Dunlap’s free-throw shooting woes look to be a thing of the past

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By Nick Craddock

Swish. That’s the sound of junior forward Victoria Dunlap’s hard work at the free-throw line paying dividends.

In UK’s first three games of the season, Dunlap has shot 76.6 percent from the charity stripe, an impressive feat considering that she entered the season as a notoriously poor free-throw shooter in her career with a 47.6 percent conversion rate at the line.

Dunlap has shot 76.6 percent at the free-throw line so far this season after shooting 47.6 percent for her career. Photo by Allie Garza | Staff

“(It’s been) getting better,” Dunlap said about her free-throw shooting. “(In the offseason I’ve) just been working on my shot and working on that mentality of not stressing about going to the line and not being scared.”

Junior guard Amber Smith and senior guard Amani Franklin, who currently has a streak of 22 consecutive free-throws made, said they are taking credit — unbeknownst to UK head coach Matthew Mitchell — for reforming Dunlap’s free-throw shot after a summer of hard work in the gym, including refining Dunlap’s follow through.

“I’m confident, that’s pretty much it,” Dunlap said in an effort to explain her turn-around.

Whether it’s new-found confidence or mimicking her teammates’ shooting style, Dunlap has changed. Gone are the balls flirting with the edge of the rim and the air balls. The clank of the ball against the iron, a sound Dunlap was accustomed to hearing, has no longer become a source for lost sleep.

In fact, fans at the Butler game Sunday might have had to look twice to make sure it wasn’t a sharpshooter at the line, as Dunlap coolly stepped up and knocked down 13-of-15 free throws, a career-high for free-throws made by Dunlap.

Mitchell said he is pleased that Dunlap’s free-throw shooting has added yet another dimension to her offensive game.

“(Dunlap’s shot) looks good, it looks like she’s confident, she’s stroking it great and it transforms her offensive game because she does get fouled a lot,” Mitchell said. “She’s so athletic around the basket. I don’t think we can overstate that — the importance of her being that kind of shooter. That’s great.”

Prior to the season, Mitchell predicted if Dunlap achieved a 65-to-70 percent free-throw shooting percentage that would be enough to keep defenses honest when trying to guard her in the paint.

So far, Dunlap is averaging 23 points per game, a statistic Mitchell believes has been influenced by Dunlap’s ability to get to the line — 30 times through three games.

However, in UK’s first away game against Morehead State, Dunlap proved that her free-throw rhythm is far from perfect. Coping with whistles and jeers of a hostile environment, Dunlap missed her first three attempts, but finished with a 4-of-7 performance from the line.

“(Dunlap) would be the first one to tell you she’s struggled (from the free-throw line), but she’s been amazing. She blows my mind every time she steps out on the court,” said sophomore guard Rebecca Gray.