Dec. 4, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team continues ittough nonconference road schedule on Monday, Dec. 6 when it meets theLobos of New Mexico in Albuquerque for the first time in school history.Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET in The Pit.

The Wildcats (3-2), coming off a 27-point win over instate rivalWestern Kentucky in their home opener on Wednesday, look to capturetheir first road victory since a 38-point win over Miami Ohio on Nov.22. The Cats marginally fell to top-ranked UConn and Clemson in theCoaches vs. Cancer Challenge in Hartford, Conn., last weekend.

“We know playing a good team like New Mexico can only help usimprove and prepare us for our tough conference schedule,” UK CoachBernadette Mattox said. “The Lobos play in a great atmosphere at ThePit and it will be a big challenge for our team to get mentally andphysically ready to play in Albuquerque.”

Monday’s game versus New Mexico also marks a homecoming forWildcat Natalie Martinez. The senior point guard, who averages 4.8points for the Cats, is a native of Albuquerque where she was afour-year standout at Rio Grande High School. As a senior, Martinez wasnamed Gatorade State Player of the Year and was a unanimous all-districtand all-city select all four years. She also led the state in assiststhree consecutive seasons, averaging 8.7 assists per game in her seniorseason.

The Lobos (3-2) return eight letterwinners and four startersfrom last year’s squad that finished 24-7 overall and 12-2 in theWestern Athletic Conference. UNM ended the 1998-99 campaign with itssecond-best record in school history and its 12 WAC wins were aschool-best. The Lobos were 17-1 last season in The Pit. They are ledby fifth-year head coach Don Flanagan.