ESPN’s Beth Mowins dials long distance with a half-court basket at Kentucky shootaround

ESPN play-by-play commentator Beth Mowins drained her share of long jumpers during her years as a collegiate guard.

This morning in Lexington, Ky., Mowins showed members of the University of Kentucky’s women’s basketball team in Rupp Arena she’s still got game. At the end of Kentucky’s shootaround as it prepared for a Tip-Off Marathon game against Baylor tonight (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2), Mowins sank a half-court basket on her first try.

“[ESPN analyst] Carolyn Peck and I were cold off the bench, no warmup. The odds were really stacked against us,” Mowins told Front Row in an email.

“I attempted a one-handed-slingshot, half-court heave. . . It felt good off my fingertips.”

Susan Lax, UK associate director of Media Relations, captured video of the basket on her phone. The video eventually was posted on ESPN social media platforms. Kentucky players and other observers celebrated the basket with Mowins, who sank the shot while wearing a winter coat.

Mowins was a three-time all-conference guard when she played for Lafayette College (Easton, Pa.), where she was inducted into the Athletics Hall Of Fame Class of 2006.

As for her athletic heroics today, Mowins credits ESPN producer Beth Chapelle with an assist: She treated Mowins to a pre-practice coffee and an egg sandwich.

As for her scoring celebration, Mowins isn’t planning on auditioning for “Dancing with the Stars” any time soon.

“The dance moves I displayed after making the shot would make [“Seinfeld” character] Elaine Benes beam with pride,” Mowins said before continuing her preparations to call the Baylor-UK game tonight with Peck.