Jan. 5, 2002
Lexington, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s basketball team travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. ET in Coleman Coliseum. The game will broadcast live on WLXG-AM Sports Radio 1300 with Chris Cross.
The Wildcats (7-6) are looking for their first conference win after falling to Mississippi State on Thursday, 59-54, in Lexington and their first win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa since 1990. UK has won the last three of four meetings against the Tide, including a 71-64 decision last year in Lexington. The Wildcats own a 13-11 lead in the all-time series.
“It’s always tough playing on the road in the Southeastern Conference and every team you face is going to be a challenge,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “I think we have had some great practices the past couple of days and we hopefully we have learned from our mistakes in our last game.”
Sophomore center SeSe Helm leads the Cats in scoring (17.1) and rebounding (6.9) and has scored in double-figures in every game this season. Junior point guard Rita Adams, the Cats’ second leading scorer (10.8 ppg), notched a team-high 20 points on Thursday to go along with her eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. She leads the SEC in steals and is among the nation’s leaders in steals (3rd-4.1), assists (T-27th-5.8) and field goal percentage (26th-58.2). Senior forward LaTonya McDole notched her first season and ninth career double-double against the Lady Bulldogs and is the team’s third leading scorer with 10.8 points per game.
Alabama, 10-3, opens conference play looking to continue its six-game winning streak after capturing the Torneo Cancun and the PNC Wildcat Classic titles in December. Senior center LaNisha Cartwell was named all-tournament at Torneo Cancun and Most Valuable Player at the PNC Wildcat Classic. She is the Tide’s leading rebounder, averaging 5.7 boards per game and is the third leading scorer with 11.5 points per game. Senior guard Shondra Johnson leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.2 ppg. Following in the scoring column is Kentucky native Beth Vice with 11.7 ppg.
Coach Rick Moody enters his 13th season at Bama. He has guided the Tide to 10 consecutive post-season appearances and has twice led UA to 10 win seasons in the Southeastern Conference.
Alabama will make a return trip to Lexington on Jan. 27, 2002.
