Lady Cats seven-game home win streak comes to an end.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 12, 1998) — Liberty University hit 29-of-31 free throws to upsetKentucky, 80-76, in Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.
The Wildcats (7-2,1-0) were riding on a seven-game home win streak andwere looking for their eighth victory of the season. The Cats dominated theentire first half, taking an 18-point lead (42-24) with the help of junior TiffanyWait’s three three-pointers. UK shot 50 percent from the floor in the first halfcompared to Liberty’s 37.9 percent. UK went into the locker room with aten-point lead, 46-36, but came out in the second half on a shooting slump.
“We missed our shots and they hit theirs,” Wait said. “I think the intensityswitched teams in the second half. We were rushing our shot and they justout-hustled us.”
The Lady Flames, who finished 28-0 last season before dropping to No. 1Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, chipped away atKentucky’s lead and tied the game for the first time (58-58) with 7:51remaining. Liberty’s Elena Kisseleva proved to be the spark plug for theFlames as she led all scorers with 22 points. The 6-1 junior also nettednine-of-nine free throws and pulled down seven boards. Also scoring indouble digits were twin sisters Sharon and Sarah Wilkerson. The guardsadded 21 points each and combined for 14 points in the final eight minutes inLiberty’s comeback.
“We’re very disappointed with the outcome, but Liberty did what theyneeded to do to win this game,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “Theycame out on a roll and we let down our intensity. You can’t let a greatshooting team gain that confidence.”
Liberty outshot UK in the second half 44-30 while netting 15-of-16 freethrows. UK outrebounded the Lady Flames, 46-33, and were led in scoringby Wait’s 17 points. Senior Jaye Barnes and sophomore Laura Meadowsscored 13 and 11 points respectively, while junior Shantia Owens grabbed agame-high 11 rebounds.
“I love Kentucky and we were honored to come into this facility, that has somuch history, and play,” Liberty Coach Rick Reeves said. “I think this is thefirst time my wife and kids have cheered against Kentucky. What BernadetteMattox has done with this team is tremendous. I have the utmost anddeepest respect for her.”
Kentucky will travel to the Pizza Hut Shocker Shootout in Wichita, Kan., onDec. 19-20 to face Eastern Illinois in the first round on Friday, Dec. 19 at 5p.m.
