Jan. 14, 2000
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Laura Meadows scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Kentucky, but it wouldn’t be enough, however, as Vanderbilt defeated the Wildcats in overtime, 60-55, in Memorial Gym.
The Wildcats’ (10-5, 2-1) tied the game 53 apiece at the end of regulation on two of Shantia Owen’s 12 points after being down by seven (the biggest margin of the night) with 13:16 left in the game. Vanderbilt (14-2, 2-0) would then go on a 7-2 run in overtime, netting 3-of-7 free throws and 2-of-7 from the floor. Kentucky went 1-of-7 in extra minutes, missing three attempts from the three-point line.
Both teams struggled offensively throughout the game as Kentucky hit 20-of-57 (35.1%) and Vanderbilt hit 20-of-65 (30.8%).
“We knew coming in tonight that this was going to be a fight,” junior forward Laura Meadows said. “It’s the SEC and you have to battle for everything. We didn’t hit the glass tonight and you have to rebound in order to score.”
The Commodores outrebounded Kentucky 48-26, including a 26-17 margin on the offensive boards. Freshman center Chantelle Anderson led the Dores in scoring with 20 points while this week’s SEC Player of the Week Zuzi Klimesova grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
The first half proved to be a defensive battle as both teams netted only eight field goals apiece. The Cats jumped out to an early 6-2 lead before going 10 minutes without a basket. The Cats’ scoring slump allowed the Commodores to rally back to take a 24-21 lead at the half, despite shooting only 26.7 percent.
Meadows’ 21 points and 11 rebounds marks her third season double-double and eighth career. Along with Meadows and Owens, Jackson also netted double-figures with 10 points. Starters LaTonya McDole and Tiffany Wait were limited to a combined six points after playing most of the game in foul trouble. Wait and Owens both fouled out in overtime.
Kentucky will play host to three straight home games beginning with Arkansas on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. The game will be televised live on Fox Sport South Net as the SEC’s Game of the Week. Former UK All-American Valerie Still, now of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, along with many other great alumni will return on Sunday to help the Wildcats celebrate the 25th anniversary as a varsity sport.
