(Jan. 24, 2001) — The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team hopes for its first conference win when it plays host to Alabama on Thursday, January 25 at 7 p.m.

The Wildcats (4-13, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) meet Bama for the 24th time in school history and look to snap a six-game losing streak, including the worst loss in school history on Sunday to No. 2 Tennessee, 110-38.

“After a good week of practice and self evaluation we are looking forward to getting back on the court,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox. “The team morale is high heading into this game. Alabama is a tough team and they are very athletic. It’s important for us to play well on our home floor before traveling to Tennessee this weekend.”

Despite Alabama’s 13-10 all-time series lead, the games have been tightly contested in the past. Fourteen games have been decided by single digits, including the last three matchups which were decided by four points or less. The teams split games last season withAlabama escaping with a 68-67 win in Tuscaloosa. UK took revenge at the SEC Tournament, winning 67-63 in the first round.Four freshmen are currently in the starting lineup for the Cats this season, the most in the senior-laden SEC. Kentucky’s diaperdandies are contributing 64 percent of the scoring, 59 percent of the rebounding and have dished out 57 percent of the assists. Junior LaTonya McDole continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding with 12.7 points and 7.6 rebounds. Freshman SeSeHelm follows in the scoring column with 11.3 points.

The all-time series is tied at five apiece when playing in Lexington. UK has not lost to Alabama in Memorial Coliseum since a 68-62 setback in 1995.

Alabama enters the game with a 14-4 overall record, 2-3 in the SEC. The Tide upset No. 21 Mississippi State on Sunday, 65-52, in Starkville.

Junior guard Shondra Johnson leads three Tide players in double-digit scoring this season. Johnson averages 14.2 points per game while sophomore guard/forward Beth Vice, a native of Mt. Sterling who redshirted last season with knee injuries, and 6-2 center LaNisha Cartwell add 10.1 and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Junior forward Sparkle Smith is the team’s leading rebounder with 8.6 boards per game.