Dec. 1, 2001
Lexington, KY – Freshman Sara Potts dropped in a team- and career-high 15 points and hit three three-pointers to lead four Wildcats in double digits in a 60-57 win over the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday at Memorial Coliseum. Sophomores SeSe Helm and Stephanie Stoglin followed with 11 points each and senior LaTonya McDole added 10.
UK, which led 32-25 at the half, held an eight-point advantage, 54-46, with 3:19 left in the second half before the Hurricanes (3-2) whittled the lead down to one, 58-57, with 45.8 seconds to go. After the teams traded turnovers and blocked shots, Helm was fouled underneath the UK basket with 12.7 seconds left. Helm, who ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in free throw percentage at 90.5, sank two of her six points in the final two minutes to up the lead to three. Miami had a chance to send the game to overtime but the Wildcat defense forced a rushed three-point attempt from UM’s Hutashi Wilson which hit the rim and bounced out.
“This win will definitely boost our confidence,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “I am proud of the way we held our composure and turned the offense over in the second half. I’m also proud of the way Sara (Potts) stepped up and played. SeSe (Helm) hit some big free throws down the stretch and we looked poised in the final minutes of the game.”
Helm finished the game with 11 points and was 5-of-6 free throws. She also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and had two steals. McDole pulled down seven rebounds and junior guard Rita Adams dished out a new career-high 10 assists.
“I like being in pressure situations,” Helm said. “It makes all of us play harder and play together. We played as a team tonight. It wasn’t one person that won this game, it was all of us.”
Miami, who defeated the Cats last season in Coral Gables, Fla., (74-59) also had four players in double figures. Shaquana Wilkins, Meghan Saake and Chanivia Broussard all finished with 12 points while Wilson finished with 10. Broussard also registered four blocks.
UK leads the all-time series over Miami, 5-1, including a 3-0 advantage in Lexington.
Kentucky improves to 3-2 on the season and returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 5, to face Miami University in Oxford, Ohio at 7 p.m. in the first of three straight road games. UK will also meet intrastate rival Western Kentucky and Virginia Commonwealth in away outings next week.
