Jan. 26, 2002
Lexington, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will face the Crimson Tide of Alabama in the second of a three-game home stint on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The Cats (8-11) are 1-6 in Southeastern Conference play, with their only league win coming against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 6.
UK looks to snap its five-game skid in the SEC after falling, 75-59, to the LSU Lady Tigers on Thursday. Two Cats are averaging in double figures, led by sophomore SeSe Helm at 17.0 points per game, followed by junior Rita Adams with 11.5 ppg. Adams, who is ranked in several SEC statistical categories, leads the conference in steals, while UK ranks third overall. Helm is also among the tops in the SEC, as the sixth leading scorer. Her .814 free throw percentage is good for fifth in the conference.
“I’m really pleased with the way SeSe (Helm) and Rita (Adams) are playing right now,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “They are really carrying us. But, we need other players to step up if we want to be a contender in this conference. Now that we are deep in SEC play, we know what it is going to take to win some games, and that means being a more balanced team. I think we are starting to learn that.”
Alabama, who has improved to 2-4 since the loss to UK, is coming off an upset win over No. 22 Auburn, 78-70, in Tuscaloosa. UA is 1-2 on the road in the SEC, and 4-5 overall. Senior Shondra Johnson leads the Tide in scoring with 15.5 points a game, while Kentucky native (Mt. Sterling) and junior Beth Vice follows closely behind with 12.5 ppg. Alabama Coach Rick Moody is in his 13th season at the helm of the Tide. He has guided Alabama to 10 consecutive post-season appearances, and has twice led UA to 10-win seasons in the SEC.UK has won four out of the last five meetings with Alabama, and with a win Sunday the Cats could even up the all-time series at 13 apiece.
Sunday’s game is “Women In Sports Day”. The UK women’s golf, soccer and volleyball teams will be playing interactive games and signing autographs beginning at 1 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.
