Stacey Reed and other former UK players from the 1990's decade respond to fans at Rupp Arena Sunday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
This has not been a banner season for Kentucky women’s basketball but the Cats found the perfect way to celebrate the program’s 50th season with over 90 former players in attendance Sunday.
Coach Kyra Elzy’s team came from behind to win 81-77 against Florida, its 10th win in 26 games. It was a rare occurrence this season where Kentucky managed to win a close game.
“They are super excited, and they need to be. They earned this win. It is hard to win in this league and we talk about wanting to win and doing the things it takes to win today,” said Elzy about her team’s reaction to the comeback win.
“We did the things that it takes to win like rebound, block, make defensive plays, and layups, and we did those things today. We were in desperate need of a win, so we are going to celebrate all day and enjoy it.”
Elzy picked the word “prideful” to describe UK’s third SEC win of the season.
“We knew we had to come in and play with pride. Pride for the program, pride for the state, for yourself, and pride for the alumni, so pride,” Elzy said.
Senior guard Eniya Russell led UK with a career-high 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field and 7-for-10 at the foul line. It was her 13th double-figure scoring game this season. She also had five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.
Russell said she was proud of the team’s overall fight — UK had four players in double figures and Ajae Petty had another double-double. However, she said she was more proud of UK’s defense.
“It held today when we had to have it,” Russell said.
Elzy said exhilarating, exhausting and exciting described the win in Rupp Arena perfectly.
“It was a great game, I want to give Big Blue Nation a shoutout, the energy in the building was amazing,” Elzy said. “I want to say thank you to all the alumni. We had a lot of alumni in the building today, so so good to honor them. They have paved the way for us to have this opportunity.
“Now for a lot of them when I looked around I wanted to suit them up. I’m like there’s a lot of talented former Kentucky players that could help us get a rebound or a three but so good to have them here celebrating.”
One of the former players, Rhyne Howard, is now an assistant coach with Florida. Howard led UK to the 2022 SEC Tournament title and is one of the best players in program history.
“When I went down for pregame, I said ‘Now Rhy, you still have a COVID year. If you would like to use it I would allow that and you don’t even have to practice.’ I said ‘We’ll just take you on game day,’” Elzy said.
“But just to have all the former players to continue to show love to this program is big -– that’s what it’s about.”
Kentucky-Florida WBB
Photos by Vicky Graff
