Wait scores 24 in game celebrating 25th anniversary of UK women’s hoops.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 16, 2000) — For the first time in four triesthe University of Kentucky women’s basketballteam defeated Arkansas, winning 68-60, in front of5,139 fans at Memorial Coliseum, celebrating theteam’s 25th Anniversary as a varsity sport. Seniorguard 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 floorincluding 3-of-4 from three-point land and 9-of-10from the free throw line. Senior center ShantiaOwens followed with a season-high double-doubleof 19 points and 12 rebounds. She also chartedthree blocks.
“I’m very proud of Tiffany (Wait) tonight,” UKCoach Bernadette Mattox said. “We have beentalking about her putting up points all season and ifwe are going to make a run through the SEC, shehas got to score those type of points every time westep on the court. Shantia (Owens) was also majorinside. I’ve always said she is the top forward in thecountry. She does a tremendous job and she is whywe are where we are now.”
The Cats (11-5, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) ledby as many as 18 points (33-15) with 1:55remaining in the first half and took a 33-22 lead atthe intermission. The Lady Razorbacks (9-6, 0-3),who have dropped their last three SEC games,would not go down without a fight. Arkansaschipped away at Kentucky’s lead to make it atwo-point ballgame, 52-50, with 4:43 left in thegame. However, the Wildcats connected on10-of-12 free throws in the final minutes to seal the win.
Arkansas was led by Lonniya Bragg’s 17 points and five rebounds. Leadingscorer Wendi Willits, who also leads the SEC in three-point field goalpercentage, was held to a season-low four points and zero three-pointers.
“Wendi never got good looks at the basket today,” Arkansas Coach GaryBlair said. “All of her shots were off balance. She got the shots againstTennessee and LSU. We set screens in those games, but Tiffany (Wait) didan outstanding job fighting through screens and whoever else rotated 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. UK is now5-1 versus Arkansas in Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats return to actionon Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. when they play host to No. 19/17 LSU inLexington. The Lady Tigers are 12-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. Thursday’sgame will also be televised live on Fox Sports Net with Ron Thulin andWNBA head coach Van Chancellor.
