Dec. 11, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a six-day break from action, the Kentucky women’s basketball team returns to Memorial Coliseum to play host to the Lady Buccaneers of East Tennessee State Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. EST. It marks only the second meeting between the programs since 1982. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio and television) and FSN South. It also will be shown on taped-delayed on CWKYT-TV at 11 p.m. EST.
Single-game general admission tickets are available for $5 adults/$2 senior citizens and children 6-18. Ages five and under are admitted free. UK students, faculty and staff are admitted free with valid identification based on availability. For ticket information, log on to ukathletics.com or call the UK ticket office at 859-257-1818 or 1-800-928-CATS (2287).
The Wildcats (5-3) are coming off a commanding 74-35 win over Furman in their last game. Four players scored in double-figures led by junior Amani Franklin’s (Stone Mountain, Ga.) game-high 15 points and eight rebounds. The 39-point win was the largest margin of victory in the Matthew Mitchell era.
“We have had a productive week of practice just working on the things we need to do to be a better team,” UK Hoops Coach Matthew Mitchell said. “This weekend will be a good test for us as we play a solid East Tennessee State team on Friday followed by a matchup with nationally-ranked Louisville on Sunday.”
Sophomore forward Victoria Dunlap (Nashville, Tenn.) leads UK in both scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 12.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Senior center Eleia Roddy (Columbus, Ohio) follows close behind in the rebounding category with 7.5 rebounds per game. Franklin also averages double-digit scoring with 10.8 ppg.
Senior point guard Carly Ormerod (Louisville, Ky.) remains doubtful to play as she continues to feel pain derived from sesamoiditis and turf toe in her left foot. She also sat out the Western Kentucky and Furman game. She missed 16 games last season with the same injury.
East Tennessee State, located in Johnson City, Tenn., is 1-5 overall this season after falling at Mercer in its conference opener last week, 77-61. Junior guard/forward Sierre Evans leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 14.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Junior guard TaRonda Wiles follows with 13.8 ppg.
This is the second meeting between Kentucky and East Tennessee State but the teams’ first matchup since 1982. UK defeated the Lady Buccaneers in Memorial Coliseum on Dec. 11, 1982. Kentucky is 8-1 all-time vs. teams from ETSU’s Atlantic Sun Conference.
Fans are encouraged to park in Parking Structure 5 located next to Kennedy’s Bookstore on Limestone Avenue. Parking within Parking Structure 5 will be available free of charge. A shuttle bus service also will be provided and begins one hour prior to game time until one hour after the game. Additional game day parking is available in the E lots surrounding Memorial Coliseum including the Martin Luther King Parking Lot and the Student Center Parking Lot.
