UK Hoops fights injuries, stays competitive

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Depth concerns must have been in the minds of members of the UK women’s basketball team when they began the season with just 11 players. But no one could have imagined things would get quite this bad.

When the Cats’ starters took the court against Louisiana State on Sunday, the players in street clothes outnumbered the subs, as only eight players dressed for game action. The Cats (12-8, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) were forced to use a rotation that effectively included only six players seeing significant court time.

The team has lost players in almost every imaginable way. Junior forward/center Jackie Sanders left the team and transferred mid-season. Then, junior forward Lydia Watkins was lost for the remainder of the season for unspecified personal reasons. More recently, sophomore center Catina Bett missed Sunday’s game against LSU with a sprained left ankle. She is listed as day-to-day.

Senior guard Carly Ormerod missed time earlier this season, but has stayed healthy when the team needed her most. Ormerod, a former preseason second team All-SEC selection, has played in every SEC contest this season.

“It seems like every week we go down a number,” Ormerod said.

Junior guard Amani Franklin said the depleted roster has meant some changes for the Cats in games and practice. According to Franklin, the amount of time spent on some drills has been reduced. As a starter for the team, Franklin said she also has to make a conscious effort to remain cautious in her style of play.

“You just have to play smart,” Franklin said. “You want to stay as aggressive but at the same time, you’re going to play 35 minutes so you can’t afford to get in foul trouble because there’s not anybody that can come off the bench that can sub you out.”

In two of the last three games, the bench has failed to score a single point for the Cats. Franklin said while the team misses having a strong supporting cast, they recognize the challenges before them and are ready to go to work.

The depth shortage has been especially felt in the low post. Sophomore forward Victoria Dunlap and senior center Eleia Roddy anchor the team, but their only backups are forwards Brittany Edelen and Jenn’e Jackson, who played in a combined 10 games and both averaged five minutes per game last season.

The Cats will need those little-used players to step up if they want to prevent a third consecutive loss Thursday night against Florida. Still, Ormerod said the team would look to overcome this challenge by looking at it in a positive light.

“Everybody wants to play, and now you have the chance to,” Ormerod said. “You’ve got seven, eight players that are healthy and here’s your chance to do what you love to do.”