Jan. 16, 2000
LEXINGTON, Kty. – For the first time in four tries the University of Kentuckywomen’s basketball team defeated Arkansas, winning 68-60, in front of5,139 fans at Memorial Coliseum, celebrating the team’s 25th Anniversaryas a varsity sport. Senior guard Tiffany Wait, a native of Hot Springs,Ark., led all scorers with a season-high 24 points.
Wait lit up the nets, shooting 6-of-9 from the floor including3-of-4 from three-point land and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.Senior center Shantia Owens followed with a season-high double-double of19 points and 12 rebounds. She also charted three blocks.
“I’m very proud of Tiffany (Wait) tonight,” UK Coach BernadetteMattox said. “We have been talking about her putting up points allseason and if we are going to make a run through the SEC, she has got toscore those type of points every time we step on the court. Shantia(Owens) was also major inside. I’ve always said she is the top forwardin the country. She does a tremendous job and she is why we are wherewe are now.”
The Cats (11-5, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) led by as many as18 points (33-15) with 1:55 remaining in the first half and took a 33-22lead at the intermission. The Lady Razorbacks (9-6, 0-3), who havedropped their last three SEC games, would not go down without a fight.Arkansas chipped away at Kentucky’s lead to make it a two-pointballgame, 52-50, with 4:43 left in the game. However, the Wildcatsconnected on 10-of-12 free throws in the final minutes to seal the win.
Arkansas was led by Lonniya Bragg’s 17 points and five rebounds.Leading scorer Wendi Willits, who also leads the SEC in three-pointfield goal percentage, was held to a season-low four points and zerothree-pointers.
“Wendi never got good looks at the basket today,” Arkansas CoachGary Blair said. “All of her shots were off balance. She got the shotsagainst Tennessee and LSU. We set screens in those games, but Tiffany(Wait) did an outstanding job fighting through screens and whoever elserotated on her.”
Kentucky, who had not beaten Arkansas since a 69-65 win on Jan.28, 1996, evened its all-time record against the Lady ‘Backs at 6-6. UKis now 5-1 versus Arkansas in Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats return to action on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. whenthey play host to No. 19/17 LSU in Lexington. The Lady Tigers are 12-3overall and 3-1 in the SEC. Thursday’s game will also be televised liveon Fox Sports Net with Ron Thulin and WNBA head coach Van Chancellor.