Feb. 8, 2003
Lexington, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team looks to snap a three-game losing skid when the Wildcats play host to 18th-ranked Vanderbilt on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum. The Cats and the Commodores tip it off for the second time this season. UK also looks avenge an 84-50 loss to then 14th-ranked Vanderbilt on Jan. 19 in the Music City.
Although Vanderbilt leads the all-time series over UK, 18-12, the Cats own a 7-6 advantage over the Commodores in Lexington. UK has been playing well at home this season as it boasts a 6-2 in Memorial Coliseum. The Commodores are 5-4 on the road, 1-2 in league play.
“We had chances to win the past three games, we just have to find a way to get it done,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “Vanderbilt is a great team with a great inside-outside game with Chantelle Anderson inside and Ashley McElhiney and Jenni Benningfield providing that outside presence. We played them very close in Nashville but were defeated on the free throw line. I think this will be a great game to watch.”
Senior Rita Adams leads four players in double-figure scoring. Adams averages 13.8 points while Potts and Helm follow with 11.8 and 10.8, respectively. Despite missing the past three games with a broken left hand, Jenny Pfeiffer is the Cats’ fourth-leading scorer with 10.3 ppg.The Cats currently rank 11th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage. UK has hit 109-282 from behind the arc for 38.7 percent. Sharp-shooter Sara Potts leads the long-range attack, shooting a team-best 44.6 percent which ranks 13th in the nation.
No. 18/19 Vanderbilt travels to Lexington after defeating Alabama on Thursday. The Commodores are 14-7 overall and hold a 4-4 mark in conference play. Their last loss was against No. 3 Tennessee in Nashville, 81-67.
Senior center Chantelle Anderson leads three players in double-figure scoring, averaging 18.2 points a game. Louisville native, Jenni Benningfield, who led all scorers with 24 points in the teams’ first meeting this season, is the team’s second-leading scorer and leading rebounder with 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Senior point guard Ashley McElhiney rounds out the scoring column, dropping in 10.9 ppg.
First year Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb is no stranger to the Cats. She went 2-0 against Kentucky as the head coach at Xavier. Balcomb spent seven seasons with the Musketeers before being named VU’s coach on May 28, 2002. She replaced Jim Foster who was named head coach at Ohio State in April.
