Nov. 24, 1999
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – The University of Kentucky women?s basketball team faced its biggest challenge of the season and almost pulled out the biggest upset of the season, falling to No.1 Connecticut, 68-62, in the first round of the inaugural Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge on Wednesday.
The Cats (2-1) came out on fire in the opening minutes, jumping to a 12-2 lead before UConn Coach Geno Auriemma had seen enough. The 15-year veteran coach called a timeout with 15:58 to go in the first half. The Huskies responded going on a 13-2 run sparked by UConn freshman Kennitra Johnson?s seven points. The Cats would tie the game at 20 apiece when Johnson was whistled for her second personal foul. Coach Auriemma repeatedly contested the officials call, drawing two techinal fouls and an ejection from the game. UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey took over for Auriemma at the 5:45 mark. UK senior Tiffany Wait stepped to the free throw line and nailed four straight free throws to give the Cats? a 24-21 lead. UK went into halftime with a 35-31 advantage over the Huskies.
?I am very pleased with my basketball team right now,? UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. ?This game is a learning experience for us. We made mistakes that we will not make again and I think we can only improve from here.?
The second half proved to be just as exciting as the first with the score knotting six times. The Cats would take the lead three different times in the second half before UConn tied the game 59 all with 1:59 remaining in the game. After a layup by junior Shea Ralph and a Wildcat turnover, sophomore All-America candidate Svetlana Abrosimova nailed a three-pointer with 62 seconds left on the clock to clinch the victory for the Huskies.
?We haven?t won a big game in a long time, ? UConn guard Ralph said. ?This is the first time that we have been challenged by a good team and won.?
Kentucky guard Erica Jackson led four Wildcats in double figures with 18. Wait and freshman Rita Adams both added 11 points while junior forward Laura Meadows tallied 10 points, on 5-of-10 shooting. Senior center Shantia Owens grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds, including seven defensive boards.
The Cats held the Huskies to 37.9 percent shooting from the floor and 25 percent from three-point land. The Cats were outrebounded 41-35 and turned the ball over 22 times to UConn?s 18.
?Our theme this year is ?Taking It To Another Level?? senior Wildcat Wait said. ?Regardless of tonight?s outcome I think everyone will see that we are taking it to another level this season.?
UK will play Clemson, who lost to No. 14 Old Dominion, at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26 while UConn and ODU face off in the final round at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The Cats will return home on Dec. 1 to re-ignite the interstate rivalry with Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.
