Women’s basketball squad advances to championship game.

HONOLULU (November 28, 1998) — The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team usedpatience and a full court press to hand Hawaii its first loss of the season,66-57, in the 20th Annual Rainbow Wahine Classic on Saturday. Despitetrailing 36-29 at the half, the Wildcats used a full court press to cause 10Hawaii turnovers in the second half to take the lead for the first time with 10minutes remaining in the game.

Senior Jaye Barnes, who was held scoreless in the first half, sparked theWildcats offense with 13 second half points and eight rebounds.

Leading scorers for Kentucky were sophomore Laura Meadows and juniorErica Jackson with 15 points apiece. UK outrebounded the Rainbows40-31 and shot 40.9 percent from the floor.

The Cats also held Hawaii’s leading scorer Raylene Howard to a season-low15 points. Leading the Rainbow Wahine (4-1) was Crystal Lee with 16points. Kyla Evers also netted double figures with 12 points.

“I am very proud of the heart our kids gave,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattoxsaid. “Our second half press really helped and I felt we came out strong andwore them down. We were more patient in the second half and we adjustedour defense. That was the key to the game.”

Kentucky, which is 5-0 for the first time since the 1986-87 season, defeatedLouisville (73-62) for the first time in three years to advance to today’ssemifinal action. The Wildcats will face the winner of No. 12 UCLA and No.5 North Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 8:30 EST.