2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball
team represented the University of Kentucky
in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season
. The Wildcats, coached by Matthew Mitchell
, are a member of the Southeastern Conference
, and play their home games on campus at Memorial Coliseum—unlike UK's famous men's program
, which plays off-campus at Rupp Arena
in downtown Lexington
.
The Wildcats had arguably the most successful season in the program's history, setting school records for most wins, most home wins, most conference wins, most consecutive conference wins, best start to a season, and highest finish in conference play. The season culminated in a deep run in the NCAA Tournament
that saw them appear in their first regional final since the inaugural NCAA Tournament
in 1982, when the then-Lady Kats lost in the Midwest Regional final to Louisiana Tech
. This Wildcats team lost 88–68 to Oklahoma
in the final of the Kansas City
Regional.
in the WNIT
. However, the team returned very little in the way of height—none of the returning players were taller than 6'1" (1.85 m).
The team received no respect from regional or national media prior to the 2009–10 season. The Cats were picked 11th of 12 teams in the conference by the media, and none of their players was named to either the first or second team on the media's preseason All-SEC team. The league's coaches gave no more respect to the team, also picking them 11th in the conference, but did name junior forward Victoria Dunlap to their preseason All-SEC second team.
The Wildcats were displeased at their preseason ranking; during the SEC's preseason media day, Dunlap told the assembled journalists,
!colspan=9| Exhibition
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!colspan=9| Non-Conference Regular Season
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!colspan=9| SEC Regular Season
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!colspan=9| 2010 SEC Tournament
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!colspan=9| 2010 NCAA Tournament
All attendance figures are from official box scores available at the official UK women's basketball site.
on December 20 in which they forced a then school-record 38 turnovers. They reached 11–0 before their first loss at Middle Tennessee
.
In SEC play, the Cats had never won more than four conference games in a row, with the last time being in 2005–06. They broke that record with a win at Mississippi State
in which they also surpassed their SEC win total from 2008–09. The Wildcats eventually stretched their record conference winning streak to eight.
With a win over South Carolina on February 21, 2010, the Wildcats completed an undefeated home season, the second in school history, and also set a school record for SEC wins in a season. However, they entered the SEC Tournament on a down note, as they lost their final two regular-season games, both on the road.
The Wildcats' success has been heavily fueled by defense. Including their three SEC Tournament games, they have forced double-digit turnovers in every one of their 32 games, and have forced 20 or more in 24 of these games. As of the SEC final game, they were 4th nationally in turnover margin, averaging 7.59 more than their opposition. They were also in the top 25 nationally in scoring (73.9 per game), scoring margin (15.8), and steals (11.4).
.
They began their SEC tournament on March 5 with a rematch of their regular-season finale against Auburn
, who had beaten the Wildcats in Auburn five days earlier. The Cats' two leading scorers on the season, Victoria Dunlap and A'dia Mathies, respectively scored 24 and 15 points, and the team forced the Tigers into 20 turnovers as they won 65–54.
Next up for the Cats were third seed Mississippi State
, whom they had beaten in their only previous meeting this season, also on the road
. This time out, Kentucky started poorly, shooting less than 30% from the field in the first half and ending the first half down by 11. The deficit went up to 14 early in the second half before Mathies and fellow guard Amber Smith exploded, respectively scoring 18 and 11 in the half as the Cats shot 51.5% from the floor. The Lady Bulldogs were slowed in the second half by turnovers and foul trouble; all of their starters ended the game with four fouls. The Cats won 76–65, with Mathies leading the scoring with 25 points and Dunlap adding 22 to go with 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 5 steals. The result sent the Wildcats to the SEC title game for only the second time in the program's history, with the only other appearance coming in 1982. It also gave the Cats 25 wins on the season, tying the UK record set by their 1980–81 team.
The Wildcats then played their expected opponent, top seed and #4-ranked Tennessee, on March 7. The teams had a recent history, as the Lady Vols had clinched the SEC regular-season title on February 25 with an 81–65 home win over the Cats. This encounter, in front of a nominally neutral though mostly partisan Tennessee crowd, proved considerably closer. The Wildcats remained in contention for most of the game, even opening up a four-point lead early in the second half and tied at 50 with 10 minutes remaining. However, the Lady Vols then went on an 11–3 run and never looked back, winning 70–62. This was Tennessee's first sweep of the SEC regular-season and tournament titles since 2000.
, their seventh appearance in that tournament. This marked Kentucky's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006, and the Cats' highest seed since 1983.
The Wildcats' first-round game was against #13 seed Liberty
at Freedom Hall
in Louisville, Kentucky
. The Lady Flames, making their 13th NCAA tournament appearance in the last 14 seasons, started strongly, scoring the first six points and taking a quick 8-point lead. The Cats then went on a 17–0 run to take back the lead, only to see the Lady Flames go on an 11–0 run of their own and take a 35–33 halftime lead. The second half was nearly as close, but Kentucky took the lead for good with 12 minutes left, and in the final 10 minutes Liberty could get no closer than the Wildcats' final 83–77 margin.
Kentucky was outrebounded 38–26 and outscored 54–30 in the paint. They made up for this with defense, forcing 22 turnovers, and free throws, outscoring the Lady Flames by 11 from the stripe. A'dia Mathies led the Cats with a career-high 32 points, which was also a record for a Kentucky player in NCAA tournament play. Victoria Dunlap and Keyla Snowden had 15 points each, with all of Snowden's scoring coming in the second half. The Cats' win was their 26th of the season, setting a new record for the program.
Next up for Kentucky in Freedom Hall was #5 seed Michigan State
, in what was touted as a clash of styles between the undersized Cats and the bigger, though slightly slower, Spartans. The size mismatch was most obvious inside, where the 6'1" (1.85 m) Dunlap was matched against the 6'9" (2.06 m) Allyssa DeHaan
. Dunlap was suffering from an upset stomach and was given an IV before the game, and also suffered a minor ankle injury in the first half. However, she apparently felt little effect, as she shot 9 for 13 from the field and led the Cats with 21 points and 8 rebounds.
The first half was largely a back-and-forth affair, with Kentucky taking a 35–31 halftime lead after holding Michigan State without a field goal for the last 6½ minutes. The Wildcats then went on a 24–6 run in the second half to take command of the game, ultimately winning 70–52. The Kentucky defense forced 18 turnovers and held the Spartans to under 35% shooting from the field, and also held the Spartans to their lowest point total in NCAA tournament play. The win sent Kentucky into the regional semifinals for the first time since 1982.
The victory earned the Cats a trip to Kansas City
and a date with top seed Nebraska
, another team having its best season ever. The Cornhuskers' only loss going into the game was in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament
to Texas A&M
, and they would have a partisan crowd on their side, as Kansas City is about a 3-hour drive from the school's campus
.
This time, it was the Wildcats who took control of the game almost from the start, going on an early 12–4 run and stretching their lead to double digits late in the first half. They went into the locker room with a 43–34 lead, and then started the second half on an 11–1 run to take control of the game. While the Huskers made a late comeback while three Kentucky guards had four fouls, the Cats held on for a 76–67 upset win. Mathies led the Cats with 21 points, with Dunlap adding 18 plus 7 rebounds and Snowden scoring 13. While both teams had 16 turnovers, most of Kentucky's came late in the game. The Cats also outrebounded the bigger Huskers 36–25. The result sent Kentucky into its first regional final since 1982.
The regional final against Oklahoma
opened as a repeat of the Nebraska game, with the Cats opening up a double-digit lead before the Sooners scored a basket and extending their lead to 17–4. However, Oklahoma quickly came back, taking its first lead with 7:41 left in the first half and going into halftime up 43–39. The second half belonged to the Sooners, who opened the half with a 15–5 run and later went on an 11–0 run to put the game out of reach, ultimately winning 88–68. The Wildcats shot only 23.1% from the floor in the second half, and were 2-for-17 from three-point range in the game. The only Wildcat to score in double figures was Dunlap, who had 31 points and 13 rebounds.
Matthew Mitchell, after leading the Cats to an all-time best of 11–5 in SEC play, was named the SEC Coach of the Year. He became only the second UK women's coach to win this award.
Victoria Dunlap became the first UK woman to be named SEC Player of the Year and the first to be named an Associated Press All-American. She was the only player in the conference to finish the regular season in the conference's top five in both scoring (17.2 per game) and rebounding (8.4 per game). Dunlap also led the SEC in steals and finished in the top 10 of four other SEC statistical categories. She was a unanimous selection to the All-SEC first team, becoming the first Wildcat to make the first team since Stacey Reed in 1993–94. Dunlap also made the SEC All-Defensive team, the AP All-America third team (the first woman from UK selected as an All-American by the AP), the United States Basketball Writers Association
All-America team, and the State Farm Coaches' All-America team.
A'dia Mathies was named SEC Freshman of the Year, becoming the first UK woman to receive this honor. Second on the Wildcats to Dunlap in almost all key statistical categories, she was also named to the All-SEC second team.
The Wildcats became the first SEC women's team to sweep all three major conference honors (coach, player, and freshman of the year) since the unbeaten national champion 1997–98 Tennessee team; that team respectively claimed the top SEC honors with Pat Summitt
, Chamique Holdsclaw
, and Tamika Catchings
.
Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team represent the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference, which has historically been the most dominant conference in women's basketball. However, despite reaching national rankings as high as #4, the team has never reached the national...
team represented the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season
2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season
The 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season began in November 2009 and ended with the 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 6, 2010 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The tournament opened with the first and second rounds on Thursday through Sunday,...
. The Wildcats, coached by Matthew Mitchell
Matthew Mitchell
Matthew LaMont Mitchell is the current head coach for the University of Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team, also known as "UK Hoops".-Coaching:...
, are a member of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, and play their home games on campus at Memorial Coliseum—unlike UK's famous men's program
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
, which plays off-campus at Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. Since its opening in 1976, it has been the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping facility owned by an arm of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and serves as home court to the University of...
in downtown Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
The Wildcats had arguably the most successful season in the program's history, setting school records for most wins, most home wins, most conference wins, most consecutive conference wins, best start to a season, and highest finish in conference play. The season culminated in a deep run in the NCAA Tournament
2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament started Saturday, March 20, 2010 and was completed on Tuesday, April 6 of the same year with University of Connecticut Huskies defending their title from the previous year by defeating Stanford, 53-47. The tournament bids were announced on...
that saw them appear in their first regional final since the inaugural NCAA Tournament
1982 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1982 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament was the first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament ever held. It featured 32 teams. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Cheyney, and Maryland met in the Final Four, held at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia and hosted by Old Dominion University,...
in 1982, when the then-Lady Kats lost in the Midwest Regional final to Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball
The Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team represents Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The current head coach of the Lady Techsters is Teresa Weatherspoon...
. This Wildcats team lost 88–68 to Oklahoma
2009–10 Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Sooners, coached by Sherri Coale and members of the Big 12 Conference, made the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season,...
in the final of the Kansas City
Sprint Center
Sprint Center is a large, multi-use indoor arena in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The building is located at 14th Street and Grand Boulevard, on the east side of the Power & Light District...
Regional.
Preseason outlook
The Wildcats returned three starters from a team that had an injury-plagued 2008–09 season, finishing 16–16 and 5–9 in SEC play, ending in a second-round exit to WisconsinWisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
in the WNIT
2009 Women's National Invitation Tournament
The 2009 Women's National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 48 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. It was won by South Florida. The 41st annual tournament was...
. However, the team returned very little in the way of height—none of the returning players were taller than 6'1" (1.85 m).
The team received no respect from regional or national media prior to the 2009–10 season. The Cats were picked 11th of 12 teams in the conference by the media, and none of their players was named to either the first or second team on the media's preseason All-SEC team. The league's coaches gave no more respect to the team, also picking them 11th in the conference, but did name junior forward Victoria Dunlap to their preseason All-SEC second team.
The Wildcats were displeased at their preseason ranking; during the SEC's preseason media day, Dunlap told the assembled journalists,
Exhibition
| Date | Location | Opponent | Score |
| Nov. 7 | Lexington, KY | Blue White Game | 49–43 |
| Nov. 9 | Lexington, KY | Bellarmine | 107–57 |
2009–10 Roster
From the official UK women's basketball site:| # | Name | Height | Position | Class | Hometown | Previous Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarship Players | ||||||
| 1 | A'dia Mathies | 5'9" | G | Fr. | Louisville, KY Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Iroquois HS |
| 3 | Crystal Riley | 5'5" | G | So. | Memphis, TN Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers.... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Hillcrest HS LSU LSU Lady Tigers basketball The LSU Lady Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. The team is currently coached by former UCLA head coach Nikki Caldwell, who accepted the job on April 2, 2011. Past coaches include Barbara Swanner, Jinks Coleman,... |
| 4 | Keyla Snowden | 5'7" | G | So. | Lexington, KY Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Lexington Catholic HS Lexington Catholic High School Lexington Catholic High School is a parochial secondary school affiliated with the Catholic Church located in the Rosemill neighborhood in Lexington, Kentucky. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington.-History:... Akron Akron Zips One of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname... |
| 5 | Carly Morrow | 5'11" | G | Jr. | Chattanooga, TN Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Chattanooga Girls Preparatory School |
| 10 | Bernisha Pinkett | 5'7" | G | Fr. | Washington, DC Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Howard D. Woodson HS |
| 12 | Lydia Watkins | 6'1" | G-F Swingman A Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the small forward and shooting guard positions, and, in essence, swing between the shooting guard and small forward positions." Swingmen males are often between 6'5" and 6'8" .John Havlicek, who played for the Boston Celtics in... |
Sr. | Hopkinsville, KY Hopkinsville, Kentucky Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Christian County HS |
| 23 | Rebecca Gray | 5'10" | G | So. | Georgetown, KY Georgetown, Kentucky Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Scott County HS North Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball The North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I women's basketball.- Home Arenas :... |
| 24 | Amber Smith | 5'6" | G | Jr. | Winter Haven, FL Winter Haven, Florida Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Winter Haven HS Winter Haven High School Winter Haven High School PrincipalGina WilliamsSchool typePublic Religious affiliationNoneFounded1890LocationPolk County, Florida, Winter Haven, FloridaEnrollment1761 students , Campus surroundingsUrbanContact... |
| 25 | Amani Franklin | 5'11" | G | Sr. | Stone Mountain, GA Stone Mountain, Georgia Stone Mountain is a city in eastern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,802 at the 2010 census. It is an outer suburb of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.-Geography:... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Redan HS Redan High School Redan High School is a public secondary school located in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The school is south of the city of Stone Mountain.... |
| 30 | Anna Cole | 6'7" | C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |
Fr. | Mondovi, WI Mondovi, Wisconsin Mondovi is a city in Buffalo County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, along the Buffalo River. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly within the Town of Mondovi... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Mondovi HS |
| 34 | Victoria Dunlap Victoria Dunlap Victoria Dunlap is a basketball player who was selected by the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association in the first round of the 2011 WNBA Draft... |
6'1" | F | Jr. | Nashville, TN Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Brentwood Academy Brentwood Academy Brentwood Academy is a college preparatory school with a campus located in Brentwood, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. Brentwood Academy is a coeducational, independent, college-preparatory school.... |
| 40 | Brittany Henderson | 6'2" | F | Fr. | Pasadena, CA Pasadena, California Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
John Muir HS John Muir High School (Pasadena, California) John Muir High School is a four-year comprehensive secondary school in Pasadena, California, United States and is a part of the Pasadena Unified School District. The school is named after preservationist John Muir.-History:... |
2009–10 Schedule
|-!colspan=9| Exhibition
|-
!colspan=9| Non-Conference Regular Season
|-
!colspan=9| SEC Regular Season
|-
!colspan=9| 2010 SEC Tournament
|-
!colspan=9| 2010 NCAA Tournament
2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament started Saturday, March 20, 2010 and was completed on Tuesday, April 6 of the same year with University of Connecticut Huskies defending their title from the previous year by defeating Stanford, 53-47. The tournament bids were announced on...
All attendance figures are from official box scores available at the official UK women's basketball site.
Regular season notes
The regular season proved to be a season of milestones for the Wildcats, beginning with the best start in the program's history. UK's previous best start had been 9–0 in the 1980–81 season; they broke that record with a 101–67 pasting of Louisville2009–10 Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team will represent the University of Louisville in the 2009–2010 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Cards, coached by Jeff Walz, are playing their final season at Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky...
on December 20 in which they forced a then school-record 38 turnovers. They reached 11–0 before their first loss at Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
The Blue Raiders are the men's and women's athletic teams at Middle Tennessee State University. MTSU athletic teams participate in NCAA Division I in the Sun Belt Conference...
.
In SEC play, the Cats had never won more than four conference games in a row, with the last time being in 2005–06. They broke that record with a win at Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
in which they also surpassed their SEC win total from 2008–09. The Wildcats eventually stretched their record conference winning streak to eight.
With a win over South Carolina on February 21, 2010, the Wildcats completed an undefeated home season, the second in school history, and also set a school record for SEC wins in a season. However, they entered the SEC Tournament on a down note, as they lost their final two regular-season games, both on the road.
The Wildcats' success has been heavily fueled by defense. Including their three SEC Tournament games, they have forced double-digit turnovers in every one of their 32 games, and have forced 20 or more in 24 of these games. As of the SEC final game, they were 4th nationally in turnover margin, averaging 7.59 more than their opposition. They were also in the top 25 nationally in scoring (73.9 per game), scoring margin (15.8), and steals (11.4).
SEC Tournament
With their second-place finish in the regular season, the Wildcats earned a first-round bye and also were bracketed away from regular-season champion Tennessee2009–10 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team
The 2009–10 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Lady Volunteers, coached since 1974 by Pat Summitt, play their home games at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee...
.
They began their SEC tournament on March 5 with a rematch of their regular-season finale against Auburn
2009–10 Auburn Tigers women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Auburn Tigers women's basketball team will represent Auburn University in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Tigers will be coached by Nell Fortner...
, who had beaten the Wildcats in Auburn five days earlier. The Cats' two leading scorers on the season, Victoria Dunlap and A'dia Mathies, respectively scored 24 and 15 points, and the team forced the Tigers into 20 turnovers as they won 65–54.
Next up for the Cats were third seed Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
, whom they had beaten in their only previous meeting this season, also on the road
Humphrey Coliseum
Humphrey Coliseum is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Starkville, Mississippi, that opened for the 1975-76 basketball season. Nicknamed The Hump, it is home to the Mississippi State University Bulldogs men's and women's basketball teams. It is the largest on-campus basketball arena in the...
. This time out, Kentucky started poorly, shooting less than 30% from the field in the first half and ending the first half down by 11. The deficit went up to 14 early in the second half before Mathies and fellow guard Amber Smith exploded, respectively scoring 18 and 11 in the half as the Cats shot 51.5% from the floor. The Lady Bulldogs were slowed in the second half by turnovers and foul trouble; all of their starters ended the game with four fouls. The Cats won 76–65, with Mathies leading the scoring with 25 points and Dunlap adding 22 to go with 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 5 steals. The result sent the Wildcats to the SEC title game for only the second time in the program's history, with the only other appearance coming in 1982. It also gave the Cats 25 wins on the season, tying the UK record set by their 1980–81 team.
The Wildcats then played their expected opponent, top seed and #4-ranked Tennessee, on March 7. The teams had a recent history, as the Lady Vols had clinched the SEC regular-season title on February 25 with an 81–65 home win over the Cats. This encounter, in front of a nominally neutral though mostly partisan Tennessee crowd, proved considerably closer. The Wildcats remained in contention for most of the game, even opening up a four-point lead early in the second half and tied at 50 with 10 minutes remaining. However, the Lady Vols then went on an 11–3 run and never looked back, winning 70–62. This was Tennessee's first sweep of the SEC regular-season and tournament titles since 2000.
NCAA Basketball Tournament
Kentucky was seeded #4 in the Kansas City Region of the 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament started Saturday, March 20, 2010 and was completed on Tuesday, April 6 of the same year with University of Connecticut Huskies defending their title from the previous year by defeating Stanford, 53-47. The tournament bids were announced on...
, their seventh appearance in that tournament. This marked Kentucky's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006, and the Cats' highest seed since 1983.
The Wildcats' first-round game was against #13 seed Liberty
Liberty Flames
The Liberty University Flames are the athletics teams of Liberty University. The Liberty Flames are a member of the NCAA Division I level in 18 sports...
at Freedom Hall
Freedom Hall
Freedom Hall is a multipurpose arena in Louisville, Kentucky, on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center, which is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. The Lady Flames, making their 13th NCAA tournament appearance in the last 14 seasons, started strongly, scoring the first six points and taking a quick 8-point lead. The Cats then went on a 17–0 run to take back the lead, only to see the Lady Flames go on an 11–0 run of their own and take a 35–33 halftime lead. The second half was nearly as close, but Kentucky took the lead for good with 12 minutes left, and in the final 10 minutes Liberty could get no closer than the Wildcats' final 83–77 margin.
Kentucky was outrebounded 38–26 and outscored 54–30 in the paint. They made up for this with defense, forcing 22 turnovers, and free throws, outscoring the Lady Flames by 11 from the stripe. A'dia Mathies led the Cats with a career-high 32 points, which was also a record for a Kentucky player in NCAA tournament play. Victoria Dunlap and Keyla Snowden had 15 points each, with all of Snowden's scoring coming in the second half. The Cats' win was their 26th of the season, setting a new record for the program.
Next up for Kentucky in Freedom Hall was #5 seed Michigan State
2009–10 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2009–2010 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Spartans were coached by Suzy Merchant and played their home games at the Breslin Center...
, in what was touted as a clash of styles between the undersized Cats and the bigger, though slightly slower, Spartans. The size mismatch was most obvious inside, where the 6'1" (1.85 m) Dunlap was matched against the 6'9" (2.06 m) Allyssa DeHaan
Allyssa DeHaan
Allyssa DeHaan is an American former collegiate basketball player and currently collegiate volleyball player. She played for Michigan State University from 2006 to 2010....
. Dunlap was suffering from an upset stomach and was given an IV before the game, and also suffered a minor ankle injury in the first half. However, she apparently felt little effect, as she shot 9 for 13 from the field and led the Cats with 21 points and 8 rebounds.
The first half was largely a back-and-forth affair, with Kentucky taking a 35–31 halftime lead after holding Michigan State without a field goal for the last 6½ minutes. The Wildcats then went on a 24–6 run in the second half to take command of the game, ultimately winning 70–52. The Kentucky defense forced 18 turnovers and held the Spartans to under 35% shooting from the field, and also held the Spartans to their lowest point total in NCAA tournament play. The win sent Kentucky into the regional semifinals for the first time since 1982.
The victory earned the Cats a trip to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and a date with top seed Nebraska
2009–10 Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball team represented the University of Nebraska in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Cornhuskers, a member of the Big 12 Conference, were coached by Connie Yori, and completed the regular season unbeaten at 29–0. However, they...
, another team having its best season ever. The Cornhuskers' only loss going into the game was in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament
2010 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament
The 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship was the 2010 edition of the Big 12 Conference's championship tournament. It was held at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City from March 11 until March 14, 2010...
to Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball
The Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball team represents Texas A&M University in NCAA Division I women's basketball. The team has been coached by Gary Blair since 2003. The Aggies play home games at Reed Arena, a 12,500-capacity arena in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A&M.The Aggies...
, and they would have a partisan crowd on their side, as Kansas City is about a 3-hour drive from the school's campus
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
.
This time, it was the Wildcats who took control of the game almost from the start, going on an early 12–4 run and stretching their lead to double digits late in the first half. They went into the locker room with a 43–34 lead, and then started the second half on an 11–1 run to take control of the game. While the Huskers made a late comeback while three Kentucky guards had four fouls, the Cats held on for a 76–67 upset win. Mathies led the Cats with 21 points, with Dunlap adding 18 plus 7 rebounds and Snowden scoring 13. While both teams had 16 turnovers, most of Kentucky's came late in the game. The Cats also outrebounded the bigger Huskers 36–25. The result sent Kentucky into its first regional final since 1982.
The regional final against Oklahoma
2009–10 Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Sooners, coached by Sherri Coale and members of the Big 12 Conference, made the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season,...
opened as a repeat of the Nebraska game, with the Cats opening up a double-digit lead before the Sooners scored a basket and extending their lead to 17–4. However, Oklahoma quickly came back, taking its first lead with 7:41 left in the first half and going into halftime up 43–39. The second half belonged to the Sooners, who opened the half with a 15–5 run and later went on an 11–0 run to put the game out of reach, ultimately winning 88–68. The Wildcats shot only 23.1% from the floor in the second half, and were 2-for-17 from three-point range in the game. The only Wildcat to score in double figures was Dunlap, who had 31 points and 13 rebounds.
Awards and honors
The conference's postseason awards announcement, made immediately after the end of the regular season, became a Kentucky coronation.Matthew Mitchell, after leading the Cats to an all-time best of 11–5 in SEC play, was named the SEC Coach of the Year. He became only the second UK women's coach to win this award.
Victoria Dunlap became the first UK woman to be named SEC Player of the Year and the first to be named an Associated Press All-American. She was the only player in the conference to finish the regular season in the conference's top five in both scoring (17.2 per game) and rebounding (8.4 per game). Dunlap also led the SEC in steals and finished in the top 10 of four other SEC statistical categories. She was a unanimous selection to the All-SEC first team, becoming the first Wildcat to make the first team since Stacey Reed in 1993–94. Dunlap also made the SEC All-Defensive team, the AP All-America third team (the first woman from UK selected as an All-American by the AP), the United States Basketball Writers Association
United States Basketball Writers Association
The United States Basketball Writers Association was founded in 1956 by Walter Byers and serves the interests of journalists who cover college basketball.-Scholarships:...
All-America team, and the State Farm Coaches' All-America team.
A'dia Mathies was named SEC Freshman of the Year, becoming the first UK woman to receive this honor. Second on the Wildcats to Dunlap in almost all key statistical categories, she was also named to the All-SEC second team.
The Wildcats became the first SEC women's team to sweep all three major conference honors (coach, player, and freshman of the year) since the unbeaten national champion 1997–98 Tennessee team; that team respectively claimed the top SEC honors with Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt
Patricia "Pat" Head Summitt is an American women's college basketball coach. She is currently the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division...
, Chamique Holdsclaw
Chamique Holdsclaw
Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association most recently under a contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars...
, and Tamika Catchings
Tamika Catchings
Tamika Devonne Catchings is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA and Turkish team Galatasaray. She is a prolific scorer close to and far from the basket, as well as a capable rebounder, ball handler, and defender. After playing at Adlai E...
.