Four Wildcats hit double-figure scoring as UK downs Louisville, 75-65.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2000) — The Kentucky women’sbasketball team took a 75-65 win versus Louisvilleon Tuesday in Lexington in the annual Battle of theBluegrass. UK (13-12, 3-8 SEC) extended itshome win streak against the Lady Cards to 12,having not lost to Louisville at home in 21 years.
For the fourth time in five games, four Wildcatsscored in double figures. Two Wildcats alsocharted double-double performances. SophomoreLaTonya McDole recorded her fourth season andfifth career double-double with a team-high 18points and a career-tying 14 boards. Owens, whoalso scored 18 points on the night, added 12boards for her sixth season and eighth careerdouble-double. Seniors Tiffany Wait and EricaJackson followed in the scoring column with 15 and12 points, respectively.
“The difference for us tonight was that we were theaggressors on offense,” UK Coach BernadetteMattox said. “We played great team defense aswell and picked up the rebounding in the secondhalf. This was a much needed team win andhopefully we can keep it up heading into the SECTournament.”
Kentucky jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first halfbefore foul trouble began to plague the Cats.Louisville (15-11, 8-6 Conference USA) nailed aperfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line in the firsthalf to tie the score 40 all at the intermission. SeniorAll-American Candidate Jill Morton scored 20points in the first 25 minutes of the game, but washeld to two points over the last 15 minutes.
“UK wasn’t setting good screens,” U of L Coach Martin Clapp said ofMorton’s play. “In the second half though, (Erica) Jackson did a great job.Jill had a shadow the whole second half. I give Erica and Bernadette creditfor making that change.”
Also in the scoring column tonight were senior Natalie Martinez and juniorLaura Meadows. Both players scored six points apiece. Meadows endedthe night 10 points shy of becoming the 21st Wildcat to record 1,000 pointsin a career.
UK out-rebounded U of L 18-8 over the last 10:30. The Cats are 8-1 thisseason when grabbing more rebounds than their opponents. In the overallseries, UK holds a 27-9 lead over Louisville 27-9, including a 15-2advantage in Lexington.
The Cats have no time to celebrate the victory as they return to SoutheasternConference action on Thursday at Ole Miss. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. inOxford, Miss.
