Dec. 6, 1999
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-Four Wildcats scored in double figures as the University of Kentucky women?s basketball team cruised past New Mexico in The Pit, 62-52.
The Wildcats (4-2) handed the Lobos (4-3) their first home loss of the season led by junior Laura Meadows? and senior Erica Jackson?s 14 points apiece. Seniors Tiffany Wait and Shantia Owens both added 12. UK outrebounded UNM 39-33, charged by Meadows and Owens with nine boards each. Over 150 Kentucky fans came out to see Albuquerque native Natalie Martinez. The 5-6 guard entered the game at the 10:33 mark, nailed a three-pointer and grabbed a rebound.
“We used a balanced attack tonight,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “I thought we did a great job on the boards and that is something we?ve been working on. I?m proud of the way we came into a hostile environment and pulled out a victory.”
The Lobos controlled the pace early, taking its biggest lead, 10-5. The Cats used its up-tempo defense and full court pressure to answer back, leading 35-24 at the half. The Lobos would pull as close as eight points with 2:09 remaining in the game but could not recoverr. The second half began with a furious pace as the first ended. UK pulled ahead by 13 points in the first two minutes of the second half. Jackson netted 3-of-4 from three-point land to give the Cats their biggest lead with eight minutes to go in the game.
New Mexico was led by Miranda Sanchez with 11 points and Jordan Adams with 10.
UK will play its next three games on the road with Liberty on Saturday, Dec. 11. The Cats will not return home until home until Dec. 28 when it faces Tennessee-Martin.
