Nov. 23, 2001
Memphis, Tenn. – Sophomore SeSe Helm scored her second career double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds and junior Rita Adams added 22 points as the Kentucky women’s basketball team defeated the Lady Bearkats of Sam Houston State 100-55 in the first round of the Lady Tiger Classic.
The Wildcats (2-0) looked sluggish early but opened an 8-4 lead behind the inside-outside game of Helm and Adams. Adams, who finished the game with 22 points and six assists, grabbed two of her career-high eight steals to help push the Wildcat lead to 15-10. The Cats’ full court pressure forced 18 Bearkat turnovers before halftime, as the Cats went to the locker room ahead by 20. Helm and Adams accounted for 30 of UK’s 51 first half points.
“Our kids showed tremendous defensive effort and that was what I was looking for out of them,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “They have really matured and they looked poised out there tonight. I am very proud of their effort.”
The Cats continued the pressure in the second half, pushing the lead to as many as 48 with eight minutes remaining in the game. The Cats rolled on the take the win, hitting the century mark for the first time since Dec. 30, 2000 against Florida Atlantic (112-71).
Sophomores Kristin Connolly and Stephanie Stoglin rounded out the scoring column, adding 10 points apiece. Freshmen Keiko Tate and Sara Potts also recorded their first career points, finishing with six and nine points, respectively. Senior forward LaTonya McDole added eight points, four assists and four steals.
The Cats outrebounded the Bearkats by a 59-27 margin and shot 52.6 percent from the floor compared to Sam Houston’s 30.8 percent.
UK will face host Memphis, who defeated UMKC 71-43 in the opening round, in the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. ET in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Memphis (2-2) has won the Lady Tiger Classic the past nine years. The Cats are now 67-27 all-time in regular season tournaments.
