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Women: South Carolina @ Kentucky 2/23 (Senior Night)
#1
Right Team. Right Place. Right Now.

The motto for Kentucky this season could've been written for its three seniors.

Not a single one of them — not Amber Smith, not Keyla Snowden, not Crystal Riley — originally was supposed to be playing at UK this season.

Snowden and Riley started their college careers at different schools and transferred in at a time when the Cats were struggling to get commitments.

Smith was supposed to celebrate her Senior Night last season with two of her best friends, but she returned this season after a knee injury derailed those plans.

But as each of them crosses the Memorial Coliseum court into the arms of Coach Matthew Mitchell on Thursday night, she'll know that she's ended up where she was supposed to be.

"We were a senior class that wasn't meant to be together," said Smith, the fiery point guard who has battled back from not one, but two torn-up knees. "But sometimes when things are unexpected, that's when they're the best."

Snowden and Riley said they couldn't have said it better themselves.

"It's really amazing how things work out," said Snowden, a former state champion at Lexington Catholic. "I've always believed things happen for a reason. It's just really fortunate that we all ended up here at this time and this place. We all have very different stories."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/22/20798...rylink=cpy
#2
[Image: http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2012/02...uSt.79.jpg]
Amber Smith, top, and Keyla Snowden, middle, and Crystal Riley took some detours to wind up together on Senior Night, yet each agrees it's a fitting finish for all three

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/22/20798...rylink=cpy
#3
About the seniors

CRYSTAL RILEY

Hometown: Memphis

Major: Kinesiology

Career aspirations: undecided, will return next season as student assistant

Career scoring average: 2.4 ppg

Matthew Mitchell on Riley: "Crystal Riley has been a joy to coach. ... She's battled through injuries and never complained. She's had as much to do with our success as anybody."

Riley on her time at UK: "To come in my freshman year and go 15-15 and now to be one of the top schools in the SEC is kind of amazing."

AMBER SMITH

Hometown: Winter Haven, Fla.

Major: Graduated with degree in integrated strategic communications; working on second degree

Career aspirations: College head coach

Career scoring average: 7.3 ppg

Mitchell on Smith: "I don't think I've ever seen a kid the fans embraced more and enjoyed more. She was someone the fans have really enjoyed here at Kentucky."

Smith on her time at UK: "I want fans to remember me as an energy player who played hard and gave it everything she had. Someone who was humble, who wanted the best for her team. Someone who fought through adversity and won."

KEYLA SNOWDEN

Hometown: Lexington

Major: Graduated with degree in communications; working on second degree

Career aspirations: Talk show host, model, professional basketball player

Career scoring average: 9.8 ppg

Mitchell on Snowden: Out of high school, "people questioned her size. They would look at her and put her in a box as 'just a three-point shooter; she can't play on a high level.' ... Everybody missed on Keyla. ... What she's done for us has been amazing."

Snowden on her time at UK: "When they think of my name, I want them to think of something positive, whether it was on the court or off the court."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/22/20798...rylink=cpy
#4
Matchups

KENTUCKY

Starters: A'dia Mathies, 5-9, Jr., G (15.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.7 spg, 2.7 apg); Bria Goss, 5-10, Fr., G (11.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Kastine Evans, 5-8, So., G (7.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Maegan Conwright, 5-8, So., G (4.1 ppg); Samarie Walker, 6-1, So., F (8.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

Key reserves: Keyla Snowden, 5-7, Sr., G (9.4 ppg); Bernisha Pinkett, 5-7, So., G (5.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg); Amber Smith, 5-6, Sr., PG (4.7 ppg, 2.9 apg); Brittany Henderson, 6-2, Jr., F (3.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg); Azia Bishop, 6-3, Fr., F (5.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg): Samantha Drake, 6-3, So., F (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

SOUTH CAROLINA

Starters: Courtney Newton, 5-9, Sr., G (0.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg); La'Keisha Sutton, 5-8, Sr., G (10.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.8 apg); Markeshia Grant, 5-6, Sr., G (11.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.9 apg); Charanee Stephens, 6-0, Sr., F (4.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg); Ieasia Walker, 5-8, Jr., G (7.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Key reserves: Aleighsa Welch, 6-0, Fr., F (8.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Ashley Bruner, 6-0, Jr., F (6.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg): Tina Roy, 5-11, Fr., G (4.3 ppg); Elem Ibiam, 6-3, Fr., F (2.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg).Sancheon White, 5-10, Jr., G (4.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/22/20798...rylink=cpy
#5
Kentucky 62-52.
#6
Kentucky wins at Memorial 65-57. Thanks Seniors for some great memories.
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