December 4, 1998

LEXINGTON, Kty. –The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will face its first conference test on the road when it meets undefeated Auburn on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. in the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.

The Wildcats (5-1) are off to their best start since the 1986-87 season. UK won five straight games before falling to No. 10 UCLA (64-54) in the finals of the 20th Annual Rainbow Wahine Classic last weekend. The Tigers (4-0) are also off to an impressive start after charting wins over Troy State (83-53), Florida A&M (83-74), UT-Martin (81-46) and UNC Asheville (74-62).

Auburn is led by the Southeastern Conference’s Player of the Week, Conswella Sparrow. She currently leads the Tigers in scoring and rebounding, averaging 20.5 points and 14.0 rebounds per game. Senior Jaye Barnes leads Kentucky in scoring with 15.2 points and ties with junior Shantia Owens in rebounding, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game. Four of UK’s five starters are averaging double figures while Owens pushes the double-figure mark at 9.7 points per game.

“It’s going to be tough playing Auburn,” junior Tiffany Wait said. “They have good outside shooters and a good inside game. Of course every opponent in the SEC is tough. We just need to be ready to play.”

The Cats will return to Memorial Colsieum for back-to-back home games versus Miami, Ohio on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Liberty on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.