November 13, 1998

LEXINGTON, Kty. – The University of Kentucky battled foul trouble in the first half, but used junior Tiffany Wait’s 22 points to edge past the Mississippi All-Stars, 90-83, in Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats finish their preseason exhibition games with a 2-0 record.

Newcomer Shantia Owens added 16 points and a team-high ten rebounds to record her first double-double as a Wildcat. Three other Wildcats scored in double figures as Lexington native Erica Jackson and freshman LaTonya McDole netted 12 points apiece and senior Jaye Barnes added 11 points, all in the second half.

“I’m glad we won tonight, but most importantly I’m glad were we able to play a game like this early,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “We’ve got to get better on defense. The team we saw in our first exhibition game is not the kind of athletic talent that we are going to see in this conference.”

The Mississippi All-Stars were led by Tina Webb and Nicole Stovall, who each scored 20 points, while Cassandra Lupkins and Gussie Collins added 15 points apiece.

Kentucky will open its regular season on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. versus Austin Peay in Memorial Coliseum. The game has been deemed “Sell-Out Sunday” and the first 1,000 fans will receive posters. There will also be a T-shirt give-a-away and one person will win a trip to anywhere in the continental United States in a random drawing.