Women’s basketball squad tops Wichita State for title.

WICHITA, Kan. (December 20, 1998) — Senior Jaye Barnes scored15 points and pulled down six rebounds to leadKentucky over Wichita State, 58-51, in thechampionship game of the 18th Annual Pizza HutShocker Shootout on Sunday. Barnes, whoscored a total of 31 points and 13 rebounds in thetwo-day tournament, was named the tournament’sMost Valuable Player.

The Shockers (6-2) came out on fire in the first half, climbing to a 9-0 leadbefore Kentucky post players made five unanswered layups to pull the Cats(9-2, 1-0) within three. UK then took the lead with nine minutes remaining inthe first half after Wichita State Coach Darryl Smith was whistled forback-to-back technical fouls and ejected from the game. UK’s Tiffany Waitnetted four straight foul shots to put UK up by three, 18-15.

The Shockers, however, battled back with the help of leading scorer KeomiJohnson. She netted 10 of her 21 points in the first half. WSU went on totake a 28-24 halftime lead.

The Wildcats, who turned the ball over 13 times in the first half, came out inthe second half with more patience and ball control, to commit only seventurnovers.

“We weren’t very patient with our offense in the first half,” UK CoachBernadette Mattox said. “We are a transition team and we love to run andpress. We just needed to take care of the basketball in the second half.”

UK outscored WSU 34-23 in the second half and hit 13-of-22 shots fromthe floor for 59.1 percent. Leading scorer for Kentucky was Barnes with 15points. Wait, who was named to the All Tournament team, added 14 pointsand three assists while freshman LaTonya McDole scored 10 points andpulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

Kentucky will return to Memorial Coliseum on Monday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.versus Cincinnati.