Dec. 6, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Lexington, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Dec. 7 when it plays host to intrastate rival Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The game is the 26th meeting between the teams and UK’s first matchup against the Lady Toppers in Lexington since 1999.
The Wildcats (2-2) are hoping to snap its two-game losing skid and put its last game against Evansville in the memory banks forever. UK fell in a heartbreaker to Evansville on Wednesday, 70-66. The bright spot for Kentucky was again super sophomore Sara Potts. The southpaw showcased another stellar shooting performance, nailing a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the arc to lead the Cats with a career-high tying 21 points.
“Anytime you play Western it’s going to be an exciting game and an exciting atmosphere,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “They have been playing great basketball this season and we must limit our turnovers. It’s going to be a battle.”
Potts is the Cats’ leading scorer, averaging 17.3 ppg, which more than doubles her average of 8.5 ppg from last season. Rita Adams and Shambrica Jones follow Potts in the scoring column, averaging 12.0 and 11.0 ppg, respectively.
UK is 14-11 all-time versus the Lady Toppers and has won three of the last four meetings. After a two-year absence, UK and Western met last season in Bowling Green with WKU winning 84-79. The Cats hold a 9-5 lead when playing in Lexington and haven’t played the Lady Toppers in Memorial Coliseum since 1999. UK won 75-48.
Western Kentucky travels to Lexington with a 2-1 overall record after a convincing 87-67 thrashing of another state rival, Louisville. The Lady Toppers also upset 10th-ranked Louisiana Tech 71-57 in their season-opener. WKU’s only loss was against Clemson, 69-62. WKU is not ranked but is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll.
WKU is led by first-year coach Mary Taylor Cowles. The Benton, Ky., native was named head coach on March 18, 2002 after serving as the associate head coach for the Lady Toppers from 1997-2001. Taylor also was a Lady Topper from 1987-91.
Four Lady Toppers are averaging double figures with Shala Reese leading the pack, averaging 19.3 points per game. Leslie Logsdon and Tiffany Porter-Talbert follow with 14.7 and 13.7 ppg. Kristina Covington rounds out the scoring column with 13.0 ppg.
Special Note: Saturday’s game is Child Safety Day
Beannie Wildcats will be given out to the first 200 children (ages 18 and under)
Various members of the UK football and men’s basketball team will be helping pass out free Child Identification Kits to all children (ages 18 and under)
Officers from the Lexington Police Department will be in attendance with mascot Captain Pal
Games and photos with Scratch and the Wildcat will be available on the upper concourse of Memorial Coliseum from 6-7 p.m. ET
Junior center and Bowling Green, Ky., native, SeSe Helm, will be signing autographs for 30 minutes following the game
