Freshman Cassidy Rowe is the “epitome” of what coach Kyra Elzy wants every UK player to be. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Freshman guard Cassidy Rowe of Shelby Valley mainly has had to sit and watch the Kentucky women’s basketball team struggle through a disappointing season but it impacted her attitude.
She had played just seven minutes total in Southeastern Conference play before getting in for seven minutes in a recent loss to Georgia. She played four more minutes against Vanderbilt Sunday and hit a shot.
“Cassidy Rowe is the epitome of what I want every Wildcat to be. She’s a coach’s kid. She has a high basketball IQ, and she works and works and works,” UK coach Kyra Elzy said after the Georgia game. “She was in the gym last night at 10 o’clock. And when her number’s called, I know she’s going to give me everything she has.
“It’s tough as a freshman when you’re sitting behind vets, but the thing about Cassidy, she embraces it. She understands she is not ready, where those other guards are. So, she’s taking this opportunity to learn but when I call her number, I know exactly what I’m going to get.”
Elzy also likes what she is seeing from Kennedy Cambridge and Amiya Jenkins, two freshmen playing more than Rowe.
“When you think about the future of this program, our rookies are really talented. They just don’t have any experience, so it was good they got baptized by fire,” Elzy said after the Georgia game. “Cassidy Rowe, seven minutes, no turnovers with that team – that’s progression.
“Kennedy Cambridge is in the rotation and what she does will not always show up on the stat sheet but she knows how to make winning plays. I thought Mimi (Amiya) Jenkins came in and did some good things. The future’s bright with that group.”
Jenkins, the former Anderson County star who was Kentucky’s 2022 Miss Basketball, liked having all three freshmen on the court against Georgia.
“It was pretty great because we all want the same end goals, and for all of us to fight together for the same end goal felt good,” Jenkins, who had seven points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes in the 79-57 loss at Vanderbilt, said.
Kentucky is 10-16 overall and 2-11 in SEC play going into Thursday’s game at Texas A&M.
