Jan. 29, 2000
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team travels toKnoxville, Tenn., on Super Bowl Sunday to face No. 4 Tennessee inThompson-Boling Arena. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. and will betelevised on Comcast Sports Southeast. CSS is not available inLexington. WLXG-AM Sports Radio 1300 will provide the radio broadcast.
Exactly one week ago, the Wildcats nearly pulled an upset overthe Lady Vols in a packed Memorial Coliseum. UT jumped to an early21-point lead before Kentucky rallied back in the second half to pullwithin two with only two minutes remaining. The Lady Vols nailedcrucial free throws in the end to seal the win, 71-65. Sophomoreforward LaTonya McDole led the Cats in scoring with 18 points whilesenior guard Erica Jackson and junior forward Laura Meadows followedwith 11 and 10 points, respectively. All 11 of Jackson’s points wherescored in the second half.
The Cats (11-8, 3-4) enter Sunday’s game riding a three-gamelosing streak after a heartbreaking 68-67 loss to Alabama on Thursday.Tennessee (14-3, 4-1) enters Sunday’s game after facing No. 8 N.C. Stateon Saturday night in Cleveland, Ohio.
“The only thing positive about playing Kentucky less than 24hours after playing N.C. State is that we just played them,” UT CoachPat Summitt said. “We are familiar with them and they are familiar withus.”
UT holds a 17-game win streak over UK. The Wildcats have notbeaten the Lady Vols in 14 years, since a 92-86 win in Lexington, Jan.24, 1986. The Cats are 2-12 when playing in Knoxville. The last timeUK came away with a win against the Lady Vols in the Volunteer state wasJan. 23, 1985. The Cats won 76-72 in overtime.
“Like every game in the SEC, this game in important,” UK CoachBernadette Mattox said. “We aren’t hanging our heads after Alabama. Weare still a good basketball team. This SEC schedule is brutal and wehave to go out every night and play as hard as we can. It’s difficultto play on the road but that’s what make us a better team.”
Kentucky’s five starters are also the Cats’ top five scorersthis season. Meadows and McDole lead the pack averaging 12.1 points pergame. Jackson follows with 11.3 ppg while senior center Shantia Owensaverages 11.3 ppg. Senior guard Tiffany Wait follows in the scoringcolumn with 9.1 ppg.
Sophomore Tamika Catchings leads the way for the Lady Vols with14.9 points per game. Freshman Kara Lawson averages 14.3 ppg and notfar behind is junior Semeka Randall with 14.2 ppg.
