UK Hoops Live Diary: Cats Take on the Norse & Roush Sisters

After a long break away from home, the 13th ranked Kentucky women’s basketball team is back inside the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum as they take on the Northern Kentucky Norse at 7 tonight on SEC Network +. The Norse are not only one of Kentucky’s in-state rivals, but they also feature a KSR connection. We all know and love our football writer for KSR, Nick Roush, and his twin sisters Christine and Courtney play basketball for the Norse. It’ll be a family affair at home tonight but sorry Roush, gotta cheer for the Cats in this one.

Kentucky is 6-1 on the year coming off of a tough three day Thanksgiving tournament in the Virgin Islands. The Cats came back to win the Paradise Jam “Reef Division” after losing to Illinois 77-71 in the first game. UK defeated Oklahoma in overtime and South Florida by four after their first loss of the season, and Coach Mitchell was pleased about the grit and determination of his squad against probable NCAA-Tournament caliber schools.

#13 Kentucky Wildcats vs. Northern Kentucky Norse

FINAL: KENTUCKY 82 NORTHERN KENTUCKY 64 It definitely wasn’t pretty for most of the game but the Wildcats were able to defeat the Norse tonight at home. After a rough opening two minutes that featured a bevy of injuries, Kentucky never seemed to get their rhythm on either end of the court. KGR had a career night with 19 points and senior Bria Goss had her best game of the season, scoring 16. Roush’s little sister Christine had a team high 13 points for NKU. The 7-1 Cats will head to Louisville on Sunday afternoon for a top 15 rivalry game in the Yum! Bucket and Hayley and I will be live in enemy territory. Wish us luck…

2nd Half 7:57: Wilder- After a monster tournament in the Virgin Islands Makayla Epps is now into double-figures tonight with 10 points, so that’s a good habit to get in for her. Roush’s sister Christine has 11 points for the Norse to lead her team, and NKU continues to compete with the Cats on every possession, something that should make their coach happy. KGR just scored a layup and a foul to extend her career-high to 19 points. Cats running away, up 70-52. 

2nd Half 11:18: Hayley-Trying not to cheer for Roush’s sister when she scores is actually kinda hard.  I mean, I’m not like full blown “rah rah” cheering, but I do get a little happy for her.  Love to see the fam’s fam doing well.  Kentucky’s play remains somewhat sloppy, but it has gotten clean enough for them to pull away.  This game is packed with things that are really confusing to me.  Jennifer O’Neill has only shot the ball THREE times.  Linnae Harper and Makayla Epps are the kind of players that genuinely make me happy for the future of this team.  Whenever we are lulling or need a little boost, they come out and make something happen.  Good looks.  UK 63- NKU 44.

2nd Half 15:23: Wilder- The Norse just won’t go away. NKU has cut the lead to five numerous times tonight but Kentucky has gone on an 8-0 run over the past 91 seconds to extend their lead to 14. KGR leads the way with 16 and Bria Goss is close behind with 12. The Cats have forced 20 turnovers tonight, getting back to their defensive ways after only forcing seven in their last game against South Florida. Cats lead 53-39.

HALFTIME: KENTUCKY 45 NORTHERN KENTUCKY 34 Wilder: Very sloppy, ugly and sometimes dangerous first half for Kentucky. Kyvin Goodin-Rogers was just about the only positive offensively for the Cats, scoring a career high 16. Kentucky’s defense was porous and lazy, fouling the Norse and allowing them easy, open looks for shots. Mitchell can’t be pleased with his team’s effort tonight, especially considering UK heads to 7th ranked Louisville on Sunday. Let’s hope for a more polished second half…

1st Half 7:43: Hayley- You know that game Mitchell was hoping his team would play?  We’re still looking for it.  The team looks sluggish, and honestly uninterested.  Their heads and hearts are in another place, for now at least. Mitchell is cross armed and scow faced, and has been since the opening tip.  During the time out that just occurred, Coach Mitchell seemed to share some of his displeasures with the team in a rather boisterous way.  Luckily for Kentucky, the NKU Norse are playing equally as sloppy.  NKU is leading the turnovers 11-9, and the Hoops are up 23-12 where it matters.

1st Half 11:58: Wilder- It’s official both Thompson and O’Neill are back on the court, so for now Kentucky has avoided some devastating/scary injuries. While the health-related chaos took the center stage early on, sophomore Kyvin Goodin-Rogers stole the show on the court, scoring 13 of Kentucky’s first 19 points for a new career high not even halfway into the first 20 minutes. It seems like Kentucky can now settle down and play the game Mitchell was hoping for them to play. Cats lead 19-10.

1st Half 15:20 Wilder: Well, sort of a nightmare start for Kentucky so far. Star point guard Jennifer O’Neill was going up for a rebound within the first 20 seconds of the game and came down hard on her hip. She was on the floor for a while, crying, before Coach Mitchell and the trainer helped her off and she was able to walk on her own. Just a minute and a half later, Janee Thompson went down in the backcourt, clutching her ankle/lower leg before being helped off the court. Two scary moments, and we’re not sure how they’re going to play out as the game goes on, but hopefully O’Neill and Thompson are both okay. On the court, Kentucky seems flustered and not focused (understandably) but they have to find a way to fight off these feisty Norse. Cats lead 13-8.
UPDATE: Jennifer O’Neill has checked back into the game. Thank G.

@WilderTreadKSR & @KSR_allHayl