Off to its best start since the 1998-99 season, the Kentucky women?s basketball team will put their three-game win streak on the line when they take on Alabama in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams Sunday, Jan. 9 at 3 p.m. EST in Tuscaloosa?s Coleman Coliseum. The game will be carried live on WLXG 1300 AM with Chris Cross, and live audio and stats also will be available on ukathletics.com.
The Wildcats (11-4) are coming off of a resounding 79-41 victory over Longwood on Tuesday and are riding a three-game winning streak into league play. UK is led by senior guard/forward Sara Potts? 15.3 points per game and freshman center Sarah Elliott?s 11.3 points per game. Junior forward/center Jennifer Humphrey is bringing down a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with 10.1 ppg.
?We?re very excited about beginning conference play, but we also know that it is going to be a tough grind,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?There isn?t one game that we can waltz in and expect to win. Our record should give us some confidence going into SEC play, but possession-for-possession, there are still things we have to get better on. We know there are areas where we need to continue to improve.?
Alabama is 9-4 on the season after a 86-83 loss Wednesday to South Dakota State, a team that defeated the Wildcats, 57-55, earlier this season in the Paradise Jam. Sophomore guard Marverly Nettles leads the Crimson Tide with 14.8 points per game to complement 5.8 rebounds per game. Head coach Rick Moody is in his 16th season at the helm of the Tide with a career record of 306-165. He has led Alabama to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and is Alabama?s all-time winningest basketball coach (men?s or women?s) in school history.
Kentucky holds a 15-14 edge over the Crimson Tide in the all-time series and the Cats have won each of the last three meetings between the two schools. Last season, the Wildcats used 36 points and 24 rebounds from its senior class in their final home game to defeat the Tide 62-59.
The Cats are 10-13 (1981-2004) in conference openers, including a 2-1 record when meeting Alabama. The Tide own a 8-4 advantage when the game is played in Tuscaloosa although UK has won two of the last three meetings in Coleman Coliseum. UK?s last win at Alabama was a thrilling 73-71 victory in double overtime on Feb. 23, 2003.
Following Sunday?s game, the Wildcats return home to face nationally-ranked Georgia in Rupp Arena. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 18 and under and may be purchased online at ukathletics.com, in person at the athletics ticket office in Memorial Coliseum or by phone at 859-257-1818 or 1-800-927-CATS.
