LEXINGTON — A Tennessee native helped Kentucky give the Lady Vols their first Southeastern Conference loss Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum.
Bradley Central graduate and sophomore Rhyne Howard scored a career-high 37 points to lift the No. 13 Wildcats past No. 22 Tennessee, 80-76.
Howard, the reigning National Freshman of the Year also had nine rebounds and five assists to lead Kentucky (12-2 overall, 1-1 SEC) to victory and she wasn’t the only former Tennessee high school star to help the Wildcats bounce back from Thursday night’s loss to South Carolina.
Junior forward KeKe McKinney, a Knoxville native and Fulton High School graduate, scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds for the Wildcats, who trailed 35-33 at halftime.
For Tennessee (11-3, 1-1) Rennia Davis scored had 27 points and six rebounds and Rae Burrell scored 16 points and had five rebounds.
Jordan Horstonn, a freshman, had 13 points, nine assists and four rebounds.
Sabrina Haines added 11 points for the Wildcats.