Dec. 7, 2001
Lexington, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will face intrastate rival Western Kentucky for the first time since 1999 on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. ET., in Bowling Green at the E.A. Diddle Arena.
“This game is special, not only because of the renewal of the state rivals, but because we are able to play in SeSe’s (Helm) hometown,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “It will be special for us and her family in Bowling Green.”
The Cats (3-3) hope to bounce back from a 73-64 setback at Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday. Senior forward LaTonya McDole, who scored a season-high 14 points against the RedHawks, needs just four points to become the 22nd member of UK’s 1,000-point club. Helm, who compiled 3,114 points and 1,486 rebounds and had her jersey retired last year at Warren Central High School in Bowling Green, continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The 6-4 sophomore has charted double figures in all six games this season. Junior guard Rita Adams leads the Southeastern Conference in steals, averaging 4.4 a game, and is third on the assists list, averaging 6.6 apg.
Western Kentucky (3-4) also looks to get back on the winning track after falling to Evansville on Wednesday, 76-59. Three Lady Toppers, all Kentucky natives, average in double figures with senior Natalie Powers leading the way. The Owensboro native averages 15.9 points a game while sophomore forward Leslie Logsdon, of Munfordville, follows with 15.1. Sophomore guard Kristina Covington, from Elizabethtown, is averaging 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Coach Shawn Campbell enters his first season with the Lady Toppers. Formerly the associate head coach at Temple (2000-01) and Virginia (1985-2000), Campbell became the 14th coach at Western Kentucky in July of 2001.
UK has won three straight over the Lady Toppers, including a 75-48 decision in the teams’ last meeting on Dec. 1, 1999 in Lexington. UK leads the all-time series 14-10 and the series is tied at five apiece when playing in Bowling Green. UK women’s basketball did not become a varsity sport until 1974-75, however, the teams met three times prior, with the Cats winning 27-19 in 1922 and 18-8 in 1924. The Lady Toppers defeated UK, 72-44 in 1973. Adding these three games, UK would lead the all-time series 16-11.
