Saniah Tyler's hustle, especially on defense, was big for Kentucky in the win over Alabama. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Georgia Amoore, as usual, was the star of the game for Kentucky as the point guard scored 16 points and dished out nine assists for No. 12 Kentucky in a 65-56 win over No. 22 Alabama Thursday night at Historic Memorial Coliseum to lead the Cats to their 500th win in the facility.
Sophomore center Clara Strack had 14 points and 14 rebounds from Clara Strack, her 10th double-double of the season.
But no one played a bigger role in the victory than 5-6 junior Saniah Tyler. Not only did she hit two 3-pointers and score eight points, but she played 23 minutes because of early foul trouble by starter Teonni Key.
Kentucky needed a spark and Tyler, a starter at UK last year who averaged 10 points per game, provided the relief Kentucky and coach Kenny Brooks needed.
“ST was really good. She played 15 straight minutes in the first half. Hit a 3, hit a layup and was hounding on the defensive end,” Brooks said. “Her whole season has not been exactly what she wanted but she has done a tremendous job to get in good graces and I am happy for her.”
Tyler was barely playing early in the season and when she did she looked out of sync. Brooks insisted even then her attitude was great and she was trying to adjust to a new coach and new teammates but having trouble learning the system. Brooks was sympathetic to her plight because he had to go through the same thing during his playing career.
“Her situation was difficult. I didn’t see them play last year. We play differently and every coach has their own system,” Brooks said. “Some things they did last year we don’t do. She is gritty, fast and wants to get out and deny (on defense). We do not want to do that.
“Little by little she is picking it up. She is where we want her to be.”
Brooks has a “stay ready group” of players that don’t start but he wants to be prepared to play if needed. Tyler is on that “stay ready group” and in a recent practice he put the ball in her hands for eight straight minutes to make her the focal point of the offense.
“She was making good plays,” Brooks said. “They (teammates) want her to be part of it. Her attitude has been spectacular the whole time. She never came in with a bad attitude. She never shied away from me even if I was grumpy and yelling at her. She would nestle up to me and say something funny.
“We need her and she is performing. I am very happy for her.”
In eight Southeastern Conference games, she has played 13 or more minutes in seven of them. In the last four games, she has averaged 20 minutes per game and hit six 3-point shots.
“ST is the most experienced SEC player out there (on Kentucky’s team). Her experience is valuable,” Brooks said. “Maybe they didn’t have as much team success as she wanted (last year) but she averaged 10 points per game in this league. This is her third year in college. I told her you need to be more of a vocal leader.”
So what might the light bulb finally come on for Tyler?
“If I knew, I would bottle it up and sell it and be rich,” Brooks said after the Alabama win.
Kentucky is now 18-2 overall with wins over three top 25 teams. The Cats are 7-1 in SEC play and tied for second place behind unbeaten South Carolina. However, five of UK’s final eight games are against ranked teams.
Maybe that’s why Brooks was happy with the way his team overcame a so-so start to grind out a win.
“Really great and gritty effort tonight. In the SEC you have to win that way,” he said.
He felt like Kentucky’s defense kicked in after the first quarter and enabled UK to take control of the game.
“It wasn’t always the prettiest, I thought we were a little off. Some of the balls we normally grab and secure, were tipping,” he said. “We had two big 3’s which really gave us some separation. Everyone stepped up and did something.
“Dazia Lawrence was a catalyst when she went on her stretch (of scoring in the second quarter). I think we took the lead and didn’t relinquish it. Clara Strack, bless her heart. I was yelling at her all night because she was tipping the basketball, then I looked up and she got 14 points. So, that’s pretty good.
“I thought Amelia (Hassett) was really good, Amelia’s defense was really good chasing people around.”
Kentucky-Alabama WBB
Photos by Vicky Graff
3 Responses
I agree. Saniah has made the most of her opportunity here later in the season, and I hope she will keep getting her chances as she makes the team better. She is a gritty defender.
she was terrific. need her to play that way with lack of depth
The Lady Cats are really fun to watch. The front doesn’t have a lot of meat on their bones, but they are long and feisty. Brooks will learn a lot about his team Sunday when they travel to Oklahoma. Go Lady Cats!