Women’s basketball hosts Tigers Thursday in Memorial Coliseum.

LEXINGTON, Kty. (Jan. 5, 2000) — The University of Kentuckywomen’s basketball team plays host to No. 5Auburn on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. in MemorialColiseum to open Southeastern Conference play.

Kentucky (8-4) looks to avenge a one-point loss tothe Tigers last season in Lexington and win its thirdstraight SEC-opener against Auburn. The Cats are2-2 in SEC openers, 2-0 versus AU. This is the24th meeting between teams. Auburn holds a 15-8advantage in the all-time series record.

Auburn enters Memorial Coliseum ranked No. 5 inthe Associated Press Poll with an 11-1 overallrecord. The Tigers only loss came to No. 12 PennState 77-65. PSU was Auburn’s only rankednon-conference opponent this season.

“Auburn is a tough team and they are coming inhere, riding on a six-game win streak,” UK CoachBernadette Mattox said. “All the games we haveplayed thus far have been to prepare us for theSEC season. We are happy to be playing them inour gym.”

Three Wildcat starters average in double-digitscoring this season. Junior forward Laura Meadowsleads the trio with 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds pergame. Sophomore forward LaTonya McDole, whowas named this week’s SEC Player of the Week,follows with 12. 4 ppg and 6.2 rebounds. Seniorguard Erica Jackson rounds out the double-figurescoring with 11.9 ppg.

All-SEC candidates, Tasha Hamilton andConswella Sparrow lead the Tigers in scoring thisseason, averaging 13.8 and 10.4 points per game,respectively. Auburn is led Joe Ciampi, who enters his 21st season as headcoach of the Tigers. He has charted a 480-151 overall record at Auburn andhas never coached a losing season.