Feb. 6, 2000
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team lost its fifth straight Southeastern Conference game, falling to Arkansas, 83-70 on Sunday in Fayetteville.
The Cats (11-10, 3-6) were plagued by foul trouble in the first half, trailing 51-37 at intermission. Three starters Erica Jackson, Shantia Owens and LaTonya McDole, each picked up three fouls in the first half. Owens was then whistled for her final foul with 19 minutes remaining in the game. Jackson and McDole also fouled out of the game with two minutes to go.
“The major factor in this game was that I didn’t have my post player,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “She was the big factor in the game in Lexington. We also allowed them to shoot threes in this game that we didn’t allow at home. That was major.” Mattox said.
The Razorbacks (14-7, 4-4) outrebounded the Cats 38-22 and shot 59.6 percent >from the floor compared to Kentucky’s 42.6 percent. Wendi Willits and Karyn Karlin each scored 18 points to lead the Lady `Backs in scoring.
“Arkansas played some good defensive tonight,” Mattox said. ” We knew they would come out and try to stop Tiffany Wait and that’s what they did.”
Wait, who averages 16.2 points against the Hogs and scored a season-high 24 points versus Arkansas in January, was held to seven points. However, she needed only three points to move ahead of Belitta Croley for UK’s eighth all-time leading scorer. The senior guard has charted 1,344 points in her five-year career and needs 14 more to move ahead of Kristi Cushenberry for the seventh position.
Jackson led the Cats with 16 points while Laura Meadows added 15. Also scoring in double digits was McDole with 13 and Natalie Martinez with 11.
UK returns to action next Sunday when it plays host to South Carolina at 2 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.
