After dropping two games at the Pepperdine Classic over the weekend, the Kentuckywomens basketball team eagerly returns to the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum thisweek for a two-game home stand. On Wednesday, Nov. 29, the Cats play host to IndianaUniversity-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) at 7 p.m. and then welcome No.5/6 Purdueon Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats (1-2) look to get back on track after losing to a tough Missouri team in the firstround of the Pepperdine Classic on Saturday, 86-51. UK then dropped a heartbreaker in thefinal seconds to Houston on Sunday in the consolation round, 78-77. UKs only returningstarter from last season, junior LaTonya McDole (Dayton, Ohio), was named to theAll-Tournament team after recording 27 points and 10 rebounds in the two-day event.
Freshman center SeSe Helm (Bowling Green, Ky.) also looked impressive in California,scoring a career-high 22 points against Houston and dishing out a career-high five assists versusMizzou.
“I saw a lot of positive things during our trip out west,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “Ifelt we matured, but we still have to take care of the little things and continue improving. I waspleased with the play of LaTonya and Rita (Adams) and some of the freshmen really steppedup their playing level. This week will be another big test for us with two good teams coming inhere.”
The Cats have never met the Jaguars as IUPUI (1-3) enters only its third season in Division I.The Jaguars are coached by the schools first full-time womens basketball coach, KrisSimpson. She enters her sixth season with the program.
UK is 0-1 all-time versus nationally ranked Purdue (5-1) after losing to the defending Big Tenchampions, 48-40, last season in Indianapolis. All-America candidates Katie Douglas(Indianapolis, Ind.) and Camille Cooper (Georgetown, Ky.) lead the team in scoring withaverages of 17.5 and 14.8 ppg, respectively.McDole leads UK in scoring, averaging 14.0 points per game.
Helm and freshman forwardStephanie Stoglin follow with 12.7 and 12.3 ppg. Adams (East St. Louis, Ill.) rounds out thedouble-digit scoring column with 12.0 ppg. McDole and freshman forward Alvine Mendeng(Dayton, Ohio) are the teams leading rebounders, holding a 7.3 rebounds per game average.
