Jan. 24, 2002
Lexington, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s basketball team looks to snap a four-game losing streak when it faces Louisiana State in Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. ET, the first of three straight home games for the Cats.
The Wildcats (8-10, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) fell to No. 8 South Carolina on Sunday and were led by junior Rita Adams’ 18 points and SeSe Helms’ 11 points and team-high 11 rebounds. Helm, who has scored in double-figures in every game this season, is UK’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 17.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. With her 11 points against USC, Helm surpassed the 600-point mark in only 42 games at UK. She is the second fastest Wildcat to accomplish the feat as former UK All-American Valerie Still did it in only 29 games. Adams is the team’s second leading scorer with 11.3 points per game. She is the league-leader in steals and is 11th in the nation, averaging 3.8 steals per game. Senior forward LaTonya McDole is the team’s third leading scorer with 8.4 points per game and is the second leading rebounder with 6.4 rpg.
LSU, ranked No. 24 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, enters the game on a two-game win streak after defeating Ole Miss (88-57) and Arkansas (65-55) last week. The Lady Tigers are 10-6 overall, 3-2 in the SEC. LSU’s two conference losses came to nationally ranked Georgia and Tennessee.
“LSU has only eight players on its roster this season due to injuries but they are a very talented team,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “They are aggressive and quick and what they lack in size they make up for with athletic ability.”
Coach Sue Gunter is in her 20th year at LSU and 38th overall. With an overall record of 643 wins and only 290 losses, Gunter is the winningest coach in LSU history and the fourth-winningest coach in NCAA history.
Four Lady Tigers are averaging in double-digit scoring this season. Sophomore guard Doneeka Hodges leads team with 15.5 points per game. Center Aiysha Smith follows with 15.0 ppg while freshman Scholanda Dorrell and sophomore Roneeka Hodges average 12.5 and 10.1 ppg, respectively.
This is the 22nd meeting between the two teams. LSU is riding a three-game win streak over the Cats and owns a 15-7 lead in the all-time series. Last season against the 11th-ranked Lady Tigers, UK lost an 18-point first-half lead before falling, 87-64 in Baton Rouge. The Cats met LSU again in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Memphis. UK fell 72-57.The Cats are 4-5 against the Lady Tigers in Memorial Coliseum, dropping a 66-59 decision in Lexington on Jan., 20, 2000. UK’s last win over LSU came in the first round of the SEC Tournament in 1999, 81-71.
Kentucky will play host to Alabama on Sunday, Jan. 27 and Georgia on Sunday, Feb. 3.
