Feb. 19, 2000

After a heart-breaking loss to nationally-ranked Georgia onThursday, the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team looks tobounce back into a winning streak when it takes on South Carolina onSunday, Feb. 20 in Columbia, S.C. Game time is slated at 2 p.m. at theFrank McGuire Arena and will be broadcast on WLXG-AM Sports Radio 1300.

The Wildcats (12-11, 4-7 Southeastern Conference) took No.2/3Georgia down to the wire in Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, falling 73-69after Erica Jackson was forced out of bounds with 25 seconds remainingin the game. Jackson led four Cats in double figures, scoring 19points. South Carolina (11-3, 2-10 SEC) had a heartbreaker of its own,falling to Alabama 69-67 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“South Carolina is a much improved team,” UK Coach BernadetteMattox said. “Their record is no indication of their play. They have abig-time player in Annie Lester and we must contain her on Sunday andcrash the boards in order come out with a win.”

Lester, a 6-0 senior, dropped 32 points on the Cats last Sundayand accomplished that feat again on Thursday versus the Tide. Lesterleads the Lady Gamecocks in scoring (12.7) and is second on the team inrebounding (5.2).

Last Sunday versus South Carolina, the Cats pulled out a 73-71victory, after Jocelyn Penn’s last second 10-footer rimmed out. UK helda 16-point lead in the first half before allowing South Carolina to pullwithin 71-70 with 1:46 remaining. Four Wildcats scored in doublefigures as sophomore forward LaTonya McDole led with 16. Laura Meadowsfollowed with 15 while Jackson and Tiffany Wait scored 14 and 11 points,respectively.

The Cats lead the all-time series 16-7 against South Carolinaand are 9-2 versus the Lady Gamecocks in Lexington. However, SouthCarolina holds a 5-4 advantage over the Cats when playing in Columbia.Last season in Columbia, Jackson nailed a 25-foot Hail Mary at thebuzzer to defeat USC, 78-76, marking Kentucky’s first win in the FrankMcGuire arena in three tries.