The ‘other’ dynamic duo does it all for UK Hoops

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Sophomore forward Victoria Dunlap leads the SEC in rebounding this year. She is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game. Photo by Kristin Sherrard | Staff

When people think of a dynamic duo integral to the success of UK basketball, Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson are likely to be the first players who spring to mind. But those people obviously aren’t familiar with sophomore forward Victoria Dunlap and senior center Eleia Roddy of the UK women’s basketball team (12-10, 2-5 Southeastern Conference).

Dunlap, a preseason second team All-Southeastern Conference selection, leads the SEC in rebounding. In addition to leading the team in points per game, blocks, steals and minutes, Dunlap is also second on the team in field goal percentage.

Meanwhile, frontcourt mate Roddy is second on the team in points and rebounds, and is third in blocks and steals. She also ranks third in the SEC in rebounds per game, and fourth in free throw percentage. Both Roddy and Dunlap have started all 22 games for the Cats this season, the only players to do so.

The rebounding statistics may not be particularly glamorous, but Roddy and Dunlap know the importance of crashing the boards and the impact they have on a game. Roddy said that having a player like Dunlap beside her helps the team offensively when either of them has to make tough shots.

“It gives you a lot of confidence,” Roddy said. “If I miss, she gets it. If she misses, I get it.

Roddy and Dunlap have all but carried the Cats in several contests this season. Both said that while the season has been frustrating at times, their teammates aren’t at fault.

“It kind of gets frustrating because if one or two other players step up we could have won,” Roddy said. “But you can’t let it get you down because if you slack, you may not get the win when everyone else does step up.”

There’s certainly no shortage of perimeter players who could become the third option for the Cats.

Sophomore guard Carly Morrow has been deadly from long range at times this season, and senior guard Carly Ormerod still has time to break out of her shooting funk and lead the Cats down the stretch. Sophomore guard Amber Smith, who was named an All-SEC freshman with Dunlap after last season, has the ability to create her own shot while still being an effective distributor.

Roddy said that junior guard Amani Franklin has the talent to be one of the top scorers in the SEC, and will look to her for help as the season winds down. Franklin is third on the team with 10.2 points per game, and led the Cats with 20 points against Ole Miss on Sunday.

Dunlap, however, felt a team effort will be necessary to help the post players.

“Not really any one person needs to step up, we need the whole team to step up,” Dunlap said. “We don’t have a lot of members on the team, so I think it’s going to take everybody on the team stepping up.”

Despite their outstanding numbers, both Roddy and Dunlap said they have improvements they can make to help the team. Dunlap cited her 55 percent free throw shooting as a sore point, while Roddy said she is constantly looking for one extra play that can make a difference in close games.

“There’s always something I could have done every game,” Roddy said. “I’m never satisfied with my performance and I’m never thinking I did everything I could have done.”