The Kentucky women?s basketball team will begin 2004 on the road when they take on Cincinnati on Friday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Fifth-Third Arena at the Shoemaker Center.
The Wildcats (7-4) finished the 2003 portion of their schedule with 7-4 record after cruising to an 82-56 win over Austin Peay Tuesday before a season-high 6,712 fans at Memorial Coliseum. The crowd was the most at Memorial since 8,130 fans witnessed the UK vs. Tennessee game on Jan. 23, 2000.
?We had some players really step up for us in our last game and we are hoping to take that momentum to Cincinnati,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?I know UC has some really good shooters and we?ll have to increase our defensive intensity and continue to take care of the basketball.?
The Cats are riding a three-game win streak into the game with Cincinnati with two of the three wins coming on the road. UK defeated Miami and Western Kentucky before the Christmas break on the road and are 2-2 on the season on the opponent?s home floor.
Cincinnati rounded out its 2003 schedule with a 7-5 record after falling to nationally-ranked Michigan State on Monday, 55-43. The Bearcats have lost four of their last five games but are 5-2 when playing at home.
UK holds a 17-5 advantage in the all-time series vs. UC, including a slight 5-4 lead when the game is played in the Queen City. UK defeated the Bearcats last season in Lexington, 69-67, in a back-and-fourth game that saw six lead changes in the second half. UK has won five of the last seven meetings against UC.
Three Wildcats are averaging in double-digits this season. Senior SeSe Helm leads the way in scoring and rebounding with 17.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She ranks second in field goal percentage in the Southeastern Conference, shooting 60.7 percent (74-of-122) from the field. Junior Sara Potts, who charted her second double-double of the season vs. Austin Peay (21 points/11 rebounds) follows with 14.6 points and 6.6 boards a contest. Sophomore guard Jenny Pfeiffer is the team?s third leading scorer, averaging 11.1 ppg. She ranks second in the SEC standings in free throw shooting percentage, hitting 86.1 percent (31-of-36) from the charity stripe.
