Nov. 18, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team hits the roadfor its season opener with Ohio Valley Conference opponent Austin Peayon Friday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. ET in Clarksville, Tenn.

UK returns five starters from last year’s squad that defeatedthree nationally ranked opponents and advanced to the second round ofthe NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years.

The Cats are 18-7 in season openers and are 3-0 all-time versusthe Lady Governors. UK also beat APSU in its season opener last season,88-71 in Lexington. The Cats have never played Austin Peay inClarksville.

“We are anxious to get our season underway,” UK Coach BernadetteMattox, beginning her fifth season as coach of the Wildcats said.”We’ve been working hard in practice knowing that we’ve got a tough,tough road ahead of us. I am anxious to see how we execute against agood team like Austin Peay.”

UK, which opened last season with five straight wins beforefalling to top-ranked UCLA, faces one of the toughest schedules inschool history. Kentucky will play 15 teams that advanced to the NCAATournament, seven of which are ranked in this week’s Associated PressTop 25 poll.

The Cats also travel to Miami, Ohio on Monday, Nov. 22 beforefacing preseason No.1 Connecticut on Wednesday, Nov. 24 in the firstround of the Ikon Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge in Hartford, Conn.

Xavier Game Time Changed

Game time for the Kentucky women’s basketball game on Friday,Dec. 31 versus Xavier in Memorial Coliseum has been changed to 2 p.m.The game was originally scheduled for 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.