February 11, 1999

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of Kentucky guard Erica Jackson hit agame-winning shot at the buzzer to defeat South Carolina 78-76 in Columbiaon Thursday.

The Wildcats (16-8, 6-6), who chart their second straight conference winafter defeating No. 8 Georgia on Sunday, tied the game 76-76 with :27seconds remaining after forward Kenya Young scored two of her career-high12 points. After a missed field goal by USC’s Nikki Miars with :04.5seconds remaining in the game UK took it’s last time out. Jackson took theinbounds pass the length of the floor and shot an 18-footer at the buzzerto win the game.

“You really have to praise South Carolina because they never gave up,” UKCoach Bernadette Mattox said. “I am pleased with our players although wecame in a little flat tonight. I felt we missed some easy shots that weusually make.”

The Wildcats led 47-37 in first half on the outside scoring of guards LauraMeadows and Wait. The duo combined for 5-of-8 from the three-point line inthe first half. USC would come out on fire in the second half, going on a11-2 run to pull back game into the game and take the lead for the firsttime in the second half, 59-58.

Meadows led all scorers and rebounders with 20 points and 10 rebounds whileWait and Jackson followed with 14 apiece. The Lady Gamecocks (10-13, 0-12)were led by Shaunzinski Gortman and Jocelyn Penn who both scored 17 points.UK was outrebounded for the first time in six games 38-32 and shot 63percent from the free-throw line compared to USC’s 72.7 percent.

With tonight’s SEC win, the Cats chart their most conference wins sincefinishing 6-2 in the 1982-83 season. It also marks UK’s most wins sincefinishing 17-11 in 1993-94.

UK will remain on the road for its next two games, traveling to MississippiState on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. and Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, Feb. 16at 6:30 p.m.