s top rookie this season, averaging 5.6 points per game while only playing nine minutes a contest. When KSR asked Elzy why Jenkins didn’t play against Murray State, Elzy was short.

“It was a coaching decision,” Elzy said on Dec. 16.

Ajae Petty can’t squeeze into the starting lineup

Jenkins isn’t the only one who deserves more minutes. LSU transfer Ajae Petty has more points this season than fellow big Nyah Leveretter and Adebola Adeyeye combined. Moreover, Petty leads the team on the glass.

Nonetheless, the 6-foot-3 powerhouse is yet to start a game. Worse, she hasn’t received a boost in minutes for her efforts. Through 12 games, Petty is averaging 16 minutes, Adeyeye 15 minutes and Leveretter 17 minutes per game. This fact hasn’t slipped Elzy’s mind. On Wednesday, the third-year head coach discussed Petty’s situation.

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“Could I start her? Yes. But that’s maybe not the best for this team right now. But, I told her it doesn’t matter who starts the game. It matters who finished the game and as long as you come in and produce and star in your role, you’ll be good to go,” Elzy said.

Eniya Russell takes matters into her own hands

South Carolina transfer Eniya Russell finally got her chance to finish a game, and she didn’t disappoint. Russell dropped a season-high 14 points in only 15 minutes. The 6-foot-1 guard shot 4-7 from the field and 2-3 from beyond the arc in the win over Ohio.

Russell’s teammates were just as thrilled for the guard as Elzy.

“After the game, I told Eniya ‘This was your best performance and we need this from you night in and night out,” Kentucky graduate student Robyn Benton said on Wednesday. “I know your minutes are a little shaky but you just have to stay confident because you never know what happens — some people could get hurt or get tired, but you just have to be ready to go.'”

Hopefully, none of these players face shaky minutes for the rest of the season. Elzy and Co. will undoubtedly have a lot of time to consider their rotations. The ‘Cats don’t play again until Dec. 29 when they face off against Missouri at 9 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

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2024-11-05