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(Feb. 21, 2001) — The Kentucky womens basketball team will play host to the Lady Rebels of Ole Miss on Thursday, February 22, at 7 p.m. in the final home game of the season. The Wildcats also look for their first win over the Lady Rebels in Memorial Coliseum in 17 years.
The home finale is usually a swan song for senior Wildcats however, there are no seniors on this years team, marking the second time in Mattox’s six seasons she not lost a player to graduation. Her 1996-97 squad was senior-less as well.
“Its hard to believe we are already playing our final game in Memorial Coliseum this season,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said.
“We still have a road trip to Mississippi State and then the SEC tournament so we have to remain focused and intense on the court. Ole Miss is one of the most improved teams in the league and we will have a battle on our hands.”
Ole Miss leads the all-time series with Kentucky 15-4, including a 7-1 advantage in Lexington. The Lady Rebels own a seven-game win streak in Memorial Coliseum dating back to Feb. 1, 1984. The Cats took a 69-59 victory and were led by current UK assistant Leslie Nichols who scored a game-high 20 points. WNBA head coach Van Chancellor was at the helm of the Ole Miss program.
Although Ole Miss leads the series record, the Wildcats are riding a two-game win streak against Ole Miss after escaping with a 59-57 win in Oxford last season. UK also met UM in the first round of the SEC Tournament in 1999 and upset the higher seeded Lady Rebels (75-59) after falling in regular season action, 60-57, in Oxford.
Kentucky (6-18, 2-10) snapped a six-game losing streak on Sunday at home with its thrilling 61-59 win over South Carolina.
Sophomore guard Rita Adams drilled two free throws with 7.8 seconds remaining to give the Cats their second conference victory of the season. Freshman SeSe Helm led with 18 points while Adams and junior LaTonya McDole added 14 points apiece.
All-SEC candidate LaTonya McDole paces the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. She also leads the team and the SEC in steals, charting 165 in her three-year career.
Ole Miss is 15-10 overall record, 3-9 in the SEC. The Lady Rebels hope to snap a four-game losing streak after falling to Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida and Auburn. UM is 5-3 on the road this season, 2-3 in conference play.
Senior Becky Myatt leads the Lady Rebels in scoring this season with 11.2 points per game. Freshman Tywanna Inmon leads the team in scoring and rebounding in conference games only at 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Ron Aldy enters his fourth season as head coach of the Lady Rebels. He has compiled a 133-98 overall record, including a 54-58 record at UM.
The Cats travel to Starkville, Miss., on Sunday, Feb. 25 for their final regular season game. UK will face Mississippi State at 3 p.m. ET in the Humphrey Coliseum.
