In a thrilling Saturday night showdown at Rupp Arena, the Kentucky women’s basketball team secured their second win of the season with an outstanding 82-54 victory over USC-Upstate. The Wildcats once again showcased their balanced scoring attack, with five players reaching double figures.
Leading the way for Kentucky was Ajae Petty, who dominated the court with 19 points and nine rebounds. Coming off the bench, Eniya Russell had an impactful performance, contributing 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds of her own. Maddie Scherr displayed her versatility with 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Brooklyn Miles added 10 points and four assists, while Zennia Thomas had a career-high 10 points, making a significant impact off the bench. Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy was pleased with her team’s execution and highlighted their achievement of several goals during the game.
The Wildcats took five charges, which impressed Elzy. She commented, “We had five people in double figures, which was huge. We won the boards, plus-11.” Elzy also praised Russell’s performance, emphasizing her contribution on both ends of the court. “Eniya had a great game. I thought she came in and gave us big minutes,” Elzy said proudly. “Proud of her for rebounding the basketball.”
Elzy also commended Thomas for her steady improvement, acknowledging her impact on the team during the early stages of the game. “I was really proud of ‘Z’,” Elzy stated. “She steadied us early, finishing and/or getting fouled. Really proud of her improvement.”
Despite their success, the Wildcats recognize the need to improve their three-point shooting. In the game against USC-Upstate, Kentucky struggled to convert from behind the arc, hitting just two of 18 attempts. Elzy believes her team has better shooters than what was demonstrated and plans to focus on this aspect of their game during practice. “We’re better shooters than we’re showing from the three-point line,” she asserted. “We need to get more game speed reps. We’ll go back and focus on that.”
Kentucky seized control of the game with a spectacular 17-0 run at the end of the first half, turning a nine-point lead into a commanding advantage. They maintained their lead throughout the second half, securing a comfortable victory and improving their season record to 2-0.
Looking ahead, the Wildcats will face Austin Peay on Tuesday night at Georgetown College. With the team’s balanced scoring attack and their determination to improve their three-point shooting, Kentucky aims to continue their winning streak and build on their early season success.
