Kentucky
Kentucky earns much-needed win against Florida
about an hour ago
Kentucky Athletics
In the midst of a six-game losing streak, the Kentucky women’s basketball team needed something positive to happen. And on Sunday, it did.
In front of more than 90 women’s basketball alumnae, Kentucky snapped it’s skid by beating Florida 81-77 at Rupp Arena.
“I’m just so proud of the fight of this team,” said UK head coach Kyra Elzy. “We talked about one stop at a time, get a rebound and let’s run the other way. I was proud of our defense. It held today when we had to have it.”
Eniya Russell led the way with a career-high 24 points for Kentucky. The Baltimore native added five rebounds and three assists.
Maddie Scherr had 14 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Ajae Petty had her 14th double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Amiya Jenkins had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Cats.
Florida scored first, but Kentucky tied the game on a Petty basket. After Florida took a 4-2 lead, UK got a three from Emma King and an Eniya Russell layup to lead 7-4. The Gators would score the next five points to lead 9-7 before Kentucky got a layup from Brooklynn Miles and a basket from Janae Walker.
Florida would score four in a row before Maddie Scherr hit a three to give the Cats a 14-13 lead. After Florida took a 15-14 lead on an Alberte Rimdal basket, Miles hit a three to give UK a 17-15 lead. The Gators got the last basket of the period and the game was tied 17-17 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Florida took the lead on a Rimdal three and the Gators would hold that advantage until the Cats got layups from Jenkins and Petty to lead 27-25. Florida took the lead back and led 31-29 before the Cats scored five in a row, including a Russell three, to lead 34-31. Kentucky would lead 36-34 at the break.
Florida opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 41-36 lead. Kentucky would answer by scoring the next nine points, including a pair of Saniah Tyler baskets, to lead 45-41. The back and forth continued with the Gators scoring the next 10 points and grabbing a 51-45 advantage. UK got back within one, 51-50, on a Russell putback. But Florida would make six of its last seven shots in the period and led 60-54 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Florida would lead 65-58 when Kentucky made its run. The Cats went on a 7-2 stretch that got them within two, 67-65, with 6:09 to play. UK continued to fight back, eventually tying the game at 69-69 on a Scherr bank shot. But Florida took the lead back on the next possession. Again, the Cats would not go away, tying the game at 71 apiece before a Tyler layup gave UK the lead with 3:21 to play.
Tyler added a free throw to make it 74-71 before Florida got a Jeriah Warren basket to get back within one, 74-73. UK got a Petty basket inside to extend the lead to 76-73 with 2:06 remaining. A Russell free throw extended the UK lead to 77-73 with 34 seconds remaining.
Florida got back within two, 77-75, on a Zipporah Broughton layup with 26 seconds left. Russell hit two free throws with 24 seconds left to make it 79-75. A Miles free throw made it 80-75 with 15 seconds left. The Cats would hang on from there.
Kentucky returns to action on Thursday, visiting Starkville to face Mississippi State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network Plus.
Kentucky
National Guard helps dialysis patients
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) – The National Guard is helping people get access to critical care in Eastern Kentucky during challenging weather conditions.
Members have been volunteering their time to help transport patients and medical professionals alike to appointments and medical facilities.
Sgt. Cole Carroll is from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and has been taking dialysis patients to their appointments and back home.
“A lot of people that we’ve seen out here, they’re driving two-wheel drive sedans, so it’s pretty hard for them to get up these hills, especially with the ice, so we’ve been doing our best to get up there with our Humvees and stuff.”
If you need to get in touch with the National Guard to help you get to your appointments, they say to call Lawrence County Emergency Management.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
Kentucky
EXCLUSIVE: A Kentucky Derby-Inspired Movie Filmed at Churchill Downs Is Coming to Hallmark
Hallmark has revealed it is teaming up with Churchill Downs to make a Kentucky Derby-inspired movie filmed at the historic racetrack.
The network shared exclusively with TODAY that its new original film, “Kentucky Roses,” will honor the “pageantry, tradition, and enduring spirit of the Kentucky Derby.” The movie will premiere on Hallmark Saturday, May 2, the same day of the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The sporting event is famously held the first Saturday in May every year at Churchill Downs.
“Kentucky Roses,” which will also stream the next day on Hallmark+, will star Andrew Walker and Odette Annable, as well as Ally Ledford, Peyton Meyer, Brynn Thayer and Gregg Henry.
The film’s storyline will take place across two timelines. Sadie Moore, played by Annable, will be at the center of the story in present day. She works at a Churchill Downs greenhouse and dreams of becoming a florist and following in her great-grandmother’s (Ledford) footsteps by supplying the Derby with a display of roses. Sadie then meets Ash Taylor, Walker’s character, who is the son of the Churchill Downs CEO (Henry). Ash has to repair one of the racetrack’s iconic Twin Spires after it is damaged in a storm.
Sadie and Ash develop a connection, but it could be cut short after they discover “a bittersweet love story from the past that threatens to repeat itself.”
Speaking about the collaboration between Hallmark and Churchill Downs, Jessica Callahan, vice president at Hallmark Media, said in part, “Together, we’re thrilled to bring audiences an inspiring story of community, courage and time-honored traditions.”
Along with the romantic flick, Hallmark and Churchill Downs are also partnering to release a collection of jewelry inspired by “Kentucky Roses.” The jewelry will be sold in Hallmark Gold Crown stores.
Kentucky
Kentucky vs Vanderbilt score today, UK basketball game updates
UK basketball writer Ryan Black explains Wildcats’ win over Ole Miss
Kentucky beat writer Ryan Black credits Otega Oweh in the team’s victory versus Ole Miss Saturday at Rupp Arena. The Cats have now won five straight.
NASHVILLE — The phrase, “The only constant is change” aptly describes Kentucky basketball’s starting lineup this season.
In 20 games since the 2025-26 campaign began, the Wildcats have sported nine different starting fives — an altered look nearly every other outing. The reason for the fluidity has been the story of Mark Pope’s two seasons as coach: UK simply can’t avoid injuries.
In 56 games since taking over at his alma mater, Pope has had his full complement of scholarship players available just 10 times — and only five occasions in 41 matchups versus high-major foes.
Stream Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt
But UK forges on.
Another SEC showdown awaits tonight, squaring off with Vanderbilt in Nashville.
“It feels like we’ve been having to adapt every game to (a new roster) and new rotations,” said Kentucky sophomore guard Collin Chandler, who has started 15 times this season. “So, I think it’s just a credit … to everybody in finding roles, finding ways to win.
“That’s the biggest thing — we’re just finding ways to win.”
That’s all the Wildcats (14-6, 5-2 SEC) have done the past few weeks; after a 73-68 home loss to Missouri on Jan. 7, UK has won five straight. The Commodores (17-3, 4-3) are no stranger to winning streaks this season, either, as they started 16-0.
Despite its recent run of success, Kentucky remains unranked in both the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25. A victory over Vanderbilt (No. 15 coaches, No. 18 AP) might do the trick for UK when the newest rankings are released next week.
Courier Journal sports reporter Ryan Black is at Memorial Gymnasium and will have live updates throughout the game — here and on X, formerly known as Twitter — and complete coverage after. You can follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Follow along with live updates from today’s game between the Wildcats and Commodores below:
Kentucky has the same starting five for the second straight outing.
Here’s the lineup:
- TV channel: ESPN
- Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
The game between the Wildcats and Commodores will air nationally on ESPN.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.
Those without cable can access ESPN via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.
Stream Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt on ESPN
Betting odds: Kentucky is a 6½-point underdog (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 159½ points (-110).
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.
You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.
- Oct. 17: Blue-White game (Click here to read takeaways from the intrasquad scrimmage.)
- Oct. 24: exhibition vs. Purdue (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 78, Purdue 65
- Oct. 30: exhibition vs. Georgetown University (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Georgetown 84, Kentucky 70
- Nov. 4: Nicholls (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Nicholls 51
- Nov. 7: Valparaiso (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 107, Valparaiso 59
- Nov. 11: at Louisville (KFC Yum! Center) | SCORE: Louisville 96, Kentucky 88
- Nov. 14: Eastern Illinois (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 99, Eastern Illinois 53
- Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York) | SCORE: Michigan State 83, Kentucky 66
- Nov. 21: Loyola University Maryland (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 88, Loyola Maryland 46
- Nov. 26: Tennessee Tech (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 104, Tennessee Tech 54
- Dec. 2: North Carolina (Rupp Arena; ACC/SEC Challenge) | SCORE: North Carolina 67, Kentucky 64
- Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga (Bridgestone Arena; Nashville) | SCORE: Gonzaga 94, Kentucky 59
- Dec. 9: North Carolina Central (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 103, North Carolina Central 67
- Dec. 13: Indiana (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 72, Indiana 60
- Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s (CBS Sports Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) | SCORE: Kentucky 78, St. John’s 66
- Dec. 23: Bellarmine (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 99, Bellarmine 85
- Jan. 3: at Alabama | SCORE: Alabama 89, Kentucky 74
- Jan. 7: Missouri (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Missouri 73, Kentucky 68
- Jan. 10: Mississippi State (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 92, Mississippi State 68
- Jan. 14: at LSU | SCORE: Kentucky 75, LSU 74
- Jan. 17: at Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 80, Tennessee 78
- Jan. 21: Texas (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 85, Texas 80
- Jan. 24: Ole Miss (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 72, Ole Miss 63
- Jan. 27: at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m.
- Jan. 31: at Arkansas, 6:30 p.m.
- Feb. 4: Oklahoma (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m.
- Feb. 7: Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 8:30 p.m.
- Feb. 14: at Florida, 3 p.m.
- Feb. 17: Georgia (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m.
- Feb. 21: at Auburn, 8:30 p.m.
- Feb. 24: at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
- Feb. 28: Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 2 p.m.
- March 3: at Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
- March 7: Florida (Rupp Arena), 4 p.m.
Record: 14-6 (5-2 SEC)
- Denzel Aberdeen (guard, senior)
- Collin Chandler (guard, sophomore)
- Mouhamed Dioubate (forward, junior)
- Brandon Garrison (forward, junior)
- Braydon Hawthorne (forward, freshman)
- Walker Horn (guard, senior)
- Andrija Jelavić (forward, sophomore)
- Jasper Johnson (guard, freshman)
- Jaland Lowe (guard, junior)
- Malachi Moreno (center, freshman)
- Trent Noah (forward, sophomore)
- Otega Oweh (guard, senior)
- Reece Potter (forward, junior)
- Jayden Quaintance (forward, sophomore)
- Zach Tow (forward, senior)
- Kam Williams (guard, sophomore)
Click here to view the Commodores’ complete schedule.
Want to learn the Commodores’ roster?
Click here for player bios and more.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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