Jan. 5, 2003
Louisville, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team snapped a five-game win streak, dropping to the Louisville Cardinals, 86-62, in Freedom Hall Sunday afternoon.
After six ties and five lead changes in the opening minutes the Cardinals (8-4) exploded to a 20-0 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers by Kim Graham and Sara Nord. Louisville extended its lead to 38-18 before freshman Jenny Pfeiffer finally broke UK’s three-minute scoring drought with a bucket at the 6:15 mark. The Cards nailed seven of their season-high nine three-pointers in the first half. UK was outrebounded 25-15 and committed 11 turnovers compared to only two Louisville miscues in the first half. Senior Rita Adams, who led the Cats with 18 points, scored 11 in the opening stanza.
“We did not come ready to play,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “That three-minute stretch of not scoring is what killed us. We couldn’t recover although we played better in the second half. This game isn’t the end of the world just the end of our first season. We’ll get back to practice and start preparing for our second season, the Southeastern Conference.”
The Wildcats (7-5) came out of halftime looking to find an answer for their 55-28 deficit. UK closed the gap, 57-32, but the Cards would soon answer. Nord, who charted her first season and third career triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, hit her third trifecta of game to halt the Kentucky comeback. Louisville would eventually open a 33-point lead, its largest of the game with 12:00 remaining. The Cards shot 44.9 percent from the field compared to UK’s 41.1 percent. U of L never allowed the Cats within 23 points the remainder of the contest. The Cats were outrebounded by 17 (49-32) the largest margin this season. The Cats remain winless on the road at 0-4.
Pfeiffer hit three treys to follow Adams in the scoring column with 15 points. Junior SeSe Helm followed with 11 points and team-high seven boards. Sara Potts’ streak of 15 games with a three-pointer was snapped after the sophomore hit only one field goal and three free throws.Reserve player Nina Simotes led the Cards with 17 points while Nord and Amanda Wolke inked 16 points apiece. Kim Graham, a native of Bowling Green, had 11 points after shooting 100 percent from the field (3 of 3, 2-of-2 three-pointers, 2-of-2 free throws). Auburn transfer Lori Nero was held to only 10 points, coming into the game averaging 19.2 points per game.
The Cats lead the overall “Battle of the Bluegrass” series 27-12 and are tied at 9-9 when playing in Louisville. Coach Mattox is now 5-4 all-time versus Louisville. U of L Coach Martin Clapp is 3-4 against the Cats.
UK will open Southeastern Conference play on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. versus Alabama. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports South as the SEC “Game of the Week.” UK great Valerie Still’s jersey will be retired at halftime.
