Dec. 31, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Xavier’s Katie Hotz nailed a free throw with one secondremaining on the clock to defeat Kentucky 68-67 in Memorial Coliseum onFriday.
The Wildcats (7-4) saw the Musketeers (10-2) score five straightpoints to open the second half and take an eight-point lead, the largestof the game. UK climbed back to tie the game at 65 with only 18 secondsto go. A three-quarter court inbounds pass by Xavier’s Nicole Levanduskyto Hotz, led to a lay-up for a two-point lead, 67-65.
After a missed Erica Jackson shot and an Xavier time-out,Tiffany Wait stole the inbounds pass, dishing it off to LaTonya McDolewho was fouled with only two ticks on the clock. McDole hit both freethrows, tying the game at 67. After another long inbounds pass by theMusketeers, Holz was fouled with less than a second left in the game.She missed the first of two foul shots, but nailed the second to sealthe win. Jackson’s final attempt at the buzzer fell short.
“I felt we played good enough to win but we gave up way too manyoffensive rebounds,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “Xavier is toogood of a shooting team and you just give them second chances at a shot.I was pleased with how we hung in the game at the end because wehustled. We didn’t hang our heads when we got down, we fought and wegot back in the game.”
Kentucky was outrebounded 46-36, including a 28-16 deficit onthe offensive board. The Cats shot 39.4 percent (28-71) from the floorcompared to Xavier’s 42.1 percent (24-57) and a season-low 8.33 percent(1-12) from three-point land. The Musketeers, who led the nation lastseason in three-point percent shooting, charted 31.3 percent from behindthe arc with 5-of-16.
McDole led the Cats in scoring for the third consecutive gamewith a career-high 24 points and a season-high five steals. Seniorcenter Shantia Owens, who played most of the game in foul trouble,collected her third consecutive double-double with 17 points, shooting8-of-9 from the floor, while pulling down 17 rebounds to tie hercareer-high. Xavier was led by Holz and Levandusky both scoring 18.Levandusky also pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
“I think the key was the first couple minutes in the game andour kids came out confident,” Xavier Coach Melanie Balcomb said. “I wassurprised with the ending. McDole hit two big free throws and I toldour players the only thing we could do was go deep again. Kim (Holz)beat them down the floor three times, so we had to go with what worked.It has worked all year for us.”
UK finished the ’90s with a 150-129 overall record and return toaction Monday, Jan., 3 to face Winthrop in the first game of the newmillenium. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.
