No. 18 Kentucky women’s basketball (17-5, 4-4 SEC) will look to break its three-game losing streak in its next matchup against Arkansas (11-11, 0-7 SEC). 

What to watch-

By the numbers, Kentucky is the favorite going into this game. Not only is Kentucky offensively stronger than the Razorbacks, leading in PPG, FG percentage, 3-pointers made, APG and BPG, but defensively as well. 

Kentucky holds its opponents to an average of 17.3 less PPG, and moreover holds its opponents to fewer 3-pointers made, a lower FG percentage, and 3-point FG percentage compared to Arkansas and its opponents. 

Arkansas is currently undergoing a transition under Head Coach Kelsi Musick, where she has been guiding her team in her first year through a tough SEC period. The Razorbacks have faced many ranked opponents thus far, including then-ranked No. 12 Vanderbilt, No. 24 Alabama, No. 3 South Carolina, No. 20 Tennessee and most recently No. 6 LSU. 

The most recent showing against LSU is likened to Arkansas’ better SEC performances this year, where it found a seven-point lead in the first quarter and trailed by only three going into the half. 

Arkansas ended up falling 92-70. 

Kentucky is also coming off a loss it hopes to forget fast due to the lackluster nature of the showing.

The Wildcats saw a 72-67 loss to unranked Georgia, where the team looked like it lacked energy and had key players not falling high on the stat-lines like usual. 

Kentucky endured an 0-6 run to start the game matched with long scoreless stretches and an uncharacteristic lack of blocking and disruptive defense, all ultimately playing a role in the defeat. 

This is the 45th all-time meeting between the two teams in a series that began in 1983. Kentucky leads Arkansas 28-16 in the series, however trails the Razorbacks 11-8 in games played in Fayetteville. 

Kentucky triumphed over the Razorbacks in its last showing a little over a year ago, winning 89-69 at home. The year before that, Arkansas won in Fayetteville 88-61. 

In the last 10 meetings, Kentucky has only played away four times, and is 2-2. 

Comparing the reserves-

One thing that Arkansas has going for it is its bench contributions – something that Kentucky can’t quite attest to at this point in the season. 

All seven of Arkansas’ bench players are averaging over one PPG this season. Only one Razorback hasn’t seen minutes this season. 

Only three Wildcats from the bench are averaging over one PPG. 

Moreover, of the seven reserves for the Razorbacks, three are averaging at least four PPG. The highest contributor is junior Jenna Lawrence with 9.7 PPG. 

For Kentucky, only Kaelyn Carroll is averaging at least four PPG at 4.7. 

Notably, this comparison exists without including Teonni Key due to injury, and maintaining Asia Boone in the starting lineup. 

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that now following the Georgia game, all of Kentucky’s starting lineup is averaging double-digit PPG, and only two of Arkansas’ starters fall in that group. 

The test of depth between the two teams will be interesting – Kentucky is looking to find its rhythm with its reserve while Key starts to slowly see action again, while Arkansas relies on bench contributions for its statlines. 

In the most recent showing, Carroll put up six points for Kentucky, matched with one rebound, shooting 2-4 beyond the arc. 

Kentucky basketball fans and Head Coach Kenny Brooks alike are searching for a key answer from the bench to help carry the Cats through long stretches of games, where starters are almost entirely relied on. 

Brooks hasn’t necessarily put his reserves on the floor much during conference play – Georgia’s game was one where he was more or less forced to give the starting five a break. 

Whenever Key was still seeing action, Boone was the answer to the relief. 

Without that go-to sixth man, box scores show stats like 38-40 minutes of action for Kentucky’s leading-five. 

Guard Tonie Morgan played all 40 minutes against Georgia, backed by 39:15 against Tennessee, 36:05 against Mississippi State and 38:16 versus Florida. 

A glaring question for Sunday will be if Brooks does actually test his bench more, and give more opportunity to see who will step up. This past week has been the first bye week for the Cats, so all of the starters should be well rested and the excuse of exhaustion won’t be in play. 

Arkansas’ go-to reserve is Harmonie Ware, a freshman starting her career hot with 8.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG and 1.3 APG. 

Ware shoots just under 40% from the field, and is solid from the charity line. She has the third most attempts at the free-throw line on the team, and is shooting 78.6%.

In her first week, she averaged 13.7 points off the bench, which was second most behind starter Bonnie Deas. 

Prior to the Georgia game, which shifted a day earlier than originally scheduled, Brooks expressed hope for Key’s return soon, which would help relieve some pressure for the Cats. 

Carroll will likely be Kentucky’s bench answer in the upcoming game after her performance against the Bulldogs. 

Kentucky women’s basketball will travel to Fayetteville on Sunday, Feb. 1 to face the Razorbacks, hoping to get back to winning this season. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST and game action can be streamed on the SEC Network