Feb. 13, 2000
Four Wildcats scored in double figures as the University ofKentucky held on to defeat South Carolina on Sunday 73-71 in MemorialColiseum. LaTonya McDole led UK with 16 points.
The Cats (12-10, 4-6 Southeastern Conference) came out on firein the first half jumping to a 16-point lead with 10 minutes remainingin the half. South Carolina (12-11, 2-9 SEC) battled back to bring thescore within three (62-59) on two of senior Annie Lester’s career-high32 points. The 6-0 forward scored 14 points in the first half and 18 inthe second, while also leading the Lady Gamecocks with seven rebounds.
“Lester is a big-time senior who stepped up for them today, ” UKCoach Bernadette Mattox said. “That’s what seniors are supposed to do.Like Erica (Jackson) and Tiffany (Wait). That is what they did tonightas well. They stepped up for us and put up some big-time points when weneeded them.”
Kentucky led by six (71-65) at the 3:41 mark before USC guardKelly Morrone nailed a field goal and a three-point shot to narrow themargin to one point with 1:46 left in the game. McDole put back amissed jumper by Laura Meadows to push the Cats’ lead back to three,73-70. After a Wildcat foul on Meadows, Lester hit one of two freethrows. Senior center Shantia Owens grabbed the defensive rebound onthe missed free throw before two UK turnovers gave USC the ball backwith four seconds to go. Lady Gamecock Shanta Jeffcoat’s shot to tiethe game hit the back board and rimmed out.
“Four seconds is plenty of time to get the ball down the floor,take it to the hole and score,” USC Coach Susan Walvius said. “We gotthe ball in Shanta’s hands, she took it to the hole, but it just rimmedout. When you are in a situation like that you want to get the ballinbounds and take it to the hole”
Jackson and Wait poured in 14 and 11 points respectively, whileMeadows came off the bench to net 15 points. Owens led with sevenrebounds. Lester led USC with 32 while Marrone charted 16 points andsix assists. Lester’s sister Jocelyn Penn added 12 points in theeffort.
“It just feels good to win,” Wait said. “This is the way wewant to fell all the time. We still have five games, including Georgiaon Thursday, so we need to just take it one game at a time.”
Kentucky shot 50.0 percent from the floor compared to SouthCarolina’s 46.3 percent. The Cats scored 25 points off 26 Lady Gamecockturnovers and recorded 23 points from bench play.The Cats now lead the all-time series 16-7 with South Carolina and are9-2 versus the Lady Gamecocks in Lexington. UK will face USC again onTuesday, Feb. 20 in Columbia, S.C.
Kentucky’s next game is Thursday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. when itplays host to No. 2/No.3 Georgia in Memorial Coliseum. Fox Sports NetSouth will televise the game live as the SEC’s Game of the Week.
