Women’s basketball finally succumbs to Huskies, 68-62.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) (Nov. 24, 1999) — The University ofKentucky women’s basketball team faced itsbiggest challenge of the season and almost pulledout the biggest upset of the season, falling to No.1Connecticut, 68-62, in the first round of theinaugural Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge onWednesday.
The Cats (2-1) came out on fire in the openingminutes, jumping to a 12-2 lead before UConnCoach Geno Auriemma had seen enough. The15-year veteran coach called a timeout with 15:58to go in the first half. The Huskies responded goingon a 13-2 run sparked by UConn freshmanKennitra Johnson’s seven points. The Cats wouldtie the game at 20 apiece when Johnson waswhistled for her second personal foul. CoachAuriemma repeatedly contested the officials call,drawing two techinal fouls and an ejection from thegame. UConn associate head coach Chris Daileytook over for Auriemma at the 5:45 mark. UKsenior Tiffany Wait stepped to the free throw lineand nailed four straight free throws to give the Cats’a 24-21 lead. UK went into halftime with a 35-31advantage over the Huskies.
“I am very pleased with my basketball team rightnow,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “Thisgame is a learning experience for us. We mademistakes that we will not make again and I think wecan only improve from here.”
The second half proved to be just as exciting as thefirst with the score knotting six times. The Catswould take the lead three different times in thesecond half before UConn tied the game 59 all with 1:59 remaining in thegame. After a layup by junior Shea Ralph and a Wildcat turnover,sophomore All-America candidate Svetlana Abrosimova nailed athree-pointer with 62 seconds left on the clock to clinch the victory for theHuskies.
“We haven’t won a big game in a long time,” UConn guard Ralph said.”This is the first time that we have been challenged by a good team andwon.”
Kentucky guard Erica Jackson led four Wildcats in double figures with 18.Wait and freshman Rita Adams both added 11 points while junior forwardLaura Meadows tallied 10 points, on 5-of-10 shooting. Senior centerShantia Owens grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds, including sevendefensive boards.
The Cats held the Huskies to 37.9 percent shooting from the floor and 25percent from three-point land. The Cats were outrebounded 41-35 andturned the ball over 22 times to UConn’s 18.
“Our theme this year is Taking It To Another Level'” senior Wildcat Waitsaid. “Regardless of tonight’s outcome I think everyone will see that we aretaking it to another level this season.”
UK will play Clemson, who lost to No. 14 Old Dominion, at 1:30 p.m. onFriday, Nov. 26 while UConn and ODU face off in the final round at 4:30p.m. on ESPN2. The Cats will return home on Dec. 1 to re-ignite theinterstate rivalry with Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.
