Robyn Benton's journey to becoming a pivotal piece for Kentucky WBB
Kentucky Women Basketball’s shocking SEC Tournament semifinals victory had Robyn Benton dancing, singing and hungry for more.
On Saturday night, Kentucky upset No. 18 Tennessee in a thrilling 83-74 triumph. In the win, Benton exploded for 16 points while shooting 6-14 from the field and 4-7 from deep. The senior’s four 3-pointers are a career-high at Kentucky.
After the contest, Benton delivered the soundbite of the century.
“Yeah, when I hit that fourth three, I was like, ‘ooh, child, things are gonna get easier,‘” Benton sang.
Robyn Benton’s comeback story
Benton’s joy is well-deserved. The 5-foot-9 guard has had a long road to success. After averaging 11.3 points per game through the first 12 games of the season, Benton suffered an ankle injury in Kentucky’s loss to Florida on Jan. 20.
What was seemingly a mild sprain, quickly became a serious issue. Benton didn’t touch the court for three weeks. In that period, Kentucky struggled greatly, going 1-5 conference play.
Upon Benton’s return, Kentucky’s luck changed drastically. In Benton’s first game back, the team lost to No. 1 South Carolina by nine points. Since the defeat, Kentucky hasn’t lost a single game.
Nevertheless, Benton’s individual success didn’t necessarily correlate with her team’s. Benton, who had once regularly scored double figures for Kentucky, couldn’t find her rhythm. The Conyers, GA native only recorded double-digit points in one regular season contest following her injury.
‘Showtime’ shows up in SEC Tournament
Then, the SEC Tournament happened. Benton has scored double figures in all three of Kentucky’s conference tournament contests. Additionally, the guard has rediscovered her touch, going 5-9 from beyond the arc in the tournament.
No longer in the starting lineup, Benton has been the fuel to Kentucky’s fire over the past three games. Moreover, Benton takes pride in the fact.
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“Coming off the bench, I just know I’ve got to be a spark for my team. We all know what this means. We know what we’re playing for. We’re playing to win,” Benton said after Kentucky’s win over Tennessee.
Benton’s impact cannot be understated. In the tournament, Benton has a plus/minus of +22, one of the highest on the team. The sharpshooter has undoubtedly been having fun in her role. From 3-point celebrations to doing the “Griddy” after wins, Benton is soaking in the moment.
Head coach Kyra Elzy discussed her special sparkplug after the team’s win on Friday.
“I call her Showtime,” Elzy said. “She brings us another guard with athleticism that not only can score but what she can bring on the defensive end, the energy.”
Benton will have her biggest opportunity of the season tomorrow. In Kentucky’s two losses to South Carolina this season, Benton averaged a mere 5.5 points per game. What’s a better time to change this narrative than the SEC championship?
Benton, for one, isn’t afraid of the moment.
“We’re just stepping up to the challenge and taking it head-on,” Benton said.
Tomorrow, Benton and the Kentucky Wildcats will take on No. 1 South Carolina at 2 p.m. in the SEC Tournament championship. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
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