By Kindsey Bernhard
NKyTribune intern
UK Hoops is riding a four-game Southeastern Conference winning streak after defeating the Florida Gators 57-48 in UK’s annual Play4Kay Pink Game on Sunday afternoon in Memorial Coliseum.
The Play4Kay Pink Game honors North Carolina Sate head coach Kay Yow, who battled and lost her life to breast cancer. During the final stages of her battle with cancer, Coach Kay Yow “had a vision to unite a nation of coaches, players and the women’s basketball community to do something for the greater good that far exceeds wins and losses on the court,” according to ukathletics.com.
Evelyn Akhator takes on three defenders in UK Hoops’ win over Florida on Sunday at Memorial Coliseum. (Photo by Britney Howard/UK Athletics )
The Play4Kay Pink Game raises money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a charitable organization committed to finding a cure for women’s cancer by raising funds for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.
With the win Sunday, UK moved to 18-8 on the season and 10-4 in conference play. UK Hoops ranks third in Southeastern Conference standings behind No. 3 ranked Mississippi State and No. 6 ranked South Carolina.
UK needs to stay in the top four spots in order to secure a first-round bye in the SEC tournament March 1-5 in Greenville, S. C.
Against Florida, UK never trailed and was tied only for 2:13 minutes at the beginning of the first quarter. Florida kept it within four points at the half, but an 8-0 run to start the third pushed UK’s lead to double digits. Florida never was able to climb back within single digits.
At halftime, UK talked about creating more movement on offense and getting the ball into Evelyn Akhator, and that tactic sparked the run in the third quarter.
“Usually when we get the ball to Evelyn we start clicking a lot better,” Maci Morris said of Akhator’s ability to score or kick the ball back out to the guards for an open shot.
Florida head coach Amanda Butler said her team turned the ball over too much in the third quarter, which allowed UK to take over the game. UK Hoops’ defense disrupted Florida all afternoon causing Florida to turn the ball over 23 times, resulting in 24 points for Kentucky.
“You’ve got to give Kentucky credit, obviously, for getting those steals, for causing those turnovers and converting those points,” Butler said.
“We turned some of their turnovers into some fast break points, which then got the momentum turned,” UK coach Matthew Mitchell said. “I just thought we got more active on defense.”
“I think our ability to benefit from some turnovers may have been a little deflating to Florida and slowed them down just a little bit,” Mitchell said of his team’s 10 points off turnovers in the third quarter.
Not only did UK make the most of Florida’s turnovers, but Kentucky also made the most of second chance opportunities. UK Hoops outscored Florida 25-5 in second chance points despite outrebounding Florida only 30-28.
In their second-to-last game in Memorial Coliseum, seniors Makayla Epps and Akhator led the way for UK. Akhator led the team with 15 points and three rebounds. Epps finished with 14 points and three assists.
Taylor Murray scored only four points but recorded 11 of 18 UK’s assists. The point guard finished with one turnover in her 24 minutes of play.
UK will play its last regular season game in Memorial Coliseum on at 7 p.m. Thursday against No. 3 Mississippi State. It will be Senior Night for Akhator, Epps and Jessica Hardin. Mississippi State is 26-1 on the season and 12-1 in SEC play. Its only loss was against No. 6 South Carolina.
Kindsey Bernhard is a journalism senior at the University of Kentucky. She is from Ft. Wright and played high school basketball at Notre Dame Academy.
